Entreprenurial skills development training for farmers underway in Yendi
Yendi (NR), Sept. 25, GNA – An eight day workshop to improve the technical skills of Farmers Based Organizations organized by the International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC) under the Entrepreneurial Skills Development Training is underway in Yendi municipality in the Northern Region.
In all, 14 Yendi Cluster Small and Medium Enterprises (SMES) drawn from Yendi Municipality, Salaga, Saboba, Bimbilla, Gushegu, Chereponi and Kpandai Districts are taking part in the workshop.
The topics being treated includes, introduction to business foundation skills, necessary factors in starting new business, introduction to human resource management, Taxation, Insurance, Record Keeping, Tools and Equipment and Managing, Records Stock Exchange System and Sources of Funds, among others.
In his keynote address, the Business Development Officer of IFDC, Mr. Eric Doe, stated that as part of the project activities, International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDS) is organizing the eight days training on Business Management and Entrepreneurship Development to build and strengthen the capacity of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMES) with the Integrated Development Centre (IDC) as Consultancy Agency.
He said they are operating in 16 Districts of the Northern Region and focusing on rice, soyabeans and maizes value chains.
He indicated that by supporting the Private Sector to serve as catalyst for increased agricultural production and viable livelihoods for small holders farmers, the project will increase incomes and employment in the Northern Region and in turn contribute to the overall food security of the country.
Mr. Doe said this would be followed by 30 days of coaching and mentorship, to enable the SMES to develop business plans and access loan facilities at the Stanbic Bank, for equipment, Machinery and operational purposes.
He noted that similar workshop are on-going at the Tamale Cluster involving the Tamale Metropolitan, Karaga, Savlugu , Tolon, Walewale and Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo Districts.
According to the Business Development Officer of the IFDC, the Savana Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) and the Ghana Agricultural Association Business Information Centre (GABIC) are implementing the Agricultural Value Chain Mentorship Project (AVCMP), which is funded by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), through the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).
The Executive Director of Integrated Development Center (IDC), Mr. Ken Wujangi, who took the participants through various forms of business ownership, indicated that, undertaking any business involves hard work before one can gain profits from it.
Mr. Wujangi reminded them that a good Entrepreneur must possess skills in planning, organizing, controlling and coordinating.
He said the training has become necessary because some of the farmers Based Organization lack skills in business and “this is why we are taking them through a number of skills on management.