Isaac Appaw Gyasi, Municipal Chief Executive for New Juaben South, advocates for unemployed youth to embrace opportunities in the agriculture sector as a viable source of income.
During the 39th National Farmers Day celebration at Mile-50 community, he emphasized the lucrative business prospects within the food system value chain that could effectively combat unemployment.
Gyasi highlighted the government’s commitment to supporting large-scale farmers through the second phase of the “Planting for Food and Jobs” program.
This initiative aims to provide equipment and subsidies, fostering increased productivity and supplying small and medium enterprises to generate more job opportunities for the youth.
Speaking on the theme “Delivering Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience,” Isaac Appaw Gyasi stressed the importance of leveraging technology and innovation to enhance productive capacity, ensuring food security amid population growth and various challenges in the agricultural sector.
“A lot of factors affect food security in the country. These factors include low productivity, limited market access, climate change, improper application of farming methods, and change in rainfall patterns amongst others. Hence it is crucial to identify and deliver smart solutions that can enhance resilience of the food system and ensure food security” the MCE stated.
He said the municipal assembly has distributed 725 poultry birds to 50 poultry farmers,13, 729 coconut seedlings and 11,238 oil palm seedlings as well as 1000 birds and 97 litres of fall armyworm chemicals to farmers.
The MCE stated that the Eastern commodity satellite market event is encouraging value addition of agri-products which 21 products have been processed as packaged for sale in the municipality.
Tharzia Numako Akwetey, New Juaben South Municipal Director of Agriculture, acknowledged challenges such as inadequate farmlands but highlighted innovative approaches, including backyard farming, to sustain food security in the municipality.
The celebration honored 17 farmers, with Emmanuel Gbeve, a 51-year-old resident of Trom, being recognized as the overall Municipal Best Farmer for 2023.
Gbeve received various rewards, including a tricycle, GTP Wax print, Wellington boots, cutlasses, a knapsack machine, fertilizer, pesticides, and a certificate.
Noteworthy awards also went to William Bako(a visually impaired) recognized as the Best Disabled Farmer, and Amos Nyalimo, adjudged the Municipal Best Youth Farmer.
Elizabeth Serwaa received the title of Municipal Best Woman Farmer.
Yaa Ansaa Safori, a parliamentary aspirant hopeful for the NPP in New Juaben South,a sponsor for the Municipal Best Youth Farmer award, which went to Amos Nyalimo ,generously donated to him items including a Polytank, GTP Wax print, Wellington boots, cutlasses, knapsack machine, and a box of pesticides.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Kojo Ansah
