Bishop of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Alfred Agyenta, is urging the youth of Ghana to embrace the opportunities presented by the agricultural sector for them to be self-reliant and not put their hopes only on securing white color jobs.
His call for the youth to embrace the agricultural sector comes at a time when the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocesan Development Organization (NABOCADO) has rolled out a training program to equip 30 young people, who have been recruited with the requisite skills to engage in Piggery and Cat catfish farming in the Upper East and North East Regions.
The Program spearheaded by the Livelihood and Advocacy Directorate dubbed the Ghana, Germany, and Uganda Partnership Cooperation Program seeks to give the beneficiaries practical ways of sustaining themselves through pig and Cat Fish farming.
These methods of farming are not too dependent on climate since many aspects of agriculture are threatened by worsening climatic conditions.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of the 5-day training at the Farmer Training Center in the Talensi District, Most Rev. Alfred Agyenta noted that the program apart from helping to reduce the unemployment dynamics also addresses hunger and food insecurity.
He urged the beneficiaries to make the most of the training and to be able to put the knowledge to judicious use by engaging themselves productively.
“We are facing a situation of unemployment, especially for the public sector, it is choked and therefore, what we are looking at is how we can empower individuals to be on their own so that you don’t have to go looking for a job. You can be self-reliant and you have your dignity and also for the community. I am hoping that you will make good use of the opportunity for it to benefit others.” He told the beneficiaries.
Director for Livelihood and Advocacy with the Catholic Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga, Dominic Avea, said his outfit noted with concern the low participation of the youth in agriculture.
With the unavailability of employment opportunities, NABOCADO finds alternatives in Piggery and Cat Fish Farming as more viable and self-sustaining for the youth to enhance their living conditions.
He explained that there is a huge gap as Ghana continues to import pigs with Cat Fish being a new area that is far more beneficial hence, the decision to equip the youth with skills to make them self-sufficient.
Mr. Avea stated that as part of the project, they will visit the beneficiaries in their respective communities.
“This training is practically based and for the start, we are looking at piggery and catfish value chain. We have seen that they have a business potential. We have a gap in the supply of meat and we have seen how Ghana is importing pork from other countries so we think that the youth can engage in these two while we roll out the other training. So, this training is a five-day intensive practical training.” He emphasized.
Some participants, who took part in the training, said that the training would equip them to ply their trade profitably.
