AME seek for Employment of Graduates from Agricultural Training Colleges as well as graduates from Various Accredited Universities as Agricultural Extension Agents

Public Agricultural extension service remains the repository and main source of agricultural information for smallholder farmers in developing countries. The roles of Agricultural Extension Agents (AEAs) include connecting farmers to appropriate establishments and publicizing research-based knowledge and technology to rural people with the aim of improving their livelihoods.

Agricultural extension is defined as a system envisioned to enable farmers, their groups/organizations and other market thespians to access information, technologies and knowledge to promote agricultural development. The benefit for farmers in accessing extension services is the acquisition of strategic buddies in education, research, agribusiness and other appropriate institutions, supporting them to develop their technical, organizational and managerial skills to enhance the agricultural sector. Hence access to agricultural extension services is significant to build sustainable livelihoods and self-reliance among farmers and households in Ghana.

In 2022, Ghana imported $2.6 billion in agricultural and related products. Imported from the United States ($125.4 million) constituted about five percent of the total import value (Trade Data Monitor LLC, 2023).

 And yet, every day and night on radio, television, campaign grounds, and among others, everybody is talking of Nurses [Ghana Health Service (GHS)] and Teachers [Ghana Education Service (GES)] forgetting of the backbone of our beloved country Ghana which is Agriculture [Ministry of Food and Agriculture/Agricultural Extension Agents (MoFA/AEAs)].

Whenever Nursing training college students or teacher training college students coughed, it hit the top and why Agricultural training college students. One cannot count the number of teacher training and nursing training colleges in Ghana, and we only had six (6) Government Agricultural training colleges in Ghana with few numbers of intake per year. These colleges include

No	NAME OF COLLEGE	REGION – TOWN	PROGRAMME
1	Animal Health and Production College	Northern – Pong   -Tamale	Certificate in Animal Health          Diploma in Animal Health
2	Damongo Agricultural Training College	Savanna – Damongo	Certificate in General Agriculture
3	Wenchi Agricultural Training College	Bono – Wenchi	Certificate in General Agriculture
4	Kwadaso Agricultural Training College	Ashanti – Kwadaso	Diploma in General Agriculture
5	Ohawu Agricultural Training College	Vota – Ohawu	Certificate in Animal Health         Diploma in General Agriculture         Certificate in General Agriculture
6	Ejura Agricultural Training College	Ashanti – Ejura	Certificate in General Agriculture

 Diploma programme -  3 years

Certificate programme - 2 years

There is no Metro/Municipal/District Department of Agriculture in Ghana that is not lacking huge number of AEAs. You go to Metro/Municipal/District Department of Agriculture in Ghana, and you find that Line Directors are doubled as AEAs due to limited number of AEAs in the Metro/Municipal/District Department of Agriculture and yet no body is talking about it, so sad. I was made to act as an MIS Officer (line director) during my national service period in 2013/2014 Ghana National Service Year.

so therefore,

AKA MANDEEYA ENTERPRISE (AME) is writing to advocate for an urgent employment of graduates from Agricultural Training colleges across Ghana as well as Graduates from the Various accredited Universities as an Agricultural Extension Agents (AEAs). With the ever-growing challenges in agriculture, including climate change, food security, and sustainable farming practices, it is imperative that we leverage the skills and knowledge of our young professionals to support the agricultural sector.

Graduates from our esteemed Agricultural Training colleges and Universities are equipped with theoretical knowledge and practical skills that can significantly contribute to improving agricultural productivity and promoting best practices among farmers in the country. By employing these graduates as AEAs, the government can increase rural development, increase food production, and ultimately strengthen the backbone of Ghana economy.

Investing in these young professionals will not only create meaningful job opportunities but also guarantee that our farmers receive the necessary support and guidance to adapt to modern agricultural techniques and innovations. Moreover, this initiative aligns with the government's commitment to enhancing food security and promoting sustainable agricultural practices in Ghana's rural communities.

We (AME) kindly urge you (The President of the Republic of Ghana, through The Honorable Minister, Ministry of Food and Agriculture) to consider the potential impact of employing graduates from Agricultural Training colleges as AEAs. Your leadership in this matter could usher in a new era of agricultural development and sustainability in our country.

Thank you for your attention to this important issue. We (AME) are confident that your commitment to improving agriculture in Ghana will lead to positive outcomes for our farmers and the nation as a whole.

                                            We stand to be corrected

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