By: Kingsley Attitsogbui|
Winner of the 6th edition of the 2023 Agricultural Students Bootcamp (AGSTUD), Ms. Charllotte Yawa Sodzedo, has advocated for a proper motivation scheme for youth in agriculture to encourage their full involvement in the field for sustainable development.
Ms. Sodzedo, a native of Adidome in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region, emphasized that such motivation would contribute to ensuring food security in the country.
Speaking at a short ceremony held in her honor at Adidome, where she was presented with a fully stocked Agric Inputs Dealership shop valued at over Ghc75,000.00 on Wednesday, Ms. Sodzedo urged the youth to be determined to succeed in life, particularly in agriculture.
The 24-year-old, who was a student at the Adidome Farm Institute in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region, beat 97 other competitors to win the Agrichouse Foundation and Agromonti Company Limited Ultimate Prize. Her winning business proposal aimed at making farm inputs accessible to farmers in their communities.
Ms. Sodzedo passionately appealed to the chiefs to allocate a piece of land for her to use as demonstration farms, where she can practically showcase her skills and serve as a good example for other youths.
Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Agrihouse Foundation, organizers of the program, highlighted the significance of the Agricultural Students Career Guidance and Mentorship Dialogue Student Boot Camp (AGSTUD).
She emphasized that the camp serves as a form of capacity building through mentorship and guidance for agric students nationwide.
Akosa noted that during the camp, mentors, coaches, and experts in the agric-business value chain spend time with students to support them with business ideas and proposals.
Over the past six years, about 6,000 agric students have benefited from the boot camp, with many of them gaining employment, thus complementing government efforts in the sector.
The Managing Partner/Technical Director for Agromonti Company Limited, sponsors of the award, Mr. Dominic Donkoh, stressed the need for more support for women farmers across the country. He commended Ms. Charlotte Yawa Sodzedo for her excellent agribusiness idea presentation, which earned her the Ultimate Prize.
Donkoh emphasized that agriculture is key to Ghana’s socio-economic development and should receive necessary support from all stakeholders.
The 2023 Agricultural Students Career Guidance and Mentorship Dialogue Student Boot Camp (AGSTUD) took place in Accra, with participating schools including Kwame University of Science and Technology, University of Ghana, University College of Agricultural and Environmental Studies, University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Asunasi Farm Institute, Damango Agricultural Institute, and Ejura Agricultural College.
Other participating schools included Achimota School, Kwadaso Agricultural College, Accra High School, Accra Academy School, Holy Trinity Cathedral Senior High School, Techiman Senior High School, Dansoman Senior High School, Wenchi Farm Institute, among others.