The National Youth Authority (NYA) is calling on the youth to develop innovative solutions to address some food security challenges in the country.

This comes on the back of concerns that young people are not interested in agriculture. The National Youth Authority is therefore seeking to harness the interest of the youth in the sector which is hyped as the backbone of the local economy.

Speaking at the commemoration of this year’s International Youth Day (IYD), which was held under the theme “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health”, Deputy Chief Executive of the National Youth Authority, Mr. Nelson Owusu-Ansah, highlighted the need for professionalism so as to make the sector attractive to young people.

“The theme for this year’s commemoration, therefore affords us all, the youth mainly, an opportunity to reflect, deliberate and raise awareness on the critical need to pick up the mantle and to be in the vanguard of technological advancement and innovations in the agriculture/food systems value chain to spur mechanization and automation of the processes of production for sustainable food security,” he explained

Touching on the average age of farmers in the country, Mr. Owusu-Ansah said “the labour force in Ghana is quickly aging, specifically in the agriculture sector.

"Data collected also reveals that, the average age of a farmer in Ghana is 55 and their life expectancy 60years,” he added.

He concluded by emphasising on the need to modernize agriculture so as to boost the interest of the youth.

“In situations where most of the things we do in agriculture are anachronistic, we have still not revolutionize the sector such that the old accoutrement that we are used to, hasn’t changed over time, so how do you encourage the young person who is educated to take up the issue of building a profession in this area.”

Mr. Owusu-Ansah urged the youth to be responsible in their communities and also channel their energies into productive ventures.