The Director of the Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness (PIAA), Dr Peter Boamah Otukunor, has advised young people to view agriculture as a viable business capable of meeting their economic needs.

Dr Otukunor gave the advice at the 11th National Rastafari Conference held in Kumasi.

In a speech read on his behalf by Mr Emmanuel Owusu, a Programmes Coordinator at PIAA, Dr Otukunor outlined several initiatives his outfit has introduced and plans to roll out. He also urged the Rastafari Council, Ghana to take advantage of the opportunities for the benefit of its members.

He disclosed that the directorate has so far distributed more than three million coconut seedlings to farmers across the country.

Dr Otukunor also highlighted some upcoming initiatives, including the Youth in Cocoa Farming, Youth in Aquaculture and the Youth Agriculture Estate Programme.

According to him, the PIAA has established partnerships with Maphlix Trust Ghana Ltd to drive a vegetable outgrower scheme covering approximately 6,000 acres of vegetable production across selected regions. Through the partnership, farmers will receive inputs, technical support, irrigation assistance and structured market access, enabling year round vegetable production to supply both domestic and international markets.

He emphasised that the initiatives are intended to drive accelerated economic transformation and strengthen food security in the country.

The President of the Rastafari Council, Ghana, Ahuma Bosco Ocansey, noted that “the theme for this year’s conference, ‘Sustainable Agribusiness: Support and Access’ was chosen to unite Rastafari minds for economic empowerment through ethical farming, rooted in Ital principles and self-reliance.”

While applauding the government for passing the law allowing for the cultivation of hemp for industrial and medicinal purposes, he called for an urgent review of the hemp licensing process to remove barriers, ensure fair access and boost local production.

He said, “the Rastafari Council is in full support of the suit filed by the farmer in Techiman, Mariam Alhassan, by her lawyer Amanda Clinton praying the court to order the government to withdraw the current licensing regime and replace it with a tiered system of licensing which would allow ordinary farmers to farm the hemp crop to realise the economic benefits inherent in the production of hemp for medicinal and industrial purposes. It’s essential to cut the red tapism to unlock the export potential of the hemp plant to ensure economic justice because the current licensing regime will keep out the ordinary farmer.”

In her statement, New York based attorney Empress Marina Blake advised participants to uphold strong family values, noting that a strong family is the foundation of a strong nation.

The conference was preceded by a tree planting exercise at the Rastafari Unification Foundation Camp at Lake Bosumtwi and the Repatriation Camp of Rastafari at Mpataase. The camps were represented by their leaders, Nana Antwi Bosiako and King Yankee respectively. Rastafari members from across the country also attended the event.