By Evans Worlanyo Ameamu, GNA
Ho (V/R), March 24, GNA – Volta Youth in Agriculture, a focused agricultural advocacy group in the Region has called on the government to prioritise the establishment of Farmer Service Centres (FSCs) in the region following the initiative to launch the first facility in the Afram Plains.
The group commended the President for honouring his campaign promise and noted that the planned FSC at Afram Plains presented a major opportunity to boost agricultural productivity and improved livelihoods in that part of the country.
In a press release dated March 20, singed by Madam Joy Fiamawle, the Public Relations Officer of the group, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, expressed excitement over the government’s initiative led by President John Dramani Mahama to establish the first Farmer Service Centre.
“We really appreciate the initiatives by the government; it is a move which can significantly improve and transform the agricultural landscape for the best in the country which will also ginger the youth to go into agriculture,” she said.
She however urged the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Eric Opoku, and the deputy, Mr John Dumelo, to consider extending the initiative to the Volta Region to improve development of agriculture in the region.
According to the group, many young people engaged in agriculture were anticipating such interventions, to sustain their interest in farming and make the sector more attractive.
“Our emphasis is that farming remains not only a source of livelihood, but also an integral part of the country’s heritage and future, despite the numerous challenges confronting young farmers, and the Farmer Service Centre will be of a great intervention.”
The group noted the numerous challenges they faced in the sector including limited access to reliable agricultural information, difficulty in obtaining quality seeds, and inadequate knowledge of modern farming techniques.
They also pointed to the lack of access to essential machinery for land preparation, planting, and harvesting as a major obstacle facing youth in agriculture and appealed to government to provide assistance.
The group believed that the establishment of Farmer Service Centres in the Volta Region would serve as a critical support system for young farmers, to provide training opportunities and access to high-quality resources.
They noted that such centres would create a platform for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and innovation among farmers which would in a long round strengthen the agricultural value chain.
GNA
Edited by: Maxwell Awumah/George-Ramsey Benamba