Patron Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings to Lead Conversations on Accelerating Efforts in Advancing and Enabling Career Opportunities for Agri Youth

by Linda Boateng | May 27, 2024 | Uncategorized

The Patron of the annual Agricultural Students’ Career Guidance & Mentorship Dialogue-Bootcamp (AGSTUD Africa), Hon. Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, is set to lead conversations on accelerating efforts in advancing and enabling career opportunities for Agri Youth at the Day 1, of the Agricultural students career guidance and mentorship dialogue bootcamp, which officially opens on Monday, May 20, 2024.

About 300 students and beginner agribusinesses are already on their way to accra today from various institutions across the country to begin the bootcamp.

The 6-days bootcamp is expected to contribute in shaping the mindsets of campers, to innovatively and practically embrace and understand the dynamics and career options and opportunities to explore within the agribusiness value chain.

Participating Agricultural Students and Beginner Agribusinesses this year include students from Adidome Agricultural  College, Asuansi Farm Institute, Damango Agric College, Ejura Agricultural College, Kwadaso Agric College, Wenchi Agricultural College, Ohawu Agric College,  Fair River Agric Institute,  others includes  Veterinary College , Animal Health Production,Bunso Cocoa College ,Kita College Of Tropical Agriculture  and Agricultural Technical Institute

 Other Participants Include Students From Kwame Nkrumah University Of Science And Technology, University Of Ghana, University Of Cape Coast, Methodist University, University Of Development Studies, All Nations University, Ghana Christian University College, University Of Energy & Natural Resources, Central University, And University Of Agricultural And Environmental Studies,Accra Technical University ,Koforidua Technical University ,Catholic University ,Christ Apostolic University College ,University Of Professional Studies ,Presbyterian University ,University  Of Environment And Sustainable Development

The Bootcamp Will Also Feature Student From Senior High Schools Including , Accra Academy Senior High,Oreilly Senior High School ,Accra Girls Senior High School ,Labone Senior High School ,Accra High School ,Others Includes Ngleshi Amanfrom Senior High School ,Lapaz Senior High School ,Kinbu Senior High School ,Achimota Senior High School And Ashiaman Senior High School .

For the past seven years, Dr. Zee who is serving as the lead patron of the annual bootcamp, has used her voice to positively influence and advocate for the empowerment of young people through practical, action, innovative and result oriented approaches.

Patron Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings opening session is expected to prepare the minds of the campers, in thinking innovation, when thinking agribusiness. 

Her opening conversation is equally expected to serve as the key driver to enable and support the campers, to position themselves for the other key sessions, that they will be practically involved in, within the 6 days of their stay at the bootcamp.

Already, the youth keep showing and demonstrating, that when supported, equipped and resourced, they will be able to contribute meaningful to the growth, development and transformation of our food systems.  

I have been at the forefront of the bootcamp, since its 1^st edition in 2018, I have watched it grow and I am immensely impressed with the number of agric students who have been impacted and transformed through this bootcamp.

This is  practically, the most innovative agric career building platforms the country has now, and I am content with the  holistic approach the camping sessions have over the years adopted to empowering, enabling and establishing our Agri-futures – our youth. Remarked Patron Zanetor Agyemang Rawlings

On her part, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, Agrihouse Foundation’s Executive Director highlighted the support and consistency of Patron Dr. Zanetor.

Patron Zanetor is one passionate person, and extremely dedicated to any meaningful cause that contributes to the advancement of the youth across the country.

As our patron since 2018, her commitment has contributed to the growth, transformation and impact of this annual bootcamp.

She is motivated when she sees the youth and the youth are equally motivated, when she is with them.

We remain confident, that her opening session would serve as a booster and prepare and fuel our Campers to creatively  appreciate and adopt innovate ways to developing their agribusiness career paths.  Alberta concluded.

The 6-days bootcamp officially opens on Sunday, May 19, 2024, with the Knowing Me – Knowing You and beginner Business  Grouping sessions respectively.

It continues on Monday, 20^th may 2024 ,with the Agri-Ted talk Mentorship dialogues, where we get to see and meet Mr. James Boateng, the 2018 national best farmer, lead a session on how he kick started his farm enterprise.

We also get to hear from other key rural farmers, producers, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and Agricultural Development Bank, our financial partner, who will lead the A Pesewa A day Mentorship session.

Day Two( 2) is the Ag-Voyage experience, for campers to visit and experience a plantain processing factory in Asamankese, a fertilizer blending plant in Tema and the Tulaku Livestock Market in Ashaiman.

This trip is meant to get them to broaden their horizon on the options and choices they have, in choosing a career in agribusiness.

The evening of Day 2 is the time with business coaches, where the real work begin, they get to share and discuss their business ideas, projects and how coaches can assist them translate  and develop it into sound business concepts

Day 3 is our Agri-inspire session, where our Gold in the soil award recipient, rural women producers, farmers with disabilities among other leading agribusiness entrepreneurs, share their agribusiness modules and practices with the campers.

We also have all the Directorates under the Ministry Of food and Agriculture, who will be present on this day, to share the roles and mandates of the Directorates under MOFA, with the campers, and how their works, aligns and revolve around youth in agricultural development.

The Day five places a high focus on credibility and accountability training sessions, to be led by USAID GTI, GIZ, Yara, Agromonti .

Also to lead the innovative role play session, will be a representative from the World Food Forum Ghana chapter and a representative also from Agromonti.

There will also be other leading competency –based sessions led by the 2023 National best Farmer and other key organization.

The lead session and key highlight to get the campers to prepare, plan and begin developing their bankable ideas will be lead by Jobberman’s lead trainer and consultant, Coach christain Agbesi Tetteh

The   climax for the bootcamp is the   Agri-youth Dialoque , AG-STUD beginner Agribusiness presentation and competition and Input Dealer Business Deal Pitch which gives the students the opportunity to pitch their final business proposals to a panel of judges. The Judges assess the strengths and loopholes of the business plans and make recommendations to better the business idea. The students are presented starter-packs to help them start their businesses.

This year’s bootcamp is supported by Agricultural Development Bank, Jobberman, WEID Ventures, Kofi Vinyo, Kofi Ansah (Ahodwo Farms), Lexvee Agro-processing, and some of Agrihouse Foundation’s women in agribusiness beneficiaries, including Mama Abigial Ghama, Janet Adade, Queen Gafaratu Enterprise, Ayden Ventures, Nanvee Natural Foods, Vinolia Wealth Foods, ZLB Enterprise, and Bebefu Ventures.

367 Agric students and beginner agribusinesses to participate in the 7th edition of the AG-STUD Bootcamp

by Linda Boateng | May 27, 2024 | Uncategorized

Approximately Three Hundred and Sixty-Seven (367) Agricultural Students and Beginner Agribusinesses from various Agricultural Colleges, Farm Institutes and Universities across the country, have been selected to participate in the 7th edition of the annual Agricultural student’s career guidance and mentorship dialogue bootcamp, which will run for six (6) days from Sunday May 19 – Friday May 24, 2024.

The participating Agricultural Students and Beginner Agribusinesses include students from, Adidome Agric College, Asuansi Farm Institute, Damango Agric College, Ejura Agricultural College, Kwadaso Agric College, Wenchi Agricultural college, Ohawu Agric College, and Fair River Agric Institute, Veterinary College, and Animal Health Production.

Others include Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Ghana, University of Cape Coast, Methodist University, University of Development Studies, All Nations University, Ghana Christian University College, University of Energy & Natural Resources, Central University, University of Agricultural and Environmental Studies

In a statement, issued by Agrihouse Foundation, the organizers of the annual event, the Executive Director, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, expressed her excitement for the increase in participating schools and beginner agribusinesses in the upcoming 7th edition of the Agricultural Student Career Guidance and Mentorship Dialogue bootcamp.  

Last year, we had seventeen schools participating. The increase in schools and numbers is an indication of interest, growth and most importantly, a testament of the impact, the bootcamp, has continuously had on beneficiaries over the years.

‘’The bootcamp has over the past six (6) years benefitted over 6000 participants, some of which have started their own agribusinesses and farm enterprises, whiles others have gained meaningful employments opportunity.

The focus of the bootcamp this year, is to excessively focus at how best we can accelerate our collective efforts, to further enable, establish, shape mindsets and open-up more career opportunities for the growing numbers of Agri-youth’’. She added.

For the six (6) days running, campers will be involved in innovative activities and practices, with a sole agenda, of ensuring that, they get to appreciate, embrace and understand the full cycle of the agribusiness value chain and the diverse opportunities it presents.  

To this end, a detailed and integrated curriculum has been designed, to engage the minds, creativity, innovative thinking, passion and abilities of campers. We expect an outcome, where campers at the end of the camping period, will be able to identify their drive and path within the agribusiness sector, build agri-leadership skills, explore hidden talents, acquire and develop knowledge in planning, implementation and management and be equid with a better understanding of tools, programs, that are available to help them succeed as farmers, agribusiness leaders or employees of Agric related enterprises.

Just as it happens almost every year, after the Bootcamp, we anticipate companies who are looking to recruit, to equally identify great skills and talents among the campers, for employment or internship opportunities. For participating beginner agribusinesses, we anticipate them to leverage on the intensive sessions, to enhance food security, promote sustainable practices, and contribute shaping and transforming Ghana’s agrifood systems.

Some of the activities designed to achieve this goal during the six-days bootcamp include, the Agri-Ted Talk session, where we have practicing and experienced individuals and agribusinesses, sharing their career path with the campers.

We will also have the Ag-vogage, where campers embark on an experiential farm, agribusiness and corporate field tour, providing them with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with various agribusiness operations in the country, ask questions, and explore potential business opportunities.

The students and beginner agribusinesses will also have the opportunity to meet and present their ideas to with the various mentors and coaches assign to them, to brainstorm and put forward their agribusiness ideas, to be modelled into businesses.

Three key highlights of the 7^th agricultural student career mentorship and dialogue bootcamp are the YES – WE CAN AGRI-INSPIRE session, which will witness women farmers, rural producers, processors and farmers with disabilities, selected across the country, to inspire by sharing their resilience stories and business journey with the campers.

There will also be the Group Students Business Presentation, where campers, who have been grouped into businesses, get to present their business ideas  to the team of judges .

Over the past six (6) years, the Group Students Business Presentation, have enabled most of the campers to kick start their businesses, right after the bootcamp. This is a realization and fulfilment of our efforts, to enable and establish the agri-youth.

Another key highlight is the Students Input Dealer Business Pitch, where individual students will have the opportunity to pitch their business development approach, on how they will manage an Input Dealer Shop in the community.

Though Input Dealer Pitch component, forms part of Agrihouse Foundation’s agenda, to ensure inputs are accessible to farmers at every location; village, community or at the district or regional level.

Last year, then 22-year-old Charlotte Yawa Sodzedo, of the Adidome Farm Institute won the Pitch. Agrihouse Foundation, together with Agromonti, fully funded, by renting a store for 2 years in her name, fully filled the store with various inputs worth 35,000ghc for her as the price package.

Charllotte’s career path has fully kicked off, with her full ownership of the input shop in Adidome.

The winner of the Input Dealer Pitch for this year’s edition is likely to receive a double of what Charlotte received.

The key thing for us, is the fact, that all the participating students are from different schools, scattered across the 16 regions of Ghana. Thus, it is our hope to be able to get winners from different schools each year, to strengthen our efforts of empowering them and further supporting farmers to have easy access to input in both the short to long term.

This year’s bootcamp is being supported by ADB, Jobberman, Kofi Vinyo, Kofi Ansah (Ahodwo Farms) Lexvee Agro-processing and some of Agrihouse Foundation’s women in agribusiness beneficiaries including Mama Abigial Gyama, Janet Adade, Queen Gafaratu Enterprise, Ayden Ventures, Nanvee Natural Foods, Vinolia Wealth Foods, ZLB Enterprise, Bebefu ventures ,WEID ventures,