Grow Africa for Me organises orientation programme to promote youth participation in Agribusiness
Initiative aims to equip young people with agribusiness skills and create sustainable employment opportunities
Grow Africa for Me has organised an onboarding orientation programme for young people in the Upper East Region as part of efforts to equip them with knowledge and opportunities within the agricultural value chain and contribute to reducing youth unemployment.
The orientation, held in Bolgatanga on Thursday, June 4, forms part of the organisation’s Youth in Agriculture and Employability Initiative, which seeks to expose young people to viable agribusiness opportunities and empower them to build sustainable livelihoods.
Speaking with the media, the Executive Director of Grow Africa for Me, Albert Shiebila Mali, said the programme was designed to broaden the perspectives of young people on the vast opportunities available in agriculture beyond primary production.
According to him, agriculture remains one of the most important sectors for economic growth and job creation.
“Citing a World Bank report, agriculture is among the leading contributors to economic development and is emerging as a sector with significant potential to outpace manufacturing and services in creating employment opportunities,” he said.
Mali noted that the Upper East Region possesses enormous agricultural potential, making it imperative to encourage the youth to take advantage of opportunities across the entire agricultural value chain.
“Based on the opportunities available in the Upper East Region, we developed the Youth in Agriculture and Employability Initiative to help young people appreciate that agriculture is not limited to farming alone but offers numerous opportunities in processing, marketing, agribusiness services, and other value chain activities,” he explained.
He highlighted the programme’s potential contribution to addressing youth unemployment, referencing data from the Ghana Statistical Service.
“According to the Ghana Statistical Service’s 2024 report, about 1.9 million young people are not in education, employment, or training. This initiative is our contribution towards reducing that number by equipping the youth with practical skills and entrepreneurial opportunities,” he stated.
Mali disclosed that the programme targets young people between the ages of 18 and 35 and begins with an orientation session before participants undergo comprehensive training.
He explained that the initiative is structured around four key components: training, coaching and mentorship, enterprise development support, and non-financial business support services aimed at helping participants establish and sustain agribusiness ventures.
Participants at the orientation expressed optimism about the programme, describing it as a timely intervention that would provide them with the knowledge, skills, and guidance needed to explore opportunities within the agribusiness sector.
They commended Grow Africa for Me for the initiative and pledged to take full advantage of the training to improve their livelihoods and contribute to agricultural development in the region.
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