Mrs. Marian Ofori Twumasi, the Bibiani–Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipal Best Youth Farmer for 2019, has challenged Ghanaians, especially the youth, to see agriculture as “a very serious and lucrative business,” worth pursuing.

She said it was time Ghanaians changed their negative perception about agriculture as the preserve of the uneducated, and those living in deprived areas.

The 32-year-old Accounting Graduate of the University of Ghana, boasts of 100 acres of Palm Oil Plantation, 40 acres of cocoa, 10 acres of rice, 10 acres of maize and 5 acres of Plantain.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Anhwiaso-Asawinso near Bibiani, Mrs Twumasi, said she has employed 10 permanent and about 50 casual workers.

She described her fivers years’ stint with agriculture as a very lucrative venture and urged Ghanaians to consider venturing into it to better their lots and help build a prosperous nation.

“We should not see agriculture and agri–business as work for illiterates, but make good use of the knowledge acquired at school, to add value to agricultural practices in our country,” she said.

“Let’s see the business side of agriculture, not mere peasant farming,” she added.

The mother of three, who also owns Mariseth Farms and Supplies Enterprise, urged Ghanaian women to believe in themselves, shun mediocrity and venture into agri–business.

She also urged parents to encourage their children to go into agriculture, instead of allowing them to idle at home, or travel to cities in search of non-existent white colour jobs.

She said many of the youth travel to urban centres and end up risking their lives as some of them are lured into illegal activities such as drug peddling, prostitution and galamsey, stating: “Agriculture is safer and more lucrative than all of these.”

Mrs. Ofori Twumasi commended Government for introducing the Planting for Food and Jobs programme but said it should be made more adaptive.

"North needs land fertility, while the South needs weed control," she said, so the authorities should check the seasons of both sides to make the programme more effective and impactful.

She appealed to chiefs, community and opinion leaders, to willingly release lands for every person who wish to go into large scale agriculture to create more jobs, improve upon the economy and better the lots of Ghanaians.