The second edition of the Agricultural Students Career Guidance and Mentorship Dialogue Boot Camp (AG-STUD Africa 2019) is scheduled to come off on Thursday, February 21, 2019 – Saturday, February 23, 2019.

Under the theme, “Growing Futures: Enabling the Agri Youth”, the three (3) day event is aimed at developing the expertise of agric students and beginner agribusinesses by appraising them with the constant changes identified in the sector including marketing, processing, branding, input, finance, equipment, technology, land tenure among others through education and leadership programmes.

In addition, the event will be an avenue through which the agenda bordering on the importance of active youth participation in agriculture will be set.

It also seeks to develop youth and students leadership, discuss the challenges and opportunities in the world of business, the value chain system, and farm management skills in beginner farmers as well as encouraging them to apply those abilities in their community organizations.

The event will also involve mentorship and educational sessions, employing business tools and professional speakers in a structured setting that will include on-site tours of companies and farms.

Among activities and topics to be dealt with this year are discussions on challenges facing agric students in Africa today and how they can be solved; developing a winnable agric business plan; first-hand experience of some agricultural success case sites in a tour, exhibitions etc.

According to Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, a non-governmental agricultural social impact, mentorship, capacity building, innovation and project management organization who are the Organizers of the event in partnership with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, this year’s edition is a major improvement on the previous edition and is poised to equip participants with enough knowledge and skill in practicing in their chosen area.

“We will be deeply engaged in a series of Agri conversations, dialogues, career and mentorship discussions, capacity building programmes, business talks, field tours and demonstrations. All these programmes will support and enable the beginner agriprinuer’s walk through the process of understanding, initiating, innovating, and taking leadership roles to prepare them for the ever growing job market”.

She said, “AG-STUD AFRICA is here to shape and guide the agribusiness sector, change perceptions and possibly transform lives of our students in agric, opening them up to numerous opportunities in this new and vibrant world of business Agriculture”. She concluded.

AG-STUD 2019 is expected to camp, train and mentor about 350 selected participants from about 25 institutions including KNUST, UDS, University of Ghana, University of Cape-coast, Kwadaso Agric College, Damongo Agric College, Fair River Institute, Animal Health, Asuanz IFarm Institute, Ejura Agric College, Adidome Agric College, KITA, selected Senior High School students, beginner agribusinesses and small agribusiness start-ups across the country.

The event will be facilitated by individual experts from the agricultural sector, as well as other relevant sectors such as the military.

The first edition saw some 320 participants selected from 20 institutions in Ghana attending and was graced by high profile personalities including H.E former President J.J Rawlings.