WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME UNDERTAKE AgYE PROJECT TO CREATE JOBS IN AGRIBUSINESS FOR THE YOUTH

The World Food Programme (WFP) undertook a project dubbed “Agribusiness for Youth Employment (AgYE)”. The project seeks to create decent and sustainable jobs for the youth in agribusiness.

The objective was to train youth groups and FBOs on sustainable and climate-smart agricultural practices; postharvest management; value addition in maize, rice, tomato, and soybean; access to finance and inputs, linking these FBOs to markets and the introduction of a Village Savings and Loans scheme to staff and farmers.

The project is expected to improve food and nutrition security and enhance sustainable incomes for smallholder farmers, particularly the youth. In all, 35 selected communities were involved.
While the District Officer facilitated the formation of 14 new FBOs/groups, 840 of the group members (including 473 females) were trained in group dynamics, record keeping, and financial management.

As part of the project, some processors were also trained in the preparation of weanimix. Some of the beneficiary communities included Jinijini, Fetentaa, Koraso, Nsapor, Botokrom, Ayimom and Pruso (Berekum West District), Kwadwomokrom, Amponsakrom Kookrakye Kojokumikrom, Dormaa Agogo, Mrengyaa, Abusuapeade (Dormaa West District).