The Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research (ISSER) in collaboration with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) held a roundtable discussion on the theme Youth, Employment and Agriculture on January 22, 2015 at the University of Ghana. The roundtable discussion looked at how the agricultural sector could serve as a provider of employment for youth and the conditions necessary for youth to embrace agriculture as a profession in Ghana. Presentations were made by each of the panelists on various topics of relevance to the above theme, such as: the dynamics of the Ghanaian labor market; the perceptions and aspirations of the youth; how agriculture can provide the kind of lifestyle that usually attracts the youth to urban areas and the effectiveness of public intervention; and global best practices. The panel consisted of: Dr. William Baah-Boateng (Senior Lecturer, Economics Department, University of Ghana), Dr. Nana Akua Anyidoho (Senior Research Fellow, ISEER), Alhaji Adam Mahama (National Coordinator, Youth in Agriculture Programme), Dr. Paul Dorosh (Division Director, Development Strategy and Governance Division, IFPRI), and Dr. James Thurlow (Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI). The discussion was moderated by Professor Felix Asante (Director, ISSER).
The outcome of the roundtable discussion centered around four key policy issues: agricultural infrastructure, access to land, market system, and perception of agriculture. A key to attracting labor to the agricultural sector is profitability. This requires secure access to land for farming, investments in agricultural infrastructure that is strategic and well-coordinated, and a functioning market system that will stimulate demand and provide access to credit. These reforms would make help reduce costs to the farmer and attract more investment to agriculture. In addition, the perception of agriculture as a last resort profession can shift through education that teaches agriculture as a viable business. A policy report summarizing these discussions will be released by ISSER in the upcoming months.
