By Samuel SAM
Yaw Frimpong Addo, Deputy Minister in charge of Crops – Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), has called for public-private partnership to build a robust, inclusive and innovative agricultural sector that ensures food security, improves livelihoods and contributes to the development of the nation.
The partnership would help build the capacity of the farmers and processors to gain access to new technologies, markets and resources that will empower them to increase productivity and improve their livelihoods.
The deputy minister announced this at the opening ceremony of the 14th Annual Pre-Harvest Agribusiness Conference and Exhibition held at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale.
The event – dubbed ‘Connecting the unconnected – feeding the future through innovation and technological approaches’ and with funding from the European Union Ghana Agriculture Programme (EUGAP), Ministry of Food and Agriculture, ADB, NRCC, Yara and Ecobank brought together processors, farmers, investors, academia, researchers, among others – aimed to strengthen market linkages, promote technological innovations and enhance productivity within the agricultural sector.
He commended Agrihouse for sustaining the Pre-Harvest Agribusiness Conference and Exhibition aimed at reshaping the agricultural landscape, ensuring that our farmers are not only producers but key players in the agribusiness ecosystem.
Thousands of farmers have benefitted from capacity-building programmes, innovative training sessions and market access opportunities provided through the annual Pre-Harvest Agribusiness Conference and Exhibitions, he said.
He stressed the need for industry players to explore more ways to integrate digital tools, such as mobile platforms and digital marketplaces, to connect farmers directly with buyers, suppliers and financial services.
He called on the farmers and industry players to take advantage of the opportunities to leverage technology, build stronger value chains and create sustainable farming systems that can meet the demands of the growing population.
Northern Regional Minister Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu called on farmers and industry players to embrace the technological advancements to enhance food security, increase productivity and ensure that farming remains competitive.
“With technology, we can maximise yields, reduce post-harvest losses and ensure that farmers can thrive in an increasingly competitive marketplace,” he said.
Ms. Theresa Randolph, Country Manager – Yara Ghana, said Yara Ghana has over the years supported the development of agribusiness in Ghana and have given special focus to farmers, youth and women in the agricultural value chain.
She stressed the commitment to partner institutions to provide quality fertiliser for crop yields to enhance food security in the country.
Economic Growth Office Director of USAID-Ghana, Andrew Robert, underscored the need for collaboration among donor agencies, government and industry experts to improve agricultural practices and productivity.
Networking enhances resource sharing, market access and income for farmers, while farmers adopt climate-smart agriculture practices and become more resilient, he added.
Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, said the event’s tradition of impact continues this year with an estimated project participation of about 7,000 and a projected increase in exhibitors from last year’s 150 to 250 for 2024.
“By 2025, the foundation envisioned an Africa where smallholder farmers and agribusinesses are better connected, where technology and innovation drive growth, and where the agricultural sector plays a central role in sustainable development,” she said.
“We are committed to transform agriculture and provide long-term market development opportunities for farmers and as well build the capacity of farmers with strategic negotiation skills to aid them when negotiating for pricing with farmers,” she added.
She said the foundation will work closely with its partners to identify gaps and
collaboratively establish a strategic path forward to connect and fortify business relationships among stakeholders in the agribusiness ecosystem.
