Challenges Faced by Youth in Agriculture in Africa.

Introduction

Although Africa’s Agriculture is characterized by 65% of labour force with the sector accounting for 32% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), more than 239 million people in sub-Saharan Africa live in hunger. Owing to this increasing challenge of food insecurity in Africa, the continent spends between US$15 and US$20,000 on food import annually, with an increasing level of reliance on food aid to augment its annual food production.

Following the increasing threat of food insecurity in Africa, African countries ought to exercise a greater level of commitment in developing a vibrant youth in Agriculture sector to enable the youth actively engage in Agriculture to promote the continents accelerated Agricultural development. The active engagement of the youth in Agriculture will ensure the  easy adoption of modern Agricultural technologies, the practice of  good farm management, effective  adoption of ICT4Ag applications, develop and manage viable Agribusinesses, effectively engage in Agricultural value chain processes etc.

Commitment by African countries in developing an efficient youth in Agriculture sector should therefore among other initiatives work towards addressing the peculiar challenges that the young African farmer face in their quest to establish viable Agribusiness enterprises for increased Agricultural production.

With years of experience as a leading Young Farmer Network in Ghana with extensive working experience in other African countries, the Savannah Young Farmers Network (SavaNet) has identified the following as the challenges faced by youth engaged in Agriculture in Africa:

Challenges Faced by Youth in Agriculture in Africa

Inadequate youth in Agriculture policies: Agricultural policies are vital in Agricultural development as they serve as the drivers of change towards achieving the desired impact. The poor level of commitment by African countries in implementing strategic youth in Agriculture policies militate against the development of an efficient youth in Agriculture sector for the continents accelerated Agricultural development.

The implementation of strategic youth in Agriculture policies are relevant in instituting the needed structures to provide the youth of Africa a suitable platform to actively engage in Agriculture as a sustainable livelihood for the creation of viable Agribusiness enterprises across the Agricultural value chain.

Interventions geared towards the formulation and implementation of youth in Agriculture policies should take in to consideration the development of Public Private Partnerships (PPP’s) in order to raise a youthful farmer generation that do not depend on “Handouts” from governments to enable them engage in Agriculture.

Following the important role that youth in Agriculture policies play in developing a vibrant youth in Agriculture sector, it is essential that African governments avoid formulating generic Agricultural policies where the peculiar challenges militating against the active engagement of the youth in Agriculture are not effectively addressed.

The Savannah Young Framers Network (SavaNet) therefore calls on African countries to exercise a greater level of commitment in implementing strategic youth in Agriculture policies to propel the continent’s accelerated Agricultural development.

Undeveloped Agricultural value chains: Agricultural value chains are well structured and coordinated relationships/networks between stakeholders in the Agricultural industry that   strengthens the needed structures for accelerated Agricultural development.

Agriculture value chains therefore play a vital role in Agriculture development as they to  a large extend ensure a healthy Public Private Partnerships for the development of Agricultural value chains that ensure improved access to Agricultural inputs and services for increased Agricultural production.

Undeveloped Agriculture value chains in most African countries is therefore a major challenge to the development of successful Agribusinesses by young Agricultural entrepreneurs as they are not able to effectively coordinate with other Agriculture value chain actors to enable them access the needed inputs and  services for efficient Agribusiness development.

Commitment by African countries in developing well structured Agriculture value chains will therefore provide the young Agricultural entrepreneur with improved access to: Agro inputs, Agricultural mechanization services, Agricultural financing, Agricultural Extension Services, Agricultural Research Innovations, transport services, improved Agricultural market access etc.

The development of efficient Agriculture value chains in Africa will enable the African youth actively engage in Agriculture to augment the efforts of Africa’s aging farmer population in order to increase Agricultural production for a secured food security.

Inadequate practically oriented Agriculture training schemes for young Agricultural entrepreneurs: the introduction of modern Agricultural innovations has over the years changed the farming systems passed on from generations. Owing to the increasing influence of modern Agricultural practices, it is important to offer the young African farmer practically oriented Agricultural training to better position them to become successful Agricultural entrepreneurs.

However, the current challenge of inadequate access to practically oriented Agricultural training has resulted in the inability of the African youth to actively engage in Agriculture as a sustainable livelihood due to their lack of practical skills and knowledge in Agriculture.

The challenge has also resulted in many unsuccessful Agribusiness start up’s by the African youth thereby discouraging many young African Agricultural entrepreneurs in actively engaging in Agriculture as a business; with many branding the sector as an industry with less opportunities to become successful.

Following the impact of this  challenge to Agricultural development in Africa, it is important for African countries to implement practically oriented Agricultural training schemes for the African youth that equips them with the requisite knowledge and skills to actively engage in Agriculture as a sustainable livelihood.

Cutting edge interventions in this regard should include the establishment of young farmer Agricultural training stations to provide practically oriented Agricultural training to the African youth. Practical Agricultural training at these stations should include capacity development on: land selection for Agricultural production, developing farm calendars, farm budgeting,ICT4Ag,best Agronomic practices, introduction to Agricultural entomology, Agricultural value chain facilitation, Agricultural marketing, Agricultural financing, post harvest handling etc.

The commitment by African countries in addressing this challenge will better position the continent to develop a vibrant youth in Agriculture sector that is able to spearhead productivity across the Agricultural value chain.

Inadequate Financial Support Schemes for young Agricultural entrepreneurs: the challenge by many young Agricultural entrepreneurs in Africa in accessing the needed funding to adequately finance their Agricultural enterprises continues to militate against the ability of the continent’s youth to actively engage in Agriculture as a sustainable livelihood.

As a result of this challenge, many innovative Agribusiness initiatives that have the potential of transforming Africa’s Agricultural sector are not implemented; thus retarding the development of the Agricultural sector in many African countries.

Following the increasing effect of this challenge to Africa’s Agricultural development, it is essential for African countries to formulate innovative youth in Agriculture polices that ensures the implementation of young Agricultural entrepreneurs finance support schemes to provide young Agricultural entrepreneurs with the requisite funding to develop viable Agribusiness enterprises across the Agricultural value chain.

Interventions in this regard should include the establishment of a revolving fund for startup Agribusinesses, favorable lending rates for young Agricultural entrepreneurs, attractive Agribusiness insurance packages, special banking products for young Agricultural entrepreneurs, financial education etc.

The implementation of these young Agricultural entrepreneurs finance support schemes should also involve the provision of Agribusiness Development and Advisory services to support the African youth in developing successful Agribusiness plans and management strategies in order to enable them effectively utilize funds from these financial support schemes to develop viable Agribusinesses.

Commitment by African countries in this regard will promote the continent’s Agricultural development as it develops a vibrant youth in Agriculture sector to augment the efforts by Africa’s aging farmer population in increasing Agricultural production.

Inadequate Access to Agricultural land for youth engagement in Agriculture: the increasing level of land grabbing in Africa has led to a strong level of competition over the continent’s vast and fertile Agricultural land for non-Agricultural purposes.

This phenomenon has therefore resulted in inadequate access to Agriculture land for production which has become a major challenge to the African youth who are interested in engaging in Agriculture for the creation of viable Agribusinesses to curtail the surging youth unemployment in Africa.

Following the increasing effect of this challenge, it is important for African countries to take pragmatic steps in implementing innovative initiatives that improves upon access to Agricultural land by the continent’s youth to enable them actively engage in Agriculture.

Interventions in this regard should include youth in Agriculture land access policies that favour the acquisition of land by the youth for Agricultural production, the institution of favorable land credit schemes for youth in Agriculture, the development of irrigation lands with increased allocation for youth engagement in Agriculture, the protection of Agricultural land against land grabbing for non-Agricultural purposes etc.

Commitment by African countries in addressing this challenge will contribute significantly in propelling the continent’s Agricultural development, as the African youth will be able to secure the needed Agricultural land to actively engage in Agriculture as a sustainable livelihood.

Conclusion

The Savannah Young Farmers Network (SavaNet) calls on African countries to exercise a greater level of commitment in developing vibrant youth in Agriculture sectors that offers the youth with  the requisite training and resources to enable them actively engage in Agriculture as a sustainable livelihood for Africa’s accelerated Agricultural development.

A Publication by CTA under the ARDYIS project on emerging voices in ICT and Agriculture.

Emerging voices in ICT and Agriculture:shaping the future of rural development in the ACP using ICTs.

This publication follows the essay competition by the  ARDYIS project on: youth finding solutions to challenges in Agriculture and Rural Development using ICT.

A staff of the Savannah Young Farmers Network (SavaNet) participated in this essay competition by CTA under the ARDYIS project.The publication is informative and worth reading.

An Article on factors to consider when formulating youth in Agriculture policies in Africa.

Introduction

Agriculture remains the backbone of many African countries as it employs 65% of Africa’s labour force and accounts for 32% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).Following the commitment by many African countries in developing the Agricultural sector, the contribution of the sector to GDP in Sub-Saharan Africa has witnessed a growth from 2.3% per year in the 1980s to 3.8% per year from the year 2000 to 2005.

Owing to the immense contribution of Agriculture to Africa’s development with the sector offering poverty reduction opportunities to the continents increasing population, it remains essential for the continents growth and development as Africa strives towards achieving the millennium development goal of halving poverty by 2015.

It is in this regard that the formulation and implementation of impact oriented youth in Agriculture policies in Africa is important in developing a vibrant youth in Agriculture sector that is able to actively engage Africa’s youth in to Agriculture. These policy initiatives will contribute significantly in curtailing the surging youth unemployment in Africa; as it addresses the continents challenge of an aging farmer population and an inefficient youth in Agriculture sector.

Factors to consider when formulating youth in Agriculture policies in Africa.

Interventions geared towards developing a vibrant youth in Agriculture sector in Africa remains a daunting challenge owing to the unattractive brand of the sector over the years.

Agricultural policy interventions aimed at accelerating the growth of Africa’s Agricultural sector therefore ought to be innovatively formulated to address the underlying bottlenecks in actively engaging Africa’s youth in Agriculture; to enable them propel the much needed development in Africa’s Agriculture.

Following the rich experience of the Savannah Young Farmers Network (SavaNet) in championing youth in Agriculture development in Ghana and Africa at large, the following are some factors that SavaNet considers relevant in the formulation of youth in Agriculture policies that ensures the development of a vibrant youth in Agriculture sector in Africa:

The Institution of practically oriented Agricultural training schemes for young Agricultural entrepreneurs: Africa’s quest to accelerate its Agricultural development will require the formulation and implementation of innovative Agricultural policies that ensures the institution of practically oriented Agricultural training schemes to nurture young Agricultural entrepreneurs across the Agricultural value chain.

Following the fact that the practice of modern Agriculture has transcended the traditional practice of farming passed on from generations to generations, it is imperative for African governments to formulate impact oriented youth in Agriculture policies to provide cutting edge interventions in developing a modern Agriculture sector in Africa with the youth as drivers of change.

These cutting edge interventions should include the implementation of impact oriented and results driven youth in Agriculture programmes that offer wide range opportunities for the African youth to receive practical training in Agriculture.

The design of these youth in Agriculture development programmes should include young farmers training stations that are equipped with state of the art facilities to offer practical oriented training in Agriculture for the youth.

Practical Agricultural training schemes at these young farmers training stations should include trainings on: land selection for Agricultural production, developing farm calendars, farm budgeting, ICT4Ag, best Agronomic practices, introduction to Agricultural entomology, introduction to Agricultural pathology, Agricultural value chain facilitation/development, Agricultural marketing, Agricultural financing, post harvest handling etc.

These practical training activities will equip the African youth with the requisite knowledge and skills to become successful Agricultural entrepreneurs across the Agricultural value chain, with the establishment of viable Agribusinesses to contribute in addressing the continents rising youth unemployment.

Africa’s commitment in this regard will accelerate its Agricultural growth and development to enable the continent feed its increasing population and increase the sectors contribution to GDP for national development.

The establishment of young Agricultural entrepreneurs finance support schemes: the challenge of many young Agricultural entrepreneurs in Africa in accessing the needed funding to adequately finance their Agricultural enterprises continue to militate against the ability of the continents young Agricultural entrepreneurs to actively engage in Agriculture as a sustainable livelihood.

Following the increasing effect of this challenge, it is essential for African countries to formulate Agricultural policies that ensure the implementation of innovative young Agricultural entrepreneurs finance support schemes.

Policy formulation surrounding young Agricultural entrepreneurs finance support schemes should include interventions such as: revolving fund for startup Agribusinesses, favorable lending rates for young Agricultural entrepreneurs, attractive Agribusiness insurance packages for Agribusinesses by young Agricultural entrepreneurs, special banking products for young Agricultural entrepreneurs, financial education etc.

Following the vital role that young Agricultural entrepreneurs finance support schemes play in developing a vibrant youth in Agriculture sector, the Savannah Young Farmers Network (SavaNet) recommends the implementation of  these schemes in Africa to propel the continents Agricultural development.

The development of young farmer networks: farmer networks are well organized and coordinated organizations committed to establishing the needed cooperation between farmers and other stakeholders in the Agriculture sector for accelerated Agricultural development.

Following the essential role that farmer networks play in Agricultural development, it is increasingly important for African governments to implement strategic Agricultural policies that favour the establishment and development of vibrant young farmer networks to provide the African young farmer a suitable platform to establish, nurture and develop viable Agribusinesses across the Agricultural value chain.

SavaNet Champions youth in 

Agriculture development in

Ghana and Africa at large.

Agricultural policies directed towards establishing and developing young farmer networks should include initiatives centered on: developing primary, secondary and tertiary farmer organizations, facilitate Agricultural value chain development, practical skills training on Agriculture, capacity development on group dynamics, providing young farmers an active voice etc.

It is in this regard that the Savannah Young Farmers Network (SavaNet) is working towards promoting accelerated Agricultural development in Ghana and other African countries through the development of a vibrant youth in Agriculture sector; with the requisite capacity development to enable young Agricultural entrepreneurs spearhead productivity across the Agricultural value chain.

SavaNet therefore call son African countries to formulate impact oriented Agricultural policies with innovative initiatives to ensure the development of vibrant young farmer networks to lead Africa’s drive at developing its Agriculture sector.

The development of an efficient ICT4Ag sector: with the penetration rate of mobile subscription over 60% in Africa and the continents mobile use second to Asia, ICT is indeed driving a new revolution in the continents Agricultural development as technology offers a potential increase of $48 billion in Agricultural income in Africa.

ICT therefore serves as a springboard for accelerated Agricultural development in Africa with the potential of increasing the continents Agricultural production for a secured food security.Following the immense contribution and prospects of ICT in propelling Africa’s Agricultural development, it is important for African countries to implement strategic ICT4Ag policies aimed at promoting the development of a vibrant ICT4Ag sector in Africa.

ICTs are driving

a new revolution

in Africa.

The development of an efficient ICT4Ag sector in Africa will facilitate in the development of a vibrant youth in Agriculture sector, as the application of various ICT innovations by young African farmers will enable them practice precision Agriculture with improved access to: Agricultural extension services, market information, weather forecast, GPS information, farm budgeting and analysis, Agricultural financing etc.

The engagement of the African youth in developing ICT4Ag applications as well as the  ability of the African young farmer to utilize these applications in their Agricultural activities will contribute significantly in curtailing Africa’s surging youth unemployment and promote its Agricultural development.

The Savannah Young Farmers Network (SavaNet) therefore calls on African countries and institutions to implement innovative Agricultural policies that are committed to: instituting practically oriented Agricultural training schemes for young Agricultural entrepreneurs, the establishment of young Agricultural entrepreneurs finance support schemes, the development of young farmer networks as well as in developing an efficient ICT4Ag sector in Africa.

These essential factors when considered during the formulation of youth in Agriculture policies will contribute significantly in developing a vibrant youth in Agriculture sector in Africa to propel the continents Agricultural development.

ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE IN GHANA.

As nations across the world continue to strategize on the best approach to adopt in meeting the food requirement of the nine (9) billion population of the world in 2050, it beholds on all to champion sustainable environmental development practices in order to safeguard and support our environment to achieve the desired food security and ensure sustainable environmental development.

The youth manifesto of Ghana therefore provides innovative and results driven environmental development policy alternatives and actions relevant in engaging and developing the capacity of the youth to become stewards of the nation’s rich natural resources.

In view of this, the youth manifesto of Ghana has formulated impact oriented actions that will promote the nation’s sustainable environmental development; as it ensures the active engagement of the youth in maintaining the nation’s environmental integrity for accelerated national development.

 In the perspective of the youth manifesto of Ghana, actions should be formulated to support and mobilize the youth for environmental protection and sustainability. In its view, environmental education should continue to be mainstreamed in to our school curricula to practically develop the capacity of the youth on the environment.

The development of the capacity of the youth on the environment will raise a generation of youth who are stewards of the nation’s natural resources and thus actively engaged in spearheading the implementation of innovative educational activities to raise the needed awareness for a greater commitment in conserving the nation’s rich natural resources. This will enable the nation meet its current and future natural resource requirement for sustainable environmental development.

Furthermore, the development of the capacity of the youth on the environment will enable them influence the formulation and implementation of development oriented environmental policies to among other things mitigate the effects of climate change as well as promote climate change adaptive strategies for accelerated national growth.

The youth manifesto of Ghana also points out to the need for nationwide advocacy campaigns on environmental protection with the dissemination of informative materials illustrating the global dimension of environmental protection as well as the interrelated effects of environmental degradation on national development.

It is in this regard that the Savannah Young Farmers Network (SavaNet) is spearheading the implementation of activities for the Global Power Shift (GPS) movement in Ghana to champion the implementation of action oriented programs aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change; as well as advocate for the adoption of climate change adaptive measures to curtail the rising effects of climate change on national and international development.

 The Global Power Shift (GPS) is a global action by the world’s youth against climate change and is therefore committed in building National and Regional movements across the world to design and carry out innovative activities geared towards engineering a global revolution on the need for the world to exhibit a greater commitment in combating the rising effects of climate change.

Ghana’s Global Power Shift (GPS) Movement will design and carry out series of advocacy programs on the environment and climate change across the nation. This initiative will rally the Ghanaian youth to initiate and sustain a vibrant advocacy campaign that will also bring together youth organizations, youth activist, governmental and non-governmental youth development organizations/agencies, the media etc to show case the urgent need for a nationwide action in addressing the challenge of climate change.

Ghana’s movement of the Global Power Shift (GPS) will also engage policy makers, aimed at influencing the formulation of development oriented policies that are committed in ensuring sustainable environmental development in order to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Furthermore, the Ghana movement of the Global Power Shift (GPS) will embark upon nationwide tree planting programs with the objective of attracting the interest of the youth in becoming stewards of the environment; as they engage in the growing and nurturing of tree plantations of economic value.

These interventions by the Ghana movement of the Global Power Shift will significantly contribute in addressing the recommendations outlined by the youth manifesto of Ghana on the need to mobilize and support the youth to be engaged in environmental protection.

 The youth manifesto of Ghana also advocates for the development of Ghana’s ecotourism industry to ensure environmental protection as well as provide the youth with employment opportunities. According to Ghana’s youth manifesto, a well developed ecotourism industry will to a large extend conserve and manage the nation’s rich natural resources to protect them from: illegal exploitation, bush fires, land degradation, the pollution of our water bodies etc.

The youth manifesto of Ghana considers ecotourism as a viable employment venture that can contribute immensely in addressing the rising level of youth unemployment in Ghana. Through the implementation of a well structured ecotourism employment program, the youth can serve as ecotour operators to work with local communities to develop and manage ecotourism sites to raise the needed revenue for national development.

Employing the youth in the ecotourism sector will better position them to engage the citizenry in environmental education/advocacy programs to raise awareness on the need to protect our environment for sustainable development.

Developing Ghana’s ecotourism sector according to the youth manifesto of Ghana will also improve upon the acquisition of knowledge and practical training on the environment by the youth to enable them play leading roles in the conservation and management of the nation’s rich natural resources.

Furthermore, the nation’s commitment in developing its ecotourism industry will ensure the formulation of the needed environmental policies aimed at protecting our rich natural resources in order to increase it’s to national GDP.

Following the vital role that the environment play in national development, the youth manifesto of Ghana calls on the youth, government and its development partners, policy makers and the citizenry at large to exhibit a greater sense of commitment in maintaining the nation’s environmental integrity in order to conserve its rich and diverse natural resources for national development.

A VIDEO ON ICT AND AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION

The Video is titled the Agricultural Revolution and is indeed well produced and educative.It is produced by the Technical Center for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation (CTA).Relax and enjoy watching.

AN ARTICLE BY SAVANET ON THE AUDIO CONFERENCING FOR AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION PROJECT AS PUBLISHED IN THE ICT UPDATE MAGAZINE BY CTA

An Article by SavaNet on the Audio Conferencing for Agricultural Extension (ACE) Project.

The Article was published in the ICT update Magazine (ICT update 65 English-Youth and ICTs) by CTA under the caption: Audio Conferencing helps to make farming a viable prospect for young Ghanaians (An attractive opportunity).It can be found on page 7 of the magazine.

AN ARTICLE BY SAVANET ON ICT METHODOLOGIES IN AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE DELIVERY

AN ARTICLE BY SAVANET ON THE SUCCESSES OF THE GHANAIAN YOUNG FARMER TOWARDS ACCELERATED AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN GHANA.

Ghana’s Agricultural sector employs about 50.6% (4.2 million people) of the country’s labour force and responsible for about 39% of Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Ghana’s Agricultural sector is therefore undoubtedly a major contributor to the nations strives at accelerated economic growth.

Ghana’s Agriculture is characterized by a large smallholder sector and a relatively large commercial sector comprising of: large Scale Commercial (LSC) farmers, Small Scale (SC) farmers, Semi-Commercial farmers (S-C), Non-Poor Complex Diverse Risk Prone Farmers (NPCDR) and Poor Complex Diverse Risk Prone Farmers (PCDR).

With Ghana’s economically active farming population (15-49 years) representing 50.6% (48.2% male and 51.8% female) of the nation’s labour force, the Ghanaian young farmer plays a vital role in the nation’s quest to accelerate its Agricultural growth and development.

The Ghanaian young farmer has therefore over the years engaged in successful Agribusiness enterprises which has enhanced Ghana’s food security and increased the Agricultural sectors contribution to the Nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The Successes of the Ghanaian young farmer towards accelerating Ghana’s Agricultural growth and Development include:

 v  The establishment of viable Agribusinesses across the Agricultural value chain; As the Ghanaian young farmer is gradually taking to Agriculture as a sustainable business and livelihood, they are successfully establishing viable Agribusinesses in diverse sectors across the Agricultural value chain.

These successful Agribusinesses include: commercial farms with  well structured nucleus farmer systems, small, medium and large scale animal/poultry farms, Aquaculture enterprises with rich investments, tree crop plantations, Agricultural mechanization companies, produce buying companies, Agro-chemical companies etc.

These viable Agribusiness enterprises by Ghanaian young farmers immensely contribute in providing employment and employment opportunities to the youth and the Ghanaian citizenry at large to curtail the surging rate of unemployment. This follows the valuable contributions that their Agribusiness initiatives are making in developing sustainable Agribusinesses across the Agricultural value chain.

These Agribusiness enterprises by Ghanaian young farmers are also contributing significantly in enhancing Ghana’s food security as their initiatives go a long way to address the setbacks in Ghana’s Agricultural production.

With a total export of 10,150MT in cereals and 9,040 MT in starchy staples during the 2010/2011 production year, the Ghanaian young farmer is indeed contributing significantly to the nation’s foreign exchange earnings from traditional and non-traditional Agricultural exports for Ghana’s accelerated development.

It is in this regard that I call on governmental and non-governmental organizations in Ghana to institute the needed mechanisms to develop a vibrant youth in Agriculture sector; with the requisite capacity development and resources to enable the youth spearhead productivity across the Agricultural value chain for accelerated national development.

 v  Ability to adopt and utilize ICT applications/innovations for increased Agricultural production: with mobile data subscription in Ghana increasing from 10,344,322 at the end of July 2013 to 10,564,180 at the end of August 2013 (indicating a growth rate of 2.1%) and an increase in overall mobile penetration rate of 40.0% to 40.7% at the end of August 2013, Ghana’s telecommunication industry is indeed growing swiftly with immense impact on the economy.

It is in this regard that Ghanaian young farmers are increasingly adopting and utilizing ICT applications/innovations to enhance their engagement in the Agricultural sector for   increased Agricultural production.

Following the implementation of innovative ICT driven Agricultural Extension initiatives by SavaNet, young farmers are able to access the requisite capacity development to enable them increase their Agricultural production.

ICT applications/innovations that most Ghanaian young farmers have successfully adopted include: the Audio conferencing mobile application to access Agriculture extension service, SMS for market access, mobile money, basic computing for book keeping and farm budgeting/analysis, GPS technology, mobile application for accessing weather forecast etc.

The adoption of ICT applications by  Ghanaian young farmers in their Agricultural production has resulted in; their ability to access demand driven Agriculture extension service, improved market access, improved financial transactions between Agricultural value chain actors, good book keeping, improved farm budgeting, improved access to weather forecast etc.

These benefits that the Ghanaian young farmer drives from the adoption of ICT applications has therefore resulted in an increase in Agricultural production and improved youth engagement in Agriculture.

The development of an efficient ICT4Ag sector in Ghana is therefore essential in accelerating Ghana’s Agricultural development with the Ghanaian young farmer playing vital roles across the Agricultural value chain.

 v  Reducing the Aging farmer population in Ghana: with 55 years as the average age of the Ghanaian farmer with a life expectancy average of 55-60 years, the commitment of the Ghanaian young farmer to engaging in Agriculture as a sustainable livelihood is contributing significantly in  reducing the ageing farmer population in Ghana.

This has resulted in the emergence of a youthful farmer population that is playing an important role in spearheading Ghanaian’s Agricultural development with the creation of viable Agribusinesses across the Agricultural value chain.

In a bid to develop of a vibrant youth in Agriculture sector in Ghana that spearheads productivity across the Agricultural value chain, SavaNet has over the year’s implemented innovative youth in Agriculture projects that are actively engaging the youth in Agriculture to address Ghana’s challenge of an ageing farming population for accelerated  national development.

The implementation of the youth in Agriculture entrepreneurship project by SavaNet is one of the tailor designed initiative that is nurturing and developing young Agricultural entrepreneurs to address Ghana’s challenge of an ageing farmer population, as it equips them with the requisite capacity development to actively engage in Agriculture for the  creation of viable Agribusinesses across the Agricultural value chain.

Following the successes of the Ghanaian young farmer over the years, it beholds on government, non-governmental organizations etc to institute well structured Private Public Partnerships (PPP) to drive the processes needed to develop a vibrant youth in Agriculture sector in Ghana; where the youth are able to establish viable Agribusinesses across the Agricultural value chain for the creation of jobs and job opportunities.

The development of a vibrant youth in Agriculture sector in Ghana will undoubtedly raise a youthful farmer population to accelerate Ghana’s Agricultural development and increase the contribution of the Agricultural sector to the nation’s GDP for accelerated national development.