Create convenience for customers and they will pay for it – Young Agripreneurs urged
YAEP facilitator urges youth to focus on value creation, customer convenience, and market-driven agribusiness strategies
Beneficiaries of the Youth in Agriculture and Employability Programme (YAEP) have received intensive training in agribusiness management aimed at equipping them with practical skills to succeed across the agricultural value chain.
The training, held in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region, forms part of efforts to empower young people with entrepreneurial competencies and position them for sustainable careers in agriculture.
Participants were taken through opportunities available in agricultural production, processing, aggregation, marketing, and other support services within the agribusiness sector.
Facilitating the training, the Executive Director of GrowAfrica For Me (GAFM), Albert Shiebila Mali, encouraged participants to take advantage of interventions and support programmes provided by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and other development partners.
He noted that many opportunities exist for young agripreneurs, but access is often limited by inadequate information and lack of preparedness.
Mali advised participants interested in primary agricultural production to undertake thorough market assessments before investing in any commodity.
According to him, understanding market demand is critical to avoiding post-harvest losses and ensuring profitable returns on investment.
He urged young farmers to adopt a market-driven approach by producing commodities that meet consumer needs and market requirements.
For participants interested in agribusiness trading and agro-processing, Mali stressed the importance of creating convenience and value for customers.
“Create convenience for your customers and they will be willing to cover the cost,” he said, adding that innovation, quality packaging, and customer satisfaction are essential for business growth.
Addressing participants interested in aggregation, he highlighted the need for strong quality control measures and closer collaboration with smallholder farmers.
He explained that training farmers in good agronomic practices would help improve the quality, consistency, and reliability of agricultural produce.
The training also emphasised the importance of organising farmers into groups, cooperatives, and associations, particularly women-led groups, to improve access to markets and financial services.
Participants were encouraged to support the formation of Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) as a means of strengthening the economic resilience of farming communities.
The Youth in Agriculture and Employability Programme, developed by GrowAfrica For Me, targets young people between the ages of 18 and 35 and seeks to transform them from job seekers into job creators.
Beyond classroom instruction, the programme offers coaching, mentorship, enterprise matching, and start-up support to help participants establish and sustain successful agribusiness ventures.
Organisers believe the initiative will contribute to increased youth employment, stronger local economies, enhanced food security, and greater youth participation in agriculture while reducing rural-urban migration.
Mike 105.3FM I Navrongo | Prosper Adankai
