RE WRITING GHANA'S AGRIC STORY-THE NECESSITY OF A POSITIVE AGRO MINDSET

Indeed, the agriculture sector in Ghana has been pivotal in developing our economy. The sector employs about 60 percent of the population on a formal and informal basis, and account for almost half of GDP and export earnings. Yet it has not been given much prominence in its promotion and development.

The future of agriculture relies on the younger generation coming through to provide succession, add enthusiasm, bring fresh ideas and drive innovation.

Many youths completing education in institutions of learning have not been empowered enough to understand the requirements for profitable agricultural production and are engaged in daily search of scarce white collar jobs but a point to note is that, we have passed the age when we complete University and carry our certificates around for pounding the pavement. We are in the entrepreneurial age! The biggest issues in our country today are jobs and unemployment. That which directly affects the economy. Most tertiary students are under great amount of stress and anxiety and have no idea what the future holds for them as the competition in the 21^st century is keen. The way to break through is their ability to identify, exploit and manage natural resources within the broader concept of sustainable development, especially where they have also had universal education which they can fall on to generate their own job.  

The option of agricultural undertaking should be shown as a profitable option to the youthful group of population to compare with formal employment and should be understood as a national priority. Whether we like it or not, agriculture is still stigmatised in Ghana, making it difficult to attract young people’s interest to the sector. The youth have a critical opportunity to play a role in its development, but young graduates are not thinking about it as an option. Agriculture in Africa requires modernisation and new mind sets, there’s great potential in agriculture for the youth, but only if mindsets change now.

Ghana has over 60 percent of her population engaged in Agriculture; most of them are peasant farmers, growing only a few hectares of land. The larger part of the 60 percent figure are uneducated rural people, who really do not take farming as a business venture, but as a way of life, hence hardly attach the needed diligence required for successful farming operations. This contributes to their under performance. However, the very few educated; industrious, and entrepreneur-minded farmers are doing very well; harvesting thousands of hectares of cash crops, fruits and vegetables for export to the European and American markets. They operate mechanized farms, invest in the services of Extension Officers, install irrigational facilities, and put proper structures in place to prevent post harvest loses, and thus are making good returns on their investments.

So how do we create more of this kind of entrepreneurial minded farmers in Ghana? Study of agriculture and its patronage in related programmes are not adequately put on the front burner. Every year, thousands of graduates within the discipline are produced from tertiary institutions, so where are all these agric professionals?

We have a situation at hand where almost every young person in Ghana is shunning agriculture, including those who are being trained to take up professions in the sector.  They have eyes on jobs in the banks, hospitals and elsewhere. Right from childhood, working on the farm has been seen as a punitive measure for those who misbehave in school. For most people, agriculture has now become a retirement package, where after illustrious professions in public service, they jump onto to catch some rest ahead of “a call to glory”. But we should all be interested in encouraging young and educated people to get themselves involved in the Agricultural sector if we would ever want to see a wealthier Ghana than we find it now, because smart investments in agriculture has multiplier effects in many sectors of the economy and helps spread prosperity.

Whilst there are challenges to provide good training and the right image to attract young people to agriculture, there are opportunities and there are young people with the appetite to make agriculture their future. Agribusiness in Ghana would not grow by natural forces but we are convinced that the tables are turning, and that the future looks bright. But we need to create the appropriate environment for such enterprises to thrive. In this regard, the Agro Mindset Organisation was founded.

The AGRO MINDSET ORGANISATION is building capacity working out through training and changing attitudes. It has a clear mission to advocate the African youth to pursue Agriculture and related sciences, its entrepreneurial excellence and rural development. One component of this work is to train new interdisciplinary generation of agriculturists who would think innovatively about the challenges that lie ahead in this field. We believe that promoting global prosperity is both a moral duty and in our national interest in the area of Agriculture, since it represents tremendous value for money. In short, it is good for our economy, our safety and our future. This will make us see a better and brighter Ghana to preserve the hopes of tomorrow.

One strategy by which Agro Mindset Organisation seeks to address this trend is by organising “AGRO SUMMITS” to give platform for youthful discourse with visiting speakers from the world of agricultural industry. This is aimed at developing their business acumen as they partake to mature their enterprise skills. Additionally, it will work to stir up urgency in the area of agriculture in the youth; poise them about its impact and benefits, its self employment role and wealth creation.

The vision of the Agro Mindset Organisation is to build the green revolution where the youth having attained academic skill and knowledge relating to agriculture can develop the knowledge and skill towards career requirements and industry expectation, apply and transfer the knowledge, skill and technology in a variety of settings for sustainable development in Africa. This would lift agriculture to prominence in the Diaspora.

There is need for boosting support for agricultural research as part of a larger agenda to promote innovation, invest in enabling infrastructure, build human capacity, stimulate entrepreneurship and improve the governance of innovation.

We focus on agro-specific solutions. We further seek to champion entrepreneurship by enriching the youth to venture serious agribusiness to tap into the wealth of local knowledge and experience within agriculture. This project is one that has been carefully thought out as being among a series of advocacy programs aimed at lifting agriculture in Ghana to prominence. A new breed of creative and innovative generation will emerge from the youth, who will be poised for impact and transformation and will practice agriculture every day of their lives.

PHILOSOPHY – “Every social problem represents a business opportunity”

Anyone with the agro mindset would survey his environs (the informal and traditional sectors), identify an agribusiness opportunity, stalk it diligently (analyzing that business opportunity methodically), and then pounce to seize that opportunity, adjusting his actions according to the terrain in the environment. Fish rotting on the beaches because of a bumper catch or tomatoes rotting on the farms all represent business opportunities.

As long as agricultural growth in Sub-Saharan Africa remains below 3% annually, food security is wishful thinking.

"the Best Culture is Agriculture"

courtesy: David Asiamah, Director- Agro Mindset Organisation