Only 10% of agric graduates get jobs yearly – MoFA

The agricultural colleges churn out 600 graduates every year, but only 10 per cent are absorbed, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) has said.

Mr Benjamin K. Gyasi, Director, Human Resource Development and Management of MOFA who made this known in Accra on Thursday said the situation should be a source of concern to Ghanaians, particularly stakeholders to find solution.

He was speaking at a day’s workshop organised by Agricultural Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ATVET) programme with the support of German Development Co-operation (GIZ) for stakeholders in citrus and pineapple industry.

Mr Gyasi expressed the hope that the ATVET programme and the private sector hold the key to reverse the situation.

The ATVET programme, which aims at promoting technical vocational education and training for the agricultural sector in Africa, is being piloted in Ghana and Kenya.

Mr Ernest Patrick Mallet, ATVET Coordinator said due to inadequate jobs many young people are migrating to the cities to search for jobs.

He said ATVET would link up with other players in the industry to fund its training programmes so that the youth would become interested in agriculture production.

Mr Charles Sackey, Technical Advisor of GIZ encouraged the youth to embrace farming to improve their living standard.

Source: GNA