Youth Must Be Encouraged Into Cocoa Production To Reduce Unemployment-Mr. Kissi.

The high unemployment rate among Ghanaian youth can be drastically reduced if the younger generation is encouraged to take -up the numerous job opportunities the cocoa industry offers, this was the view of James Osei Kissi President of Boafo farmers Association of Ghana.

Boafo Farmers Association is a farmer base organization (FBO) dealing with inputs used by farmers to enhance the productivity of farmers at New Jejeti in the Eastern Region.

Mr.Kissi in an interview on an Agric programme “Ghana Akuafo” with the host Nana Kwabena Addo, stated that the youth of today have no interest to venture into Cocoa farming but prefer white colour jobs, youth have a perception that  farming as business is waste of time and to the illiterate they think farming does not bring money. He appealed and encouraged the youth to go into cocoa farming since there are many opportunities in the sector.

The Eastern Regional Cocoa Agric Extension officer Randy Boaitey, speaking on the employment charged the youth not to play with farming because those who are into it have not wasted their time. He emphasized that the youth have a limited appreciation of the real value and opportunities that the cocoa industry offers to them and Ghanaian.

Studies he said show that the average farmer is between 55 and 65years old.

It is therefore important that COCOBOD always give Education to encourage our youth to go into cocoa production. This initiative of introducing the youth to become researchers and cocoa scientist, cocoa extension officer, besides the main stream cocoa farming.

By: Nana Addo |Radio 1|Ghana