Youth in agriculture: Prospects and challenges in the Sissala area of Ghana

Abstract

Agriculture is core to every nation’s development especially in this 21^st century; hence, the investment on it by both developed and the developing countries. In a developing country like Ghana, however, more people are involved in agriculture but attract limited investment. Youth participation in agriculture for its sustained contribution to a nation’s development is crucial but this is not ascertained in the study area. This paper discusses the findings of a study which was principally a limited youth participation in agriculture. The survey was carried out in the Sissala area of Ghana, comprising of the Sissala East and Sissala West districts. Multi-stage sampling was employed at the district, area council and then community levels. The two districts were purposefully sampled within which area councils were randomly sampled for communities and then sampled population for the study ensuring that 25 to 50% of the population is captured for the study. Relevant data was solicited through the use of questionnaire at individual levels, focus group discussions and in addition to observation especially during the data collection. The study revealed that there is movement away from farming culminating to limited youth participation in agriculture as a result of limited youth control of resources or products even though farming is profitable. It is recommended on the basis of this that an enabling environment be created, for instance resources such as capital and land and products from farming should be controlled by the youth since this will motivate and attract them to the profit thereof.

Keywords: Agriculture, youth, participation, stakeholders, environment.