Introduction
Within the developing agenda of Ghana, agriculture is identified
as one of the economic pillars. The nexus/connection between agriculture
development and Ghana’s ability to achieve its food and nutrition security
goals are inextricably linked.
Agriculture is important to the development of any nation, Ghana
being no exception. Development must include the youth and therefore the
Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) seeks to encourage their participation
in the agricultural sector. This effort seeks to change the negative perception
the youth have of participation in agriculture, (farmers) as uneducated,
unskilled, physical labourers with extremely low economic return. Modern
agriculture is more than tilling the soil and animals. The sector today offers career
opportunities in research, environment, financial management, engineering and
other technical areas for the youth to explore.
The introduction of the Youth in Agriculture Programme (YIAP) is
necessary and vital to facilitate food and nutrition security because of the
following reasons but not limited to:
1. There is compelling evidence of ageing farmer population in
the country which must be addressed to facilitate sustainability in agriculture
production. The average age of farmer in Ghana is 55 years and life expectancy
averages between 55 – 60 years.
2. Ghana’s food import bill for rice, cooking oil, frozen
chicken and meat (have become staple food) continues to rise. If this trend
continues the availability of food in Ghana in the near future will depend on
imports making the country vulnerable to catastrophic events and other
exogenous shocks that have negative impact on food production from
external source. The youth is strategic to the success of any effort to boost
Ghana’s food production.
3. The poor image of persons involved in agriculture,
especially in the rural communities needs to be changed and the youth are
the ideal catalyst such change given their greater prosperity and
wiliness to adapt new ideas, concept and technology which are all important to
changing the way agriculture is practiced and perceived.
4. Increased employment particularly rural employment is
required as youth unemployment is on the increase.
5. Increase productivity in agricultural sector depends
on the youth who compromise about 20 – 30 of Ghana’s active population. Their
energy and numbers provide tremendous opportunities for increasing agricultural
productivity.
6. YIAP provides productive alternatives for the
engagement of the youth to reduce crime and other social problems.
7. Diversified, modern farming practices.
8. New crop varieties and animal strains/breeds.
9. Less soil pollution since there will be regular advice
and supervision from MOFA.
10. Reduction in rural-urban migration.
The Youth in Agriculture Programme (YIAP) is a Government
of Ghana (GOG) agricultural sector initiative with an objective of motivating
the youth to accept and appreciate farming/food production as a commercial
venture, thereby taking up farming as a life time vocation.
The YIAP has the task and responsibility of mobilizing the youth
to take up farming and its other related activities as life time vocation. By
so doing the following benefits will be derived from the employment for the
youth, through the provision of tractor services and agro – inputs;
The youth in Agriculture Programme has the objective of
1. making youth accept farming as a commercial business
venture;
2. Generate appreciable income to meet farmer’s domestic
and personal needs;
3. Youth will improve their standard of living-through
improved income.
4. Youth will be motivated to stay in rural areas, as
inputs will be delivered at their farm gate, on credit basis and interest free,
5. Produce enough food crops, meat and fish using modem
methods.
Components of the Youth in Agriculture Programme (YIAP)
The Youth in
Agriculture has four (4) components namely:
i. Crops / Block
Farm
ii. Livestock and
Poultry
iii.
Fisheries/Aquaculture and
iv. Agribusiness
Crops/Block Farm
This System has two sub-components, general crops and the block
farm Block Farm, under this Scheme, state land or land acquired from chiefs or
private individuals is ploughed and shared in
blocks
among ; young farmer under supervision of MOFA staff. For now, the crops under
YIAP include maize (seed and grain), sorghum, soybean, tomato and onion.
Other enterprises will be included as the programme expands.
Under the block farm, YIAP provides farmers with tractor services, inputs at
subsidized prices all on credit and at interest free. The land is ploughed and
shared amongst young farmers in blocks. In the long run, big commercial farmers
are to be made from Block Farm and the other component of the Youth in Agric
Programme.
With regard to the general system, farmers clustered in an area
may be considered under the programme. At the end of the season, farmers are
expected to repay the facility in kind. This system takes care of their
marketing responsibilities and post harvest loses. Farmers may sell their
produce to the Buffer Stock Company established by MOFA or’ any customer of
their choice.
Livestock and Poultry
This component targets young unemployed men and women to take to
production of livestock and poultry (broilers layers, guinea fowls and piggery
to begin with. Beneficiary youth will be assisted with day old chicks in the
case of broilers, layers and guinea fowls, They will be provided with housing,
feeding, drugs and vaccine, utility until they are weaned off the programme in
about a year.
Similarly breeding sows and pigs together with the other inputs
will be provided. There is a programme for other animals such as cattle, sheep
and goats and other stocks such as rabbit and grasscutter will be added. Since
animal production is a specialized area, participating farmers will be trained.
Fisheries/Aquaculture
The Youth in Aquaculture Programme is first of all being driven
by the demand for healthy fish and inadequate domestic fish production.
Traditional harvest fisheries are cither fully exploited or near full
exploitation and cannot meet the increasing demand for seafood.
The youth are especially targeted to form the focal point of the
project.
Who can join the Programme
1. Any person interested in farming
2. Group of young men and women in the community
interested in farming.
3. Any institution training farmers.
How to Join the Youth in Agriculture Programme
1. Contact any MOFA office at the Regional or District
level in Regional and District capitals.
2. Contact the National secretariat of the Youth in
Agriculture Programme, MOFA, Accra,
3. For block farm participants, you must be in groups
with elected leaders.
You must apply in writing and state your area of interest,
location to access to any agricultural productive resource .
Youth in Agriculture Programme
1. Tractor services where your land is ploughable
2. If your land cannot be ploughed you have to clear it
yourself.
3. Supply of inputs such as seeds, agro-chemicals, sacks,
and facilitate marketing of your produce.
4. Technical support from Agric. Extension staff of MOFA.
5. Training of farmers free of charge, where the need
arises.
The role of the District, Municipal and metropolitan
Assemblies
1. Supervision
2. Assist to acquire land
3. Provide land and equipment
4. Monitor activities
Exit Strategy
An organization or individual without an exit strategy may
be in a quagmire. At worst, an exit
strategy will save face; at best an exit strategy will peg a
withdrawal to the achievement of an objective worth more than the cost of
continued involvement.
Any business, be it farming, commerce or e manufacturing needs
to grow. In any business’ formative years, a push is needed. This push could be
in the form of capital, land or management. In terms of h agriculture,
resources such as land, capital and labour s need be expanded or intensified.
The Youth in Agriculture Programme is the channel through which the Government
of Ghana is giving a push to the youth.
In order to allow the youth to grow in their farming businesses,
young farmers participating in the various, components of YIAP need to be
weaned off at a point. , However, this will depend on which component or
enterprise the young farmer is involved in, because the gestation period of
each enterprise varies from the other. The young farmer at that point needs to
be, partially independent in terms of taking decisions, acquisition of inputs
and marketing of his/her produce.
The YIAP will introduce weaned young farmers to the appropriate
service providers and Banks such as Agricultural Development Bank, StanBic
Bank, etc.
The details of provision of credit to the farmer will be between
the farmer and the bank. The YIAP however will continue to maintain contacts
with the farmers in order to draw from their knowledge and experience for new
participants in the programme.
Crops/Block farm
Each young farmer will have to be encouraged to open a bank
account with the agricultural inclined banks as a first step. A young farmer
who is able to continue repaying his/her debts with YIAP will be allowed to
continue up to 3 years. After 3 years he has to look for his/her own land,
because it is expected that he/she will expand his farm from 2 hectares to 5
hectares and above hectares.
Livestock/Poultry
Each young farmer will be encouraged to open a bank account as a
general policy of the programme. Since the production cycle of poultry, rabbits
and pigs allow several in a year; a young farmer will be with the programme for
2years. It is expected that at the end of the second year, the farmer would
have gained enough knowledge and experience to be on his own. Financially he
would have saved some funds to enable him construct a simple animal house.
Aquiculture/ Fisheries
Young farmers will be weaned off after 1 year. The Cost-Benefit
analysis show that after two successful production cycles (will make about
50%of working capital invested as income),
young farmers should be able to save to construct their own
cages. The banks should be able to provide the farmer with working capital as
credit to enable them put into use their cages constructed.
Agribusiness
This component involves training of the youth in processing,
marketing and consultancy in various areas of agricultural production. The YIAP
will be able to keep participants up to I year. After 1 year, a young
participant will be weaned off the programme. To begin, especially for the
processors, simple processing equipment would be provided to them on credit
basis. For the working capital, weaned young participants would be introduced
to the appropriate financial institution.
