MoFA hands over 100,000 starter packs to YEA
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has handed over 100,000 starter packs to the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) for onward distribution to farmers under the Youth in Agriculture for Sustainable Employment programme.
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A starter pack is made up of one spraying machine, a pair of Wellington boots, an overall coat, a goggle, gloves and a machete for menial work.
The programme is geared towards youth employment and is expected to generate about 200,000 jobs across the country.
So far, more than 52,0000 youth have applied for support from the YEA since the project was launched in October last year.
Donation
The Sector Minister, Dr Bryan Acheampong, handed over the items to the Chief Executive Officer of YEA, Kofi Baah Agyepong, at the Agricultural and Engineering Services Directorate of the ministry, near Burma Camp in Accra yesterday.
The minister explained that the donation formed part of the government’s commitment to make agriculture attractive to young people by removing the drudgery associated with the sector.
Beyond the donation, Dr Acheampong said the ministry would make other mechanisation equipment such as power tillers (walking tractors) and planters available for the young farmers at the district level to support young people interested in agriculture.
“This is our commitment to bringing a lot of young people into the agriculture sector and also helping to remove the drudgery in the sector for the young people who only see farming as a hoe and cutlass business,” he said.
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The minister said his office would continue to support young people in the sector in any way possible to boost employment and increase the country’s level of food self-sufficiency.
Gratitude
Mr Agyepong expressed gratitude to the sector minister for the support.
“We think this is very timely as it would go a long way to support the young farmers. This shows how important this government takes agriculture,” he said.
He disclosed that plans were far advanced to start planting on farmlands in Agogo and Wenchi, where the ministry had helped YEA in the mechanisation of those farmlands.