Agriculture is a Viable Business Enterprise for the Unemployed— Deputy Agric Minister

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The elimination of hunger and poverty reduction as key targets of the UN sustainable development goals highlights the importance of agriculture and the need to pay attention to the sector, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Hon. Hon. Yaw Frimpong Addo, has noted.

He said the key to rapid industrialization is to build a solid raw material base through the development of agriculture, as existing evidence show the strategic importance of agriculture in providing the basic needs of food, nutrition and job opportunities.

The Minister made these observations on Tuesday, at the ‘Gathering of the Royals and Stakeholders Meeting,’ organized by Agrihouse Foundation, in Accra, on the theme, “The Role of Royals in Accelerating Agri-Peace and Developing Sustainable Farmers.”

He said, government continues to push for private sector participation and partnerships that bring all actors together to forge formidable alliances of finding enduring solutions to the problems of our agricultural sector.

Therefore, in commending Agrihouse Foundation for complementing these efforts by providing important platforms and initiatives that allow for stakeholder deliberations and capacity building trainings for agric value actors, he also urged beneficiaries to make the most of the opportunities.

“Ladies and gentlemen, these interventions in the agricultural sector should give [us] hope because they provide enormous opportunities for venturing into agriculture as viable business enterprise, particularly for the unemployed” he stated.

He also said, it is important for citizens to seek information about existing opportunities and how to take advantage of them to improve their economic circumstances.

In line with the ‘Gathering of the Royals’ event, he urged the Queen Mothers to make the most of the event; identify how best they can contribute to the development of agriculture in their respective areas.

“This is important to prevent hunger, poverty and the reliance on foreign support. By working together at all levels, communities, districts and the nation will surely find commonality in the approach to ensuring sustainable development of the agricultural sector, and above all, attain sustainable food security for the country,” he said.

About ‘Gathering of the Royals’

The event hosted fifty (50) queen mothers, drawn from all 16 regions of the country, with representatives from Academia, policy, Government, development agencies and Agric institutions, to explore opportunities within the agric sector, as well as conflict resolutions alternatives towards Peace-building, and the development of sustainable farmers in the country.

Gathering of Royals,’ has over the last 3 years, been held as part of our annual Women in Food and Agric Leadership Training Forum (WOFAGRIC) and the Gold in the Soil Awards, which mentors, trains and builds the of women in agriculture, whiles celebrating the efforts of outstanding ones. The 1^st was held in the Volta Region, 2^nd in the Ashanti Region and 3^rd in the Upper East Region.

The 4^th and first independent edition of the event was held in Accra, at the GNAT Hall, on the theme, “The Role of Royals in Accelerating Agri-Peace and Developing Sustainable Farmers.”

The event hosted notable personalities including, the Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture; Hon. Yaw Frimpong Addo; Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle Constituency, Hon. Zanetor Agyeman Rawlings; and Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs; Hon. John Osei Frimpong.

Equally important contributors included, Country Manager of OCP Africa, Mr. Samuel Oduro-Asare; Chairman of the National Farmers and Fishermen Winners Association; Mr. Korboe Narh Davies; Chairperson of National Commission for Civic Education; Madam Josephine Nkrumah; Development Queen Mother of Afigye-Kwabre District; Nana Adjoa Awindor; Executive Director of the Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency Ghana; Hajia Salifu Saeed, and Officiating Imam of Dara-Salam Mosque; Imam Sa-id Mukhtar Abubakar.

The event was sponsored by Agromoti Company Limited and Continental Director of Eco Africa Resource Group. Others include, WAATCO, Nanam Ventures, Benyima Farms and C. Woermann.