Agriculture is a critical for sustainable development and poverty reduction, and agricultural growth can be powerful means of achieving inclusive growth.
Agriculture holds paramount importance in combating food insecurity, enhancing sustainable resource management and environmental preservation and pursuit of sustainable development.
The training was an initiative by the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development of the Obuasi East District, focused on equipping and creating opportunities for Persons with Physical Disabilities in Agriculture to be self-employed, self-sufficient and improve their living conditions.
The PWDs were trained in animal, maize, mushroom, snail and vegetable farming. The training was facilitated by the Agric Department led by Osei Yaw, the District Director of Agric.
Participant were taking through step-by-step guide to modern agriculture and animal farming. They were informed that before one enters into farming, must first identify the farming opportunity in their communities not forgetting location of site, feed for farm animals and portable drinking water.
Godwin Komla Bansah the Department for Social Welfare and Community Development officer in his address said the main purpose of the training was to introduce people with disability to various opportunity in the agriculture sector. He said, the government has enrolled various flagship program like Planting for Food and Job, Rearing for Food and Job and planting for export and rural development but has realized that persons with disability are not benefiting from these programs.
He said upon analysis done by the department it was deduced that given out fridges to PWDs and other electronic devices for commercial purposes which most often they incur loses to electricity. We have decided to introduced them in Agrobusiness for them to make a choice from, this will go a long way to better their finances.
He added the Assembly is not halting on the supportive item they give them but they want them to venture into various aspect in agriculture business which is more sustainable and the district is also ready to support any on who venture into agriculture.
He encourages participant to take the training serious and take advantage of it to improve their standard of living.
“I am expecting that participants will take advantage of the training and start implementing it with regards to the guide lines in rearing animals, crop and vegetable farming. My outfit is always ready to help them with all the technical support they may need. The Agric Director added.
Emmanuel Adjei, a participant who is also a farmer expressed his gratitude to the District Assembly and the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development for such training. He said he has learned new things that will help improve his farming and finances in a long run.