Accra: The government has reaffirmed its commitment to building an agriculture sector that is focused on programmes and systems aimed at improving access to finance, markets, knowledge, and opportunities for women and youth. Dr Peter Boamah Otukunor, Director of Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness, emphasized that women and youth, who form the backbone of the country's agricultural sector, remained at the margin of opportunities despite their significant contributions.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr Otukunor highlighted the challenges faced by women and youth in the agricultural sector, noting that many are full of ideas but lack the capital to grow, while others struggle to find markets or face cultural and institutional barriers that limit their access to training. He stressed the need for pragmatic policies and systems to address these barriers and promote socio-economic development.
Dr Otukunor made these remarks at the two-day ELIGREEN Women and Youth Agribusiness Exhibition Summit (EWAYES 25) in Accra, which attracted research institutions, food producers, and processors in the value chain. The summit, themed 'Breaking Barriers: Securing Markets Access for Women and Youth in Agribusiness Sector,' provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss challenges and opportunities in the sector.
Under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, the government has launched new flagship initiatives, including the Dobidi out-grower programme, which targets 10,000 acres of rice and 50,000 acres of maize, providing input support to smallholder farmers. The Dobidi Agro-Input Credit and Farmer Financing Platform aims to connect farmers to agro-input credit, affordable farmer financing, technical support, aggregators, offtakers, and financial support.
Dr Otukunor also announced the launch of the School Farm Initiative, which aims to transform schools into centres of agricultural learning and production, targeting over 15,000 acres in 1,000 schools. Additionally, the Youth Agricultural Estate Programme will provide structural programmes through commercial farming, irrigation, and market access for young graduates. He urged financial institutions to support these initiatives and encouraged the youth to participate in these transformative efforts.
Mr Evans Darko, the Head of Small Medium Enterprises (SME) Banking at Ghana Exim Bank, revealed that the bank had invested over GhS 50 million to finance the agricultural value chain and was currently investing in poultry and rice production. He encouraged the youth and producers to take advantage of this initiative.
Madam Sophia Karen Edem Ackuaku, the Founder of ELIGREEN HUB, commended the participants for their presence and support, emphasizing the need to break down barriers that hindered access to markets, finance, and innovation for women and youth in agribusiness. She highlighted the importance of empowerment and redefining the future of agriculture through these efforts.