An initiative aimed at empowering young girls to develop interest in agriculture was launched in Accra yesterday.
Dubbed Agric4Girls, this project, developed by the Young Farmers Development Organization (YOFDO), a subsidiary of Count on Crops hub Limited also aims to address the unique challenges faced by girls in agribusiness.
Count on Crops Hub Limited established in 2020, is an African-led, youth-based institution dedicated to improving agricultural production and driving inclusive agricultural transformation in Ghana.
Agic4Girls targets girls at the secondary level and university graduates, introducing them to the agricultural value chain and the diverse career opportunities within it.
It further seeks to dismantle traditional gender roles and misconceptions about women’s capabilities in agriculture, empowering young girls to become self-employed entrepreneurs who positively influence their communities.
Launching the initiative, a Deputy Minister pf Food and Agriculture, Mr Yaw Frimpong Addo commended YOFDO for initiating such a project.
He mentioned that in the quest for an all inclusive society, the countless number of young women and girls whose future hang in the balance should not be forgotten.
The deputy minister revealed that his outfit had a Directorate that focused on the work of women with focus on creating nutrition literate and nourished communities, promoting consumer confidence and boosting trade through food safety and above all, gender mainstreaming. All in a bid to contirbute to building human capital.
“It is heartwarming to note that the core of the Agric4Girls initiative lies simple yet a powerful vision, to empower unemployed young women to become self-employed entrepreneurs who can positively influence their communities,” he added.
Mr Frimpong reiterated that agriculture remained the oldest profession and remained the backbone of every economy therefore by focusing on it, the Agric4Girls initiative not only addresses the urgent need for economic opportunities but also recognising the invaluable contributions that women and girls could make to the agric sector.
Co-Founder of YOFDO, Mrs Enyonam Manye Adjetey, in her remarks emphasised the importance of financial support and social change in achieving the project’s goals.
She mentioned that Agric4Girls aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including poverty reduction, zero hunger, gender equality, and decent work and economic growth.
“By providing training and resources, Agric4Girls aims to make agriculture a viable and attractive career path for young women.”
“The initiative calls for partnerships with government, private institutions, donor partners, and other stakeholders to maximize its impact and address youth unemployment, especially among young girls,” Mrs Adjetey added.
She highlighted the success of Count on Crops Hub Limited’s previous initiatives, which have benefited thousands of farmers and agricultural sector players, “Agric4Girls builds on this foundation, striving to create a brighter future for young women in agriculture.”
