Dr. Zanetor Rawlings, the Member of Parliament for Korle Klottey, has encouraged young people to pursue careers in agriculture in order to lessen their reliance on the government for jobs.
At the ceremony, Ms. Zanetor Rawlings, MP for the Klottey Korle Constituency, was questioned by some journalists.
At the ceremony, Ms. Zanetor Rawlings (right), MP for the Klottey Korle Constituency, was questioned by some journalists. ESTHER ADJEI PHOTO
She stated that the majority of young people do not regard agriculture as a viable and lucrative career option, despite the fact that there are numerous chances in the industry that might employ thousands of unemployed people.
“The government cannot supply work for 30 million people, and even during mass recruiting, only a few people are chosen,” she added. “As a result, the country must recognize agriculture as a source of growth and a big employer.”
Dr. Rawlings spoke at the screening and shortlisting of beneficiaries for the National Agricultural Capacity Building and Business Setup Roadshow in Accra last Saturday (NAGRICA).
NAGRICA
Over the course of 36 months, the Agrihouse Foundation’s project aims to teach and support 200 people in each region in the establishment of rabbit and mushroom enterprises.
Its main goal is to empower the most vulnerable members of society in order to alleviate the country’s economic distress.
What Is The Purpose Of The Project
Dr. Rawlings noted that the project was part of a larger attempt to address difficulties in the agriculture sector, since the COVID-19 pandemic had worsened the economic situation of the youth and disadvantaged.
“The goal is to provide young people with opportunities in agriculture and agribusiness.” “We’re trying to transform people’s perceptions so that farming is no longer seen as simply for the elderly in the village, but as a sector that can provide jobs and help young people, women, and people with disabilities earn money even in the face of a pandemic or an economic crisis,” she explained.
She explained that the rabbit and mushroom were chosen since, aside from the health benefits, they did not require any extraordinary technical expertise, extensive training, or a large amount of land.
Another goal of the project, she said, was to address the question of whether or not everyone should be able to start an agricultural project.
“Because starting a farm is so capital intensive, a lot of people who are very interested can’t even dream of doing it because they don’t have the money,” Dr. Rawlings explained. “We want to remove the financial concern from people’s interest and commitment by providing them with tools to make their dreams come true.”
Vulnerable Populations
Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, the Executive Director of the Agrihouse Foundation, said the organization recognized the issues encountered by vulnerable women and people with disabilities, particularly in terms of employment.
“We recognize the hurdles, but we believe we can teach and assist the establishment of rabbit and mushroom enterprises for 200 people in each region over the course of 36 months,” she added.
“At Agrihouse Foundation, we regard this project as a scaled-up version of our annual Agricultural Students Mentorship Program, which aims to develop agricultural entrepreneurs,” she explained.