A Chief Farmer, Opanyin Kwasi Agyemfra, has suggested to the Government and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to set up Youth Farms in all the regions and districts to encourage the youth to take interest in agriculture to become gainfully employed.
He said there were vast fertile lands in every party of the country and when properly acquired from the chiefs and land owners, and managed well on behalf of the youth by the Ministry, it will help reduce unemployment and
prevent the youth from drifting to the urban centres looking for jobs that do not exist.
Opanyin Agyemfra made these proposals at a forum organized for a cross section of the youth, farmers, traders, food vendors and some concerned
citizens in communities around Akuapem area.
The Chief Farmer said it did not augur well for a country like Ghana which has large tracts of land and rivers for irrigation, to be importing rice, vegetables and other farm produce from neighbouring countries and appealed to the authorities to take a serious look at setting up Youth Farms which would help engage large army of unemployed youth.
He said before the country could be food sufficient, government should intervene by making available agricultural inputs and create the necessary environment that will motivate the youth to increase food production in the country.
Opanyin Agyemfra urged district assemblies to implement programmes that would create more jobs for the youth in their communities to help curb
rural-urban migration.