An online platform, Agrigatefarm, which aims to enhance agricultural knowledge and promote self-reliance in agriculture among Ghanaians, was yesterday launched in Accra.
The initiative by Agricgate Edutech Limited would offer patrons, especially the youth in the country with crucial skills in agriculture to enable them to succeed in the sector.
By leveraging technology and providing accessible and practical training, Agricgate hopes to inspire a new generation of farmers and entrepreneurs in Ghana.
At the inaugural ceremony, a Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, in charge of crops, Yaw Frimpong Addo, said the website was an innovative platform that would help combat unemployment by providing free training.
He stated that the platform is designed to be user-friendly and can be accessed from any device with an internet connection, making it convenient for users in both urban and rural areas.
Mr Addo commended Agricgate for its efforts in educating the public about agriculture.
He advised individuals who had the intention of going into farming to approach agriculture as a business rather than a hobby, stressing the importance of passion and hands-on involvement.
“Agriculture is something that you must have a passion for, and it should be; if not for yourself direct supervision”, he said.
“The current Ghanaian youth have lost interest in pursuing agriculture as a profession due to prevalent negative perceptions, “he added.
He also pledged governmental support for Agrigatefarm under the flagship planting for Food and Jobs programme, emphasising its significance in nurturing a new generation of agriculturists.
The CEO of Agricgatefarm, Mr Felix Appiah Nyarko, said the platform’s mission was revolutionise agriculture in Ghana, particularly among the youth.
He stressed the importance of collaborative efforts from stakeholders within the agricultural ecosystem to make agriculture a beacon of hope for aspiring youth and dissuade them from seeking opportunities abroad.
He called upon corporate entities and individuals to lend support to Agricgatefarm, advocating for the sustainability of the programme to incentivise more youth to venture into agriculture.
BY BENEDICTA GYIMAAH FOLLEY
