Patron Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings to lead conversations on accelerating efforts in advancing and enabling career opportunities for agri-youth

The Patron of the annual Agricultural Students’ Career Guidance & Mentorship Dialogue-Bootcamp (AGSTUD Africa), Hon. Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, is set to lead conversations on accelerating efforts in advancing and enabling career opportunities for Agri Youth on Day 1, of the Agricultural students' career guidance and mentorship dialogue bootcamp, which officially opens on Monday, May 20, 2024.

About 300 students and beginner agribusinesses are already on their way to Accra today from various institutions across the country to begin the bootcamp.

The 6-day boot camp is expected to contribute to shaping the mindsets of campers, to innovatively and practically embrace and understand the dynamics and career options and opportunities to explore within the agribusiness value chain.

Participating Agricultural Students and Beginner Agribusinesses this year include students from Adidome Agricultural College, Asuansi Farm Institute, Damango Agric College, Ejura Agricultural College, Kwadaso Agric College, Wenchi Agricultural College, Ohawu Agric College, Fair River Agric Institute, others includes Veterinary College, Animal Health Production, Bunso Cocoa College,Kita College Of Tropical Agriculture and Agricultural Technical Institute

Other Participants Include Students From Kwame Nkrumah University Of Science And Technology, University Of Ghana, University Of Cape Coast, Methodist University, University Of Development Studies, All Nations University, Ghana Christian University College, University Of Energy & Natural Resources, Central University, And University Of Agricultural And Environmental Studies, Accra Technical University, Koforidua Technical University, Catholic University , Christ Apostolic University College, University Of Professional Studies, Presbyterian University, University Of Environment And Sustainable Development

The Bootcamp Will Also Feature students from Senior High Schools including, Accra Academy Senior High, Oreilly Senior High School, Accra Girls Senior High School, Labone Senior High School, Accra High School, others includes Ngleshi Amanfrom Senior High School, Lapaz Senior High School, Kinbu Senior High School, Achimota Senior High School And Ashiaman Senior High School.

For the past seven years, Dr. Zee who is serving as the lead patron of the annual bootcamp, has used her voice to positively influence and advocate for the empowerment of young people through practical, action, innovative and result-oriented approaches.

Patron Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings' opening session is expected to prepare the minds of the campers, in thinking innovation, when thinking agribusiness.

Her opening conversation is equally expected to serve as the key driver to enable and support the campers, to position themselves for the other key sessions, that they will be practically involved in, within the 6 days of their stay at the BootCamp.



Already, the youth keep showing and demonstrating, that when supported, equipped and resourced, they will be able to contribute meaningfully to the growth, development and transformation of our food systems.

I have been at the forefront of the bootcamp, since its 1st edition in 2018, I have watched it grow and I am immensely impressed with the number of agric students who have been impacted and transformed through this bootcamp.

This is practically, the most innovative agric career building platform the country has now, and I am content with the holistic approach the camping sessions have over the years adopted to empowering, enabling and establishing our Agri-futures – our youth. Remarked Patron Zanetor Agyemang Rawlings

On her part, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, Agrihouse Foundation’s Executive Director highlighted the support and consistency of Patron Dr. Zanetor.

Patron Zanetor is one passionate person, and extremely dedicated to any meaningful cause that contributes to the advancement of the youth across the country.

As our patron since 2018, her commitment has contributed to the growth, transformation and impact of this annual bootcamp.

She is motivated when she sees the youth and the youth are equally motivated when she is with them.

We remain confident, that her opening session would serve as a booster and prepare and fuel our Campers to creatively appreciate and adopt innovative ways to develop their agribusiness career paths. Alberta concluded.

The 6-day bootcamp officially opens on Sunday, May 19, 2024, with the Knowing Me – Knowing You and beginner Business Grouping sessions respectively.

It continues on Monday, 20th May 2024, with the Agri-Ted talk Mentorship dialogues, where we get to see and meet Mr. James Boateng, the 2018 national best farmer, who led a session on how he kick-started his farm enterprise.

We also get to hear from other key rural farmers, producers, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and Agricultural Development Bank, our financial partner, who will lead the A Pesewa A day Mentorship session.

Day Two( 2) is the Ag-Voyage experience, for campers to visit and experience a plantain processing factory in Asamankese, a fertilizer blending plant in Tema and the Tulaku Livestock Market in Ashaiman.

This trip is meant to get them to broaden their horizon on the options and choices they have, in choosing a career in agribusiness.

The evening of Day 2 is the time with business coaches, where the real work begins, they get to share and discuss their business ideas, and projects and how coaches can assist them in translating and developing them into sound business concepts

Day 3 is our Agri-inspire session, where our Gold in the soil award recipient, rural women producers, and farmers with disabilities among other leading agribusiness entrepreneurs, share their agribusiness modules and practices with the campers.

We also have all the Directorates under the Ministry Of Food and Agriculture, who will be present on this day, to share the roles and mandates of the Directorates under MOFA, with the campers, and how their work, aligns and revolves around youth in agricultural development.

Day five places a high focus on credibility and accountability training sessions, to be led by USAID GTI, GIZ, Yara, Agromonti.

Also to lead the innovative role-play session will be a representative from the World Food Forum Ghana chapter and a representative also from Agromonti.

There will also be other competency-based sessions led by the 2023 National Best Farmer and other key organizations.

The lead session and key highlight to get the campers to prepare, plan and begin developing their bankable ideas will be lead by Jobberman’s lead trainer and consultant, Coach Christain Agbesi Tetteh

The climax for the bootcamp is the Agri-youth Dialogue, AG-STUD beginner Agribusiness presentation and competition and Input Dealer Business Deal Pitch which gives the students the opportunity to pitch their final business proposals to a panel of judges. The Judges assess the strengths and loopholes of the business plans and make recommendations to better the business idea. The students are presented starter packs to help them start their businesses.

This year’s bootcamp is supported by Agricultural Development Bank, Jobberman, WEID Ventures, Kofi Vinyo, Kofi Ansah (Ahodwo Farms), Lexvee Agro-processing, and some of Agrihouse Foundation’s women in agribusiness beneficiaries, including Mama Abigial Ghama, Janet Adade, Queen Gafaratu Enterprise, Ayden Ventures, Nanvee Natural Foods, Vinolia Wealth Foods, ZLB Enterprise, and Bebefu Ventures.