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Over one hundred and sixty thousand Ghana cedis (160, oo0) have so far been invested into the novel Agricultural Capacity Building and Business Set-Up Roadshow, tagged, ‘IT IS POSSIBLE,’ expected to train a total of 27, 500 Ghanaian youth, person with disability and women in rabbit, mushroom and snail production.
Implementers of the project— The office of Hon. Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, MP for the Korle Klottey Constituency, and Agrihouse Foundation, made this known yesterday at the opening ceremony and first training and capacity building event held for beneficiaries, in Accra.
According to organizers the training and capacity building events will move to all sixteen region of the country, within a period of thirty-six months.
The training topics will focus on areas such as Rabbit, Mushroom and Snail Production; Processing and Packaging; Accounting and Book-keeping; Stock Distribution; Nutrition, Feeding, housing, Marketing (Branding); and other Leadership and Mentorship sessions.
At the end of the training, each participant shall be equipped with Starter packs, such as: 6-room cages, 2 female rabbits (does) and 1 male rabbit (duck); Training Manual, as well as certificates of participation.
In her opening remarks at the event yesterday, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman Rawlings called on the youth to take up agribusiness as a way to create employment their communities; improve their lives and contribute to the development of Ghana’s agricultural sector.
She said agribusiness, has over many years, been a successful module for job creation, and source of economic empowerment for millions around the world. It was therefore important for Ghana youth to get actively involved in the sector, applying innovation and technology.
“The issue of solving unemployment is about making sure people have power to control their destiny, and that is what we are doing,” she emphasized.
For her part, Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, partner implementers of the project, revealed the first selection process to kick-off the Accra leg of project was carried out in October this year, with beneficiaries selected according to the specified target groups.
“In all, seven hundred and eleven (711) applications were received in the Greater Accra region. A hundred and fifty (150) applicants were shortlisted from the screening, with 20 extra beneficiaries from the physically challenged community,” she said.
She added, “Ultimately, ‘IT IS POSSIBLE,’ aims to train and setup 27,500 beneficiaries with in Rabbit, Mushroom and Snail Farming free starterpacks, within a period of thirty-six months, which is three years. The project will be implemented in all 16 regions including in the country.”
A representative from the National Farmers and Fishermen Award Winners’ Association Ghana (NFFAWAG), Mr. Davies Korboe, noted that the ‘IT IS POSSIBLE’ Roadshow is in the right direction and sustainable for Ghana’s agricultural sector.
“Anyone who cares about food security, reducing poverty, creating employment opportunities, protecting the environment, and building a stable and sustainable Ghana must care about capacity building in agriculture across the country and across the agricultural value chain, starting from inputs to access to market,” he said.
He therefore used the opportunity urge all the 150 beneficiaries to make the most of the training and capacity-building sessions that will be take place within three days.
Sharing his experience, Mr. James Boateng, 2018 National Best Farmer, told participants farming was a business and so they should diligently approach it with that mind-set.
He said farming was not for failures or hungry people and therefore admonished the beneficiaries to develop business plans and adopt the right practices, values and technologies to grow their ventures, when they finally setup.
The German Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Daniel Krull noted that, although Germany was directly not supporting any agricultural projects ongoing in Ghana, Germany was now focusing on food processing and therefore urged Ghanaian agribusinesses into tomatoes processing and marketing to take advantage of the opportunities in that area.
On behalf of the Agricultural Manufacturing Group; Enepa Ventures and AMG Fertilizers, the Deputy Managing Director of AMG, Mrs. Belinda Appiah, commended Hon. Zanetor Agyeman Rawlings and Agrihouse Foundation for conceiving the ‘IT IS POSSIBLE,’ Roadshow which will create employment, promote and enhance nutrition in many homes and communities across this country.
“As a woman, I am exceptionally proud that this initiative is women-led, and is already making impacts in the lives of other women. The success of ‘IT IS POSSIBLE’ will send a clear message to all stakeholders in the agric sector about the capabilities of agri-women; that women in agriculture, when supported adequately, thrive and excel just like the men,” she noted.
Executive Director of Parbs Meat/Jodi Construction, Mr Isaac Nti; and CEO of Kofi Vinyo Company Ltd, Mr. Kofi Vinyo; both sponsoring oragnizations of the project, also expressed their commitment and gratitude towards ‘IT IS POSSIBLE,’ which they believe is the way forward to curbing unemployment and empowering the youth to build their capacities and develop self-belief. They have all agreed to offtake the output of the trainees, which means ready market towards production.
