A student of Bunsu Cocoa College, Hamid Mohammed Shaban, is urging young people to look beyond traditional farming and explore the wide range of business opportunities available in agriculture, stressing that owning farmland is not a prerequisite for success in the sector.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show during a discussion on why young people should embrace agribusiness, Mr Shaban challenged the perception that agriculture is only about farming, saying the industry offers countless opportunities for entrepreneurs willing to identify and solve problems within their communities.
According to him, there is no single agricultural venture that guarantees success. Instead, aspiring agribusiness owners should focus on opportunities that exist around them and make the most of available resources.
Responding to a question about where the biggest opportunities lie for young people entering the sector, he noted that successful farmers and agribusiness operators often view their own area of expertise as the most profitable.
“It is difficult to point to one specific area and tell a young person that this is where they should go,” he said. “Through my experience with Agrihouse, we visited several large farms involved in crop production, animal production and agricultural services. Everyone with a success story believes the area they are operating in is profitable.”
Mr Shaban advised young people to start small and build on the resources already available to them, particularly because raising capital remains one of the biggest challenges for many aspiring entrepreneurs.
“I would encourage young people to look around their environment and identify what they already have. Accessing resources to start an agricultural business is not always easy, so begin with what is within your reach,” he said.
He explained that opportunities vary from one region to another. In cocoa-growing communities, for example, young people can venture into seedling production, pruning services and other support activities within the cocoa value chain. Likewise, those living in areas known for pineapple, cassava or other crops can explore businesses connected to those commodities.
“If you are in a cocoa-growing area, look at opportunities in raising seedlings or providing pruning services. If you are in Nsawam and pineapple farming is common there, take advantage of that. If you are in the Volta Region where cassava is widely cultivated, explore opportunities around cassava. The key is to start with what is available in your area,” he said.
Mr Shaban also dismissed the long-held belief that agriculture is only profitable for people who own land.
“There is a saying that the closer you are to the soil in agriculture, the poorer you become. Young people need to move beyond that mindset because agriculture is not only about owning a farm. There is so much you can do in the sector without having farmland,” he stated.
He identified post-harvest losses as one of the biggest challenges in the agricultural value chain and a major opportunity for young entrepreneurs.
Citing reports of unsold maize in northern Ghana, he suggested that organised youth groups could buy produce directly from farmers, transport it to markets where demand exists and generate income while solving a critical problem.
“Doing it alone can be difficult, which is why young people should come together,” he said. “The reality is that you make money by solving people’s problems. Look at the challenges farmers and communities are facing and find ways to provide valuable solutions.”
He encouraged young people to form associations, build trust within their communities and work collectively to mobilise resources and attract support.
“Come together as a group, go to farming communities, buy produce, transport it and connect it to markets. You do not need to own a farm before you can make money from agriculture,” he stressed.
Mr Shaban believes negative perceptions about agriculture persist largely because many young people have not been exposed to the business side of the industry.
“I think this perception of agriculture as sweaty work done in tattered clothes comes from a lack of visibility and education. People are not being taught that agriculture is not only about survival; it is also a serious business,” he said.
He praised Agrihouse Foundation for providing practical exposure to participants, saying the organisation helped him see agriculture from a different perspective.
“Agrihouse did not just keep us in classrooms talking about agriculture. They took us to large farms and introduced us to people who are successfully running agriculture as a business,” he said.
According to him, many young people only encounter small-scale farmers and therefore miss the broader financial opportunities that exist within the sector.
“With the right exposure, training, knowledge and mentorship, I believe perceptions about agriculture will change,” he said.
He also criticised the tendency within some schools to use farming activities as a form of punishment, arguing that it reinforces negative attitudes toward agriculture.
“In many basic and senior high schools, whenever a student misbehaves, they are asked to go and weed. That makes people associate agriculture with punishment, but that is not what it is,” he noted.
Reflecting on his experience at an agricultural boot camp, Mr Shaban said he was surprised to discover how many successful people are building wealth through agriculture while defying common stereotypes about farmers.
“I realised there are people making a lot of money in agriculture, yet you would never know it just by looking at them. If you judge agriculture only by sweat and worn-out clothes, you will be mistaken. The sector has changed significantly, and it continues to evolve,” he said.