PARTICIPATION OF THE YOUTH IN AGRICULTURE AS A LIVELIHOOD ACTIVITY: THE ROLE OF THE BLOCK FARM PROGRAMME IN THE TECHIMAN MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BRONG AHAFO REGION, GHANA

ABSTRACT The study sought to explore the role of block farming in attracting and retaining the youth in farming. The study was conducted in the Techiman Municipal Area and it examined the motivations and participation of farmers, the inputs accessed and profitability of block farming. One hundred and ten (110) farmers in block farming participated in the study. It emerged that income rather than employment is the most important motivation for participation in the programme. All 110 farmers were in farming before enrolling onto the programme. The inputs accessed include fertilizer, seed, agrochemicals and extension services. Most farmers rely on their own land, arrange for mechanisation services and access informal market services. The study concludes that targeting of youth and new farmers to replace the aging farmer population through block farming was poor. The study recommends greater commitment from both government and implementers to ensure that targeted groups benefit from interventions if agricultural programmes such as block farming are to achieve required objectives. Secondly, a more holistic approach should be adopted if agricultural programmes are to make significant improvement in productivity, improve well-being of farmers and make farming attractive to the youth. Supporting farmers with only fertilizer, seed, and agrochemical and extension services is not adequate. Support should be scaled up to include irrigation services, cash support for manual operations, agricultural mechanisation, storage infrastructure, guaranteed prices and market information. These will help cushion farmers to withstand risk and uncertainty associated with farming. The study also recommends a follow up on youth farmers who participated in block farming to ascertain if they have remained in farming and how they are using farming to improve their livelihoods.