Adako-jachie: Fairtrade Africa has emphasized the need for policy reforms that will encourage more youth to venture into commercial-scale farming, especially cocoa growing. These changes must include land reforms to provide access to affordable leases, microloans tailored to the unique needs of cocoa farmers, and incentives for intercropping - allowing farmers to earn income while their cocoa trees mature.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Samuel Osei Kwadwo, Project Manager at Fairtrade Africa, stated it was time to demonstrate that cocoa farming could be a viable business not just for the upper ages, but all age brackets. It is also vital to equip young people with the skills and resources they need to thrive in the sector. Speaking at the 2025 International Youth Day at Adako-Jachie, near Ejisu, in the Ashanti region, he observed that the high cost of land had been a major challenge which deterred most young people from venturing into cocoa farming. 'Land is scarce and expensive, and even when a young person secures a plot, the financial burden of starting a cocoa farm is huge'.
This year's event under the theme: 'Local Youth Action for the Sustainable Development Goals and Beyond: Youth Empowerment for a Sustainable Future' brought together young people already working within cocoa, mango, and pineapple cooperatives, including young managers, dedicated executive members, and budding entrepreneurs. Mr. Osei, touching on Fairtrade Africa's commitment to supporting sustainable agricultural practices and bridging the gap between aging and young farmers, said it envisioned a future where technology empowered young farmers by providing real-time market information, weather forecasts, and access to best practices. The overall goal was to see cocoa farmers not just as producers, but entrepreneurs who managed their businesses with confidence and reaped the rewards of their hard work.
Mr. Felix Tetteh, Fairtrade International Youth Ambassador and a cocoa farmer, said there was a critical need to address the aging cocoa farmer population in Ghana, where the average age is between 55 and 60 years, a situation he described as posing a significant threat to the future of Ghana's vital cocoa industry. He stressed the need to make agriculture more attractive to young people, as the current situation was not sustainable. The Youth Ambassador indicated that since agriculture was a long-term investment, especially in cocoa and other cash crop production, young farmers needed access to grants and soft loans to sustain themselves during the early years. He, therefore, called on policymakers and stakeholders to invest in solutions that empowered young farmers and address these critical challenges to sustain the agricultural sector.
