The Vice President joined by the Chiefs, MP for Juaben and the Education Minister to commission the Agric Institute

The Vice President, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia has commended the 2022 Best Farmer and Akyempimhene of Juaben, Oheneba Yaw Sarpong Siriboe I, for singlehandedly setting up an institute to train persons who have interest in Agric.

Dr Bawumia stated that the setting up of the Siriboe Institute of Agribusiness and Skills Development is the opening of opportunities to prepare more young people for the future of work in the areas of agriculture innovation and skills development.

Addressing Chiefs and other invited guests including the Member of Parliament at the official commissioning of the Siriboe Institute of Agribusiness and Skills Development in Juaben on Tuesday, Dr Bawumia noted that the future of agriculture in Ghana was no longer hoes and cutlasses but the use of emerging technologies to make agriculture smart in conformity to the 4th industrial revolution.

‘’Today, this center is being opened to offer such opportunities for young people who have the desire for smart agriculture and the needed skills set for the future of work’’, the Vice President stated.

The Veep noted that he always gets excited to be amongst young Ghanaians, adding that he taps into their energy, hopes and aspirations.

Government Support:

The government, the Vice President said, had provided support for the youth through start-ups and small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) such as the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), the Ghana Enterprise Agency (GEA), the National Youth Authority and many other agencies.

The Veep disclosed that the Siriboe Institute would, alongside 44 others, benefit from a seven (7) million US dollar NEIP support program for innovation hubs across the country.

These innovation hubs, the Veep mentioned, are located right in the communities and they have the mandate to provide tailor-made business solutions, skills training and capacity building, mentorship , employment opportunities, access to market  and market linkages to start ups , entrepreneurs and the youth.

‘’Government through the Ministry of Agriculture has launched the phase two of the Planting for Food and Jobs with a key component for youth in Agriculture, and I will urge the Ministry and the YEA to strongly collaborate to train most of the youth who will register for the youth in Agric programme. This center should become a center of excellence for agriculture innovation and skills development’’, the Veep stressed.

Exploits of Best Farmer:

Nana Yaw Sarpong Siriboe, having started out as a farmer with the establishment of Siriboe Farms Limited in 2001 worked hard and this culminated in his winning of the Ejisu Juaben Best Farmer award.

In 2015, Oheneba Siriboe,  won the accolade as the Ashanti Regional Best Oil Palm Farmer at the Farmers Day event for the region.

Oheneba, in 2016 also emerged as the Runner Up to the overall Best Farmer in the Ashanti Region and in 2019 was adjudged First Runner up to the National Best Farmer.

And in 2022, Oheneba Siriboe crowned his efforts with the title as the National Best Farmer at the national event.

Other Speakers:

Welcoming the Veep, Daasebre Otuo Siriboe, Chairman of the Council of State and Omanhene of the Juaben Traditional Area commended the government for consciously channeling investments into agriculture.

He noted that the dividends are there for all to see and therefore encouraged the youth to venture into agriculture as they take opportunities to learn both the theoretical aspects as well as the practical to make them operate at the optimum levels.

Education Minister:

Hon Yaw Osei Adutwum praised Oheneba Siriboe for the initiative to set up an education space for the teaching and learning of agriculture.

This, he said, is the way to go if Ghana is to become notable for performing at a high level in the field of agriculture.

Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/