By Elizabeth PUNSU
A groundbreaking agricultural program spearheaded by the Mastercard Foundation in collaboration with Agri-Impact Limited aims to decrease the nation’s food import expenses by GH¢200 million. Additionally, this initiative will generate more than 326,000 job opportunities for youth across the country.
Dubbed the
‘Fostering Agricultural Productivity and Prosperity for Youth (FAPPY)’
The program centers around four crucial supply chains—rice, soybeans, tomatoes, and poultry—which have been pinpointed as significant industries with substantial reliance on imported products.
The HAPPY program syncs with Ghana’s overarching aim of enhancing economic resilience and empowering young people, providing locally developed answers to persistent issues within the agricultural industry.
At the launch of the HAPPY Agri-SMEs and Microentrepreneurs program in Kumasi, Juliana Asante-Dartey, who serves as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Agri-Impact, stated that this initiative aims to enhance productivity within chosen agricultural sectors by 22 percent over the coming four-year period.
Majority of the chicken we eat comes from imports. Significant quantities of tomatoes are brought in from adjacent nations. The local poultry and food processing sectors largely rely on soybeans; however, our domestic production does not meet this demand sufficiently.
“Under the HAPPY program, our objective is to generate approximately 8 million broiler chickens and boost national food production by 189,000 metric tons within four years. This initiative aims to close the food supply gap and cut down our import expenses by GH₵200 million,” stated Ms. Asante-Dartey.
The program is also intended to provide substantial socioeconomic advantages. It seeks to generate 326,000 “respectful and rewarding” employment opportunities for young Ghanaians by 2027, placing a high priority on inclusivity.
A minimum of 70 percent of these positions will be allocated to young women, along with extra support measures for individuals with disabilities.
The HAPPY project is now active in 51 districts spanning 14 regions and involving 238 communities. It has quickly gained traction, engaging thousands of youths in various training and production initiatives.
Ms. Asante-Dartey highlighted that by the conclusion of the four-year initiative, the program aims to do more than just reshape youth employment; it also seeks to bolster the private sector’s contribution to enhancing national food security.
Aiming at young people between 15 and 35 years old, the HAPPY program is carried out by a strong team of eight members including TechnoServe, Newage Agric Solutions, National Service Authority (NSA), Ghana CARES (MiDA), Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), and Jobberman.
Attracting young people to farming
Daniel Ninson, who leads Agriculture initiatives at the Mastercard Foundation, emphasized the program’s aim to make farming a more appealing and feasible choice for youth.
It’s clear that agriculture continues to be one of the biggest job providers in Ghana; however, numerous youth perceive it as less appealing or out of reach,” he stated. “HAPPY is shifting this perspective—opening up possibilities throughout the whole agricultural sector, including areas like processing, transportation, distribution networks, supplying inputs, agri-tech innovations, and sustainable farming practices.
He stressed that Mastercard Foundation’s mission is grounded in the conviction that youth play a crucial role in driving Africa’s economic growth.
“Programmes such as HAPPY allow us to invest in young entrepreneurs, female-led ventures, and companies focused on expansion, which are crucial for driving economic growth—particularly within the agricultural sector,” Mr. Ninson stated additionally.
The part TechnoServe plays in the program
Within the consortium framework, TechnoServe has been assigned responsibilities for promoting value chain enhancement, fostering entrepreneurial activities, ensuring gender inclusivity, improving marketing strategies, and managing funds.
TechnoServe aims to provide direct assistance to 21 agricultural small and medium-sized enterprises spanning all four supply chains, with the objective of generating 13,440 job opportunities for young people.
Their initiatives encompass: Overseeing a US$441,671 micro-grant designed to offer initial funding to 228 youths, notably young females and individuals with disabilities; managing a US$565,680 catalyst fund to assist 16 chosen agricultural small and medium-sized enterprises (agri-SMEs) through business restructuring services; and supervising a US$135,000 innovative grant focused on testing crop insurance in vulnerable regions within the projects.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.
Syndigate.info
).
Leave a Reply