YOUTH IN AGRO TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN GHANA

INTRODUCTION

Agro tourism is a specialized form of tourism where a farm and its Agricultural activities, varieties/breeds, products, farm structures, the method of farming, the farming community etc becomes a tourist attraction. Agro tourism therefore provides tourist the platform to engage and experience Agricultural activities among which include: planting, harvesting, hunting, fishing, wildlife watching, the purchase of Agricultural products etc.

The engagement of the youth in the development of the Agro tourism industry in Ghana will therefore contribute significantly in providing employment and employment opportunities to the youth and the Ghanaian citizenry at large thereby improving upon income generation and living standards.

The development of Ghana’s Agro tourism industry will also promote food security as Agro farms in their bid to improve upon Agro tourism will increase their Agricultural productivity to strengthen the food security of several households and communities in Ghana.

Furthermore, the development of the Agro tourism industry in Ghana will promote biodiversity conservation and the protection of the environment, as Agro tourism facilities are largely directed towards the conservation/management of natural resources to provide Agro tourist a close contact with nature.

This article will therefore discuss youth in in Agro tourism development in Ghana and will highlight the contribution that Ghana’s youth can make towards the development of the Agro tourism industry in order to harness the diverse opportunities that abounds in the sector.

The Ghanaian youth can therefore contribute in the development of the Agro tourism industry through the following:

The development of Agro farms and infrastructure: the development of the Agro tourism industry in Ghana will require the commitment of the youth in developing the needed partnerships with relevant stakeholders in the Agro tourism sector to equip them with the requisite technical knowledge, skills and funding to enable them establish Agro farms and infrastructure to propel the development of a vibrant Agro tourism industry in Ghana.

The development of Agro tourism farms by the youth should consider establishing farms that adopt traditional farming practices, cultivate local and endangered crop species, rear local breeds of animals and birds and the production of herbal/medicinal plants.

These Agro tourism farms should also promote the preservation of sacred landscapes, the conservation of the unique natural resources on the farm, the construction of fish ponds with local fish species, upholding the unique myths, beliefs and traditions surrounding farming in the locality etc.

Owing to the fact that the location of an Agro farm is essential for the success of Agro tourism, Agro farms should be easy to locate with a rich natural resource environment. An Agro farm should therefore be located near a historical place, away from busy urban centers, near a water body, easily accessible by road/train etc.

In order to develop these Agro tourism farms in to attractive Agro tourism centers, they should be equipped with farmhouses that have a rural outlook to offer accommodation to tourist, ensure access to portable drinking water, kitchen facilities for tourist to prepare local dishes, a first aid box for emergency medical care, telecommunication facilities, horse/donkey riding pleasure etc.

These Agro tourism farms in their bid to become the preferred centers for Agro tourism should offer a pollution free environment for tourist, provide on farm folk dance activities, ensure the security of tourist, the sale of cultural artifacts, local restaurants services, have a well structured farm tour programme, an easy to read farm map, and an easy to read guide for tourist to travel to the farm community and the farms as well.

Furthermore, these farms in their quest to attract Agro tourist should engage well trained staff with good communication and comic skills to serve as tourist guides who are able to inform, educate and entertain tourist.

The contribution of the youth in developing Agro tourism in Ghana will therefore contribute significantly in promoting the active engagement of the youth in Agriculture for increased Agricultural production, attract the needed foreign exchange in order to enable the country implement its innovative economic development policies as well as promote Ghana’s rural development as these Agro tourism facilities will develop vibrant rural economic activities.

The youth of Ghana therefore play an essential role n the development of a vibrant Agro tourism industry in Ghana and should therefore be actively engaged in the development of Agro tourism farms and facilities that are of international standards and thus adequately informs, educates and entertain Agro tourist.

Provide Sales and Marketing Service: the Ghanaian youth in their bid to develop the Agro tourism industry should endeavor to engage in the provision of sales and marketing service to Agro tourist aimed at providing them with the needed customer service to enhance their pleasure in Agro tourism.

In order to effectively provide sales and marketing service to Agro tourist, the Ghanaian youth can establish Agro tourism marketing companies that offer Agro tourist the service required to enable them enjoy their tour of Agro tourism facilities in Ghana.

The service that these Agro tourism marketing companies can offer include: developing websites with rich content on Agro tourism facilities in Ghana, implement a well structures social media strategy to offer information on Agro tourism in Ghana, Advertisement on various platforms (e.g. television, Radio, Airports, train terminals, bus terminals etc) on Agro tourism facilities in Ghana, transportation service, Agro tour packages, etc.

The development of a well structured customer feedback and comments system will enable these Agro sales and marketing companies Monitor and Evaluate the effectiveness of their marketing strategies in order to improve upon their provision of sales and marketing service to Agro tourist to enhance their pleasure of Agro tour  in Ghana.

The operation of these Agro tourism sales and marketing companies will contribute significantly in creating employment and employment opportunities as well as attract the needed foreign exchange to the country to promote Ghana’s accelerated development.

The engagement of the youth in the provision of Agro tourism sales and marketing service will therefore contribute significantly in the development of a vibrant Agro tourism industry in Ghana, to better position the country as the preferred destination for Agro tourist.

Conservation of Natural Resources and Biodiversity: following the important role that natural resources and biodiversity play in enriching Agro farms for the pleasure of Agro tourist, Ghana’s quest to develop its Agro tourism industry will require the engagement of the youth in the conservation of the nation’s rich natural resources and biodiversity.

The youth of Ghana can therefore contribute in the conservation of the nation’s rich natural resources and biodiversity through the implementation of community advocacy activities that effectively engage community members in becoming stewards of the natural resources and biodiversity in their communities.

The conservation of the nation’s rich natural resources and biodiversity will promote Agro tourism as these natural resource reserves will enhance the pleasure Agro tourist will drive from their tour, as they will have a serene environment for bird watching, site seeing of animals, a pollution free environment for relaxation etc.

The youth of Ghana can also promote the conservation of the nation’s rich natural resource and biodiversity by educating farmers on the adoption of climate smart Agricultural practices in order to ensure the sustainable production of crops and animals.

The adoption of climate smart Agricultural practices by Agro farmers will promote Agro tourism development in Ghana as Agro farms in the country will become the preferred destination for Agro tourist to be in close contact with nature to be informed, educated and entertained as they feed on nutritious/healthy farm produce.

Furthermore, the youth of Ghana can promote the conservation of the country’s natural resources and biodiversity by volunteering to become guards for the natural resources in their communities. These volunteering roles will promote the development of Agro tourism in Ghana as the natural vegetation of Agro farms will be conserved to enrich their value as the preferred centers for Agro tourism.

CONCLUSION

Following the essential role that the youth of Ghana can play in the development of Agro tourism, stakeholders in the Agro tourism sector in the country should endeavor to offer the youth the needed capacity development and access to funding to ensure their active engagement across the Agro tourism value chain for an accelerated development of Agro tourism in Ghana.