The Minister of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Eric Opoku, has urged the teeming unemployed youth to engage in farming, as the government does more to modernise agriculture.
He said the agriculture sector and farming in particular remained a lucrative enterprise with huge prospects to improve the socio-economic livelihoods of the people.
Mr Opoku dispelled the wrong public perception that farming was not lucrative and reserved for the poor, saying, “Many of the successful individuals in the country are engaged in farming.”
“In fact, the biggest farmer in the country now is President John Dramani Mahama, and no farmer in Ghana cultivates more onions, maize, and rice than he does,” Mr Opoku stated.
The minister gave the advice when he spoke at the dedication of Apostle Clement Brakatu Temple of the Apostles’ Continuation Church International in Sunyani on the theme, “Except the Lord build the house.”
Mr Opoku said, “Many prominent individuals are reaping substantial benefits from agriculture,” urging the youth to engage in farming to better their lot.
He expressed worry that presently the country spends at least $400 million annually on tomato imports from Burkina Faso, saying, “If we stop importing tomatoes, that money can be redirected to building factories and creating more job opportunities for the youth.”
Mr Opoku stated that the government had introduced the Feed Ghana Programme to promote the growth of the agricultural sector, making the sector more attractive and inspiring the masses to engage in backyard gardening, thereby contributing to household food security.
He said, “Senior high schools are being encouraged to engage in farming to feed their students, with institutions being encouraged to venture into large-scale farming under the feed programme”.
Mr Opoku said the profitability in farming moved him to actively engage in the enterprise, adding that “many politicians, former and present ministers of state, as well as Members of Parliament, are now farmers.”
He regretted what he described as the under-utilisation of the nation’s fertile and arable lands, saying, “Despite our abundant arable lands, we have not cultivated them sufficiently, and as a result, we import tomatoes and onions from Burkina Faso and Niger.”
The MP for the Sunyani East Constituency, Seid Mubarak, noted that the construction and dedication of the temple was a testament to the commitment of religious bodies to preach the gospel and thereby shape society.