The World Food Forum (WFF) Ghana Chapter has taken a bold step in redefining agriculture as a profitable, sustainable, and youth-driven career path with the successful organization of its transformative Farmers Symposium in Fumso Ketewa, in the Adansi Asokwa District of the Ashanti Region.
The symposium brought together 73 participants from surrounding communities , with participation from 40 women, 33 men, and 18 young people aged between 18 and 45 years old.
Structured as a platform for practical learning, dialogue, and empowerment, the symposium addressed key barriers facing farmers, including limited access to land, capital, and technical support.
It also promoted innovative and climate-smart agricultural practices aimed at boosting yields, increasing income, and expanding opportunities for women and youth in the sector.
Opening the symposium , Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, National Director of the WFF Ghana Chapter, emphasized that agriculture is not only a way of life but “good business.”
She noted that women often reinvest their income into their households and communities, generating long-term social and economic benefits.
“If you educate a woman, you educate a nation,” she said, highlighting the vital role women play as agents of change in rural development.
she also stressed on the importance of systemic support, including sound agricultural policies, access to affordable credit, mechanization, secure land tenure, and vocational training. She urged both government and private sector actors to collaborate in building similar support systems in Ghana.
Addressing the widening age gap in Ghana’s agricultural sector, Anthony Aidoo, Chair of the WFF Ghana Chapter’s National Steering Committee, expressed concern that the majority of active farmers are over 55 years old.
He called for targeted strategies to attract young people to farming, including flexible land-leasing arrangements that enable them to start small and grow over time without facing significant financial burdens.
“We need our older farmers to open doors for the next generation,” he stated.
He added that , Ghana can adopt the principles of family farming where multigenerational households work together, sharing labor, equipment, and knowledge to reduce costs and boost productivity.
In a session focused on income diversification, Mr Aidoo introduced ginger farming as a practical and profitable approach. He explained that ginger matures within six to eight months and can be intercropped with long-term crops such as cocoa. This allows farmers to earn short-term income while waiting for longer-term investments to yield returns, improving land use and resilience against market and climate shocks.
Access to finance was another critical topic. Participants explored community-based financing models including savings cooperatives, peer-to-peer lending circles, and profit-sharing partnerships between experienced and novice farmers. These grassroots solutions were identified as viable alternatives to high-interest loans and a way to promote mentorship and trust within farming communities.
Kwame Frimpong Sekyere, Project Director of the WFF Ghana Chapter led participants on a field visit to a rehabilitated model farm owned by farmer Kwaku Kari-Kari. The once-degraded land now thrives with timber species such as Ofram, Emire, Mahogany, and Cedrela, intercropped with food crops.
He explained how a combination of strategic pruning, seasonal planting, and water conservation techniques can result in both environmental restoration and financial gains. The model farm served as a tangible example of how innovation and sustainable practices can coexist and thrive in the agricultural sector.
The World Food Forum Ghana Chapter is committed to building a future in which agriculture is seen not only as a tradition but as a thriving enterprise. By centering the experiences and leadership of women and youth, the event underscored a broader vision for sustainable farming, economic inclusion, and community-led transformation in Ghana’s agricultural sector.
