Thirty-three agricultural colleges and universities in the country have confirmed their participation in this year’s sixth edition of the Agricultural Students’ Career Guidance & Mentorship Dialogue-Bootcamp (AGSTUD BOOTCAMP), annually organized by Agrihouse Foundation.
The colleges include, Adidome Agric College, Asuansi Farm Institute, Damango Agric College, Ejura Agricultural College, Kwadaso Agric College, Wenchi Farm Institute, Ohawu Agric College, and Fair River Agric Institute, Veterinary College, and Animal Health Production and college.
While the universities are, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Ghana, University of Cape Coast, Methodist University, University of Development Studies, All Nations University, Ghana Christian University College, and the University of Energy & Natural Resources, Central University.
Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, ahead of the 5-day bootcamp, scheduled to take place in Accra, starting Monday, March 27, to Friday, March 31, 2023, has said, this year’s bootcamp, is on the theme, “5 years of Grooming, Training and Empowerment- Where we are now with our Agribusiness.”
According to her, Agrihouse, is excited to welcome the about two hundred and thirty-three (233) agric students and beginner agribusinesses, expected to be part of the 5-day bootcamp, which will have three (3) students represent each school.
As part of efforts to empower more young girls in agriculture, she said, as is the norm annually, room has been reserved for seventy female students, representing about forty percent of all participants expected to be part of the event.
The bootcamp will also host about sixty day-campers daily; agric students drawn from selected cycle institutions, including, Labone Senior High School, Accra Academy Senior High School, and O Reilly Senior High School. The rest are Ashaiman Senior High School, Ngleshi Amanfro Senior High School, and Chemu Senior High School.
The Executive Director said, this year’s 5-day bootcamp, will celebrate and track the achievements of the young agripreneurs, over the past five years. Therefore, Agrihouse is working to bring together the alumni, many of whom have established sustainable agri-businesses in their schools and within their communities.
Started in 2018, the Agricultural Students Career Guidance and mentorship Dialogue Bootcamp (AG-STUD), has since inception, camped, trained, mentored, enabled and directly supported 1,200 beneficiaries to establish various Agribusinesses. Indirectly, about twelve thousand (12000) non-campers have equally benefitted from the mentoring, coaching, Competence-Based Training and Corporate Field Tours the Bootcamp offers. Presently, some alumni’s have established about seventy-three (73) thriving agribusinesses.
The 5-day bootcamp, will feature sessions like AGRI-GROWTH SESSION, AGRI-TED TALKS SESSION, AGRI-INSPIRE AND MIND-SET SHAPING SESSION, AG-VOYAGE, the AGRI–BOOSTER SESSION and AGRI-VALUE SESSION.
The Competence-Based, Capacity Building and field training Sessions have been restructured to achieve specific purposes. While sessions including, Agri-Growth, Agri-Ted Talks, Agri-Inspire and Mind-Set Shaping Session, are expected to motivate and empower the students; sessions including Ag-Voyage, Agri–Booster and Agri-Value Session, are expected to develop the spirit of teamwork among the students, develop their art of public speaking, negotiating abilities and presentation skills.
Through the activities, they will explore their creative and wear their innovative hats, which is expected to assist them identify challenges and propose solutions.
The 5-day bootcamp is being supported by Dizengoff Ghana Limited, NANAM Ventures, OCP Ghana, Agromonti Ghana Limited, and World Food Programme (WFP). It is in partnership with Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and the National Farmers and Fishermen Award Winners Association (NFFAWAG).
