A pilot project “Strengthening Youth-Led Livestock Enterprises through Enhanced Capacity and Inputs Support in Ghana” was jointly launched by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Animal Research Institute (CSCIR – ARI) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Regional Africa Office on February 6, 2025.
The project aims to empower Ghanaian youth in the livestock value chain by addressing critical gaps in capacity, inputs accessibility, and veterinary services. It focuses on good agricultural practices, antimicrobial resistance awareness, and sustainable enterprise development.
In attendance at the launching of the project were the SCIR – ARI team, three officials from the FAO Regional Africa Office, Agricultural Directors for Adentan and Ga West Municipals and farmers in the poultry and rabbit value chain.
In the pilot stage of the project, youth-led livestock businesses in selected communities in the Ga West and Adentan Municipalities will be empowered by identifying key challenges associated with the sustainable operation and management of youth-led livestock businesses, and development of capacity-building training programmes on good husbandry practices and livestock value chain development to create employment opportunities.
The pilot project will be delivered in four phases, comprising a diagnostic study by conducting desk research and site visits to identify challenges along the value chain; curriculum design and capacity building by developing a curriculum tailored to identified needs covering trends, opportunities and challenges with livestock production in the communities, developing sustainable business in livestock including through digital and financial literacy for agribusiness management, and delivering training sessions and connecting youth agripreneurs with industry mentors for sustained guidance; inputs and equipment grants distribution through facilitating the distribution of inputs and equipment grants to improve business efficiency; and endline survey to assess the impact of the interventions.
By successfully addressing the existing barriers and building sustainable value chains in youth-led livestock businesses in the Ga West and Adentan Municipalities, this lessons learnt if appropriately applied nationwide, will contribute to the national aspirations of food security, rural transformation, and decent employment for the youth in agrifood systems.