Accra: Dr Afua Ansre of UN Women Ghana emphasized the boundless potential of youth in agribusiness, stating they need access to finance, mentorship, market integration, and digital literacy. She urged the government to implement policies that remove these barriers and ignite their entrepreneurial spirit.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr Ansre made these remarks at the inaugural AgriBiz Youth and Women Dialogue (AYWD). The event, themed 'Sustaining and Scaling Youth and Women-led Agribusiness for Economic Growth,' is an initiative by Africa Skills Hub Foundation in collaboration with the National Youth Authority. It aims to provide a platform for young people and women in agriculture to share experiences, address challenges, and explore opportunities.
The dialogue focuses on increasing the voices of these groups, promoting collaboration, and advocating for inclusive policies. It also seeks to identify the key challenges faced by young people and women in agribusiness and propose actionable solutions. Emerging opportunities in agribusiness, including innovative financing and technology, were also discussed.
Dr Ansre highlighted the crucial role of women in agriculture, noting their responsibility for household food security and nutrition. Supporting women farmers directly impacts healthier families and communities. She emphasized bridging the gender and youth gap through targeted interventions. Research shows that equal access to resources for female farmers can increase farm yields by 20-30%.
She mentioned Ghana's $4 billion annual agricultural financing gap, as estimated by the African Development Bank (AfDB). Dr Ansre urged prioritizing credit facilities for women and youth, offering favorable terms. She cited Rwanda's success, where youth-led innovations boosted agricultural productivity by 15% over five years, as an example for Ghana to follow.
Furthermore, Dr Ansre pointed out that digital agriculture solutions could increase farm productivity by up to 70% and reduce post-harvest losses by 30%, according to the World Bank. She highlighted young entrepreneurs across Africa pioneering technologies like drone-assisted irrigation and AI-driven soil analysis.
She called on governments, financial institutions, development partners, and civil society to collaboratively support these groups. Investment in women and empowerment of young people was deemed essential to transform agriculture into a prosperous, innovative, and sustainable sector for all Ghanaians. Dr Ansre concluded by urging collective action to cultivate a brighter future for Ghana's agribusiness sector.
Mr Daniel Antwi, Executive Director of Africa Skills Hub, reiterated the importance of capacity building, capital access, and community engagement in supporting youth and women enterprises. He noted that the dialogue provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities within youth and women-led agribusinesses.
