The AMS is the first ever fully automated solution developed in the agriculture industry, to seamlessly manage the entire supply chain; whereas, the VFP seeks to increase the yield of crop produced in Ghana.

The initiative which is being supported by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports; aims at attracting those working in the formal sector as means of earning additional income whilst increasing productivity in agriculture.

 Mr Seth Osei Akoto, Director of Crop Services at MOFA, who represented the Minister, at the launch said that in spite of developmental efforts made by successive governments, the sector was still confronted with numerous challenges.

He said these included erratic rainfall, inadequate access to farm machineries and equipment, low use of farm inputs, limited access to financial services, low investment, high extension farmer ratio and unattractiveness of agriculture to attract the youth.

Mr Osei Akoto said as part of the comprehensive strategy to resolve these perennial challenges, a new strategic initiative dubbed: “Planting for Food and Jobs Campaign,” has been introduced by government.He said the primary objective of the Campaign was to ensure food security, provide raw materials for industry and as well generate about 750,000 direct and indirect job opportunities with the youth being the target.

The Director of Crop Services stated that UCL wished to collaborate with MOFA, to support the implementation of the Youth in Agriculture Program (YIAP).He said the company was partnering OAPI, an Israeli Agriculture Management Company with expertise in technology-based agriculture to develop software (AMS) to run the initiative, YFP.

Mr Osei Akoto said the programme was expected to provide employment to about 33,000 unemployed youth, increase food supply and export earnings and minimize rural-urban migration.He therefore commended both UCL and OAPI, and partners for supporting government’s efforts in addressing youth unemployment through creation of employment opportunities.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr Haim Oz, Chief Executive Officer for OAPI, said his outfit’s involvement would be at two levels; thus, transferring the know how to farmers, to develop their capacity to boost food production; and investment package for the projects.Mr Oz noted that aside financing being a major challenge within the agricultural sector, another problem was how to attract the youth who would be willing to partake in the new age of farming.

Nana Kofi Anane Adjei, ICT Coordinator for the Programme, said the plan intended to attract the youth into agriculture as Ghana’s agriculture age profile was getting older. There was a need to introduce new ideas also to sustain the economy as well as supply food for the sub region.

Mr Anane Adjei, who said the initiative, was moulded towards job creation and production of food sufficiency, added that after the launch UCL would be reaching out through the media to sensitize the youth to recognize the opportunity they were creating and to invite them to enrol in the programme.

As the global population approaches nine billion by 2050, farmers around the world including Ghana would need to increase their productivity by 70 per cent to cater for the rising demand; UCL has positioned itself as one of the companies working towards the realization of this dream in Ghana.