WFP launches post-harvest mechanisation training programme
The World Food Programme (WFP) has launched a $100,000 post-harvest agricultural mechanisation training programme for the youth at Ohawu in the Ketu North Municipality of the Volta Region and Wenchi in the Bono Region.
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The two events are to benefit 1,750 agricultural engineering graduates, diploma holders, as well as national service persons in the next two-and-a-half years.
The host facilities for the implementation of the programme are the 60-year-old Ohawu Agricultural College in the Volta Region and the Wenchi Agricultural College.
The beneficiaries will be trained in the installation, maintenance, repair and operation of post-harvest equipment to contribute to the reduction of post-harvest losses and enhance food production.
Ohawu
At the Ohawu event last Friday, the Head of the Sustainable Food System at the WFP, Steven Odarteifio, said beneficiaries after completion of the training programme, would be offered employment in agribusiness across the country.
He said the programme, which was being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the National Service Scheme (NSS) and the Mastercard Foundation, would focus on training the next generation of ethical, technical and entrepreneurial youth to support food production and enhance food security.
“This will definitely boost their capacity for sustainable jobs in the agricultural sector and make them marketable to agribusinesses in the sub-region as well,” Mr Odarteifio added.
He announced that $2 million worth of quality and reliable agricultural, personal protection and post-harvest equipment, would be made available to 19 agribusinesses to support the practical aspect of the training.
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National Service Scheme
The Head of Business Development and Deputy Director of Projects of NSS, Gabriel Osei Jnr., said the scheme was committed to the total development of the youth in agriculture and other sectors.
In that regard, he said, NSS had contributed over the years to the reduction of graduate youth unemployment, for which reason, the training programme was timely and appropriate to the broader national interest.
“Our mission is to deploy for employment and this is what the programme seeks to achieve,” Mr Osei said. He gave an assurance that the NSS would throw its weight behind the programme to ensure its prompt and massive success.
The Volta Regional Director of Agriculture, William Dzamefe, said the programme was a game changer as it would give more food to the people and help to address post-harvest issues.
He pledged the Regional Department of Agriculture’s vigorous support for the programme.
A post-harvest expert at the WFP headquarters in Rome, Edoh Ognakossan, said food security could not be achieved without addressing post-harvest management, and the mechanisation training of young and energetic people was a move in the right direction and at the right time.
Agric engineers
The 250 beneficiaries of the Wenchi programme are part of the 500 young agriculture graduate engineers targeted to be trained across the country this year.
Mr Odarteifio said the WFP had observed that some of the country's agriculture colleges and universities lacked post-harvest losses equipment, which made it difficult for the students to fully acquire adequate knowledge and skills on post-harvest losses.
In that regard, he said the WFP was supporting them with additional equipment to beef up their equipment situations to improve their practical knowledge and experiences.
"The colleges and universities do not have enough equipment to make their studies more practical and this is also to equip them with the relevant skills to readily secure placement and job offers in agribusiness,” he said.
Mr Odarteifio said the WFP was highly committed to helping the country to reduce post-harvest losses, through the provision of post-harvest losses-related interventions.
Food security, support
The Wenchi Municipal Director of Agriculture, Emmanuel Afful, commended WFP for selecting the WAC to benefit from the training programme.
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Mr Afful said post-harvest management programmes such as the training programmes would improve food security and enhance the livelihoods of farmers.
The Bono Regional Director of Agriculture, Dennis Abugiri Amenga, urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously and gave an assurance that he would support them in the training when the need arose.
He said the knowledge and skills to be acquired would help them to contribute meaningfully to the transformation of the agricultural industry.