The stain of farming and the disdain society zooms on an individual who bears the job title "farmer" is ever fresh as yesterday. Farmers, despite the challenge of inadequate access to funds, high interest rate on loans,pest and disease attacks, high cost of farm inputs, and the likes persevere the scorching sun to put food on our tables.

The farming profession does not look appealing as some people have misconstrue farmers to be composed of poor and low-minded individuals. This misconception has sunk deep into the minds of people throughout the rank and file of our population.

According to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the average farming age in Ghana currently is 55 years against a life expectancy age average of 55-60 years. This clearly shows that older men and women mostly practice agriculture, thus, explaining the country’s inability to produce all its food needs.

I've had several opportunity to interact with graduates, anytime the subject of farming comes on board,they don't seem to be comfortable or want to be associated with it since majority of them have the aspirations of putting on "tie". Even graduate who have pursued agricultural programmes at the university have their eyes gazed else where in areas they perceive lucrative.
This is as a result of the humiliating reception some parents and friends will give when one informs them about their intention to enter into farming.
A lot of farming initiatives & explorations have been ditched by the youth due to stigma associated with being a farmer. Even in politics, when the Finance minister and Agricultural minister attend a function, the kind of reception given to the Agriculture minister is quite different from that of the finance minister. This attitude of us does not promote and encourage people to explore the numerous opportunities in agricultural sector as it sucks the positive energy out of these individuals.

We can't thrive as a people the attitude of looking at some sectors with disdain and hold others in high esteem. In order to build a formidable and robust economy, all sectors of the economy must be given equal respect and the necessary attention especially when it comes to the area of resource allocation.

The Agricultural sector has the miracle touch of employing the beefing unemployed graduate in the system if we reconstruct and direct our attention to the unlimited opportunities in farming.

I solemnly commend all the young entrepreneurs in the Agricultural sector for their affable services to our mother land. To the youths who have coiled into their shells because shyness, come out of the shell of shyness and take the bull by the horn.

Happy farmers to All farmers.
Happy farmers young farmers.
Long live Ghana.

Richard Bosomtwi
Student, University of Education, Winneba
[email protected]
0249861709