The School of Continuing and Distance Education under the College of Education organized a one-day forum on “Planting for Food Jobs” on Thursday, March 30, 2017 at the Conference Hall of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER). The forum, which was a post 68th Annual New Year School and Conference activity, was chaired by Prof. Felix Asante, Director of ISSER. Participants were from the various Agricultural Colleges, the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), the National Service Secretariat, Membership of Agricultural bodies and Students.
Statements were given by Prof. John Ofosu-Anim, Dean, School of Agriculture, Mr. George Sarpong of KOSMOS Energy and Mr. Paul Siameh who represented the Minister for Food and Agriculture.
In his opening remarks, the Dean of the School of Continuing and Distance Education (SCDE) who is also the Acting Provost of the College of Education said the School’s interest in the Government’s ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ policy was in how to integrate ICT into agriculture to transform the agricultural sector and to create jobs for the youth. He proposed elaborate strategies for an ICT-enabled transformation of the entire agricultural sector.
Speaking on the topic, the representative of the Minister said the government is launching the planting for food and jobs campaign as an immediate strategy to overcome the food deficit situation and reduce importation of basic food commodities as well as create jobs within the agriculture and other related sectors.
The National Best Farmer for 2009, Mr. Davies Korboe, Mr. Kwabena Amoateng of Agro Africa Limited and a team from Kosmos Energy formed a panel which talked about Motivation and Mentorship. Challenges highlighted among others were access to capital, land tenure, market, storage and postharvest losses.
