A three-day trade fair has been held in Sunyani, the Bono Region capital, to among others promote growth and development of the agricultural industry.
A total of about 50 exhibitors from the agricultural value chain participated in the fair. The exhibitors included agro-processors, input dealers, agro-service providers, farmer-based organisations, research institutions and academia.
This year’s fair was under the theme ‘Promoting Market Linkages Through Agricultural Fairs’. The key objective was to bring together players in the agricultural value chain with a view to promoting agriculture growth and development through exhibitions of relevant products and services.
This is the agricultural-based fair’s second edition organised in Sunyani, the first edition was held in January 2021. The fair was organised by the Bono Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) in partnership with the Bono Regional Coordinating Council.
Delivering the opening remarks, Justina Owusu Banahene, Bono Regional Minister, described the fair as a perfect catalyst to showcase modernity and transformation in agriculture; and also clear the misconception that agriculture is a poverty-oriented enterprise, which causes the youths’ hesitance to venture into the sector.
She alluded to the fact that governments over the years have rolled out various policies and programmes aimed at making the sector attractive, increase productivity and food security to ensure sustainable socio-economic development.
Ms. Â Banahene urged the youth to take advantage of government interventions in the agricultural space to better their lots. She also called on the public to appreciate the efforts of farmers and agriculturalists for their role in ensuring food sustainability in the country.
On his part, the Bono Regional MoFA Director, Dennis Abugri Amenga, said his outfit has since March this year supported various initiatives aimed at bridging the gaps between agricultural value chain actors as well as promote market linkages along the various streams.
The fair, he noted, is one of the strategies to accelerate efforts toward organising and transforming the region’s agric sector.
The 2017 National Best Farmer, Philip Kwaku Agyemang, appealed for the MoFA and government to redouble their efforts to support the sector with necessary inputs and implements to boost its production.
