Stakeholders of the 12th Pre-Harvest Agribusiness Conference and Exhibition slated for October 25-27, 2022 have expressed hope the event will set a new trend as it once more brings farmers and buyers together.
The event, since it was initiated under phase 1 of the USAID’s Advance project in 2011, has since grown to become the leading market linkage platform in the country and fulfilled its overall goal of creating markets and linking farmers to buyers.
The Pre-Harvest Agribusiness Conference and Exhibition have become a leading facilitator in the area of finance, fertilizer, seed, production, machinery, climate-smart agriculture and technology for agricultural organizations with more than GH¢32.421 million in sales and 70 business deals being struck during the 2019 event.
Last year 53 contracts valued at US$189,000, were signed through this session and the expectation of a 65% increase in farmer groups and buyer participation.
Executive Director of AgriHouse Foundation, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, disclosed these at a press briefing to share the reason behind this year’s theme “Connecting the Unconnected; The Farmer- The Market and The Buyer.”
This year’s events, he said, include the exhibitions, farmer-buyer matchmaking, training and capacity-building sessions and a new addition dubbed ‘Farmer to Farmer Apprenticeship Program.
She disclosed that this new programme has been added to the lineup to give young farmers and young people who wish to get into the agric sector an opportunity to interact and learn from experts.
This session, she said, will make room for young apprentices and corporate representatives to learn by overserving, asking questions and participating in one-on-one practical exercises with experts who cut across the various units of the agric value chain.
Madame Alberta indicated the three-day event is focused on achieving some targets including Link actors along the value chain and exposing them to Markets; farmers to buyers and vice versa, especially the unconnected; Building upon and strengthening existing market linkages; Creating a further market for Agricultural related SMEs; Equip farmers and Actors with modern Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to maintain and increase their level of productivity, and introduce farmers and Actors to improved or new technologies through the Technical Field Demonstrations.
She expressed gratitude to Yara Ghana, Demeter and GOZ MOAP, the major sponsors of the programme and partners the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Northern Regional Coordinating Council for their continued support.
Digital Solutions Manager for Yara Ghana, a sponsor of the event pledged the company’s continued support and stressed the programme is key to Yara though it is in the input sector.
He disclosed that Yara has employed graduates from various universities to ensure the company keeps in constant touch with farmers and also helps connect them to financing, input dealers and buyers by using its digital channels.
Chief Director of the Northern Regional Coordinating Council in his speech observed that the Pre-Harvest Agribusiness Conference and Exhibition is an interesting programme for the people in the north in view of the fact that the majority are farmers.
According to him, these farmers need to enhance their farms not only during the cultivation of the crops but during harvesting and post-harvesting to ensure they derive the maximum benefit from their labour.
He expressed appreciation to AgriHouse Foundation for the initiative and expressed hope more farmers would be able to participate and benefit from the linkages that will be generated.
A representative of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Market Oriented Agriculture Programme (MOAP), Reuben Binpori disclosed the event is currently the biggest European Union-Funded intervention in Ghana’s agricultural sector.
The EU, he said, funds activities for and in support of productive investments for agricultural development through the EU Ghana Agriculture Programme (EUGAP).
He disclosed that the EUGAP, with its 3 interconnected components, works to increase agricultural incomes and promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth in rural communities in Ghana’s north-west
A key component of the EUGAP, he said, is the MOAP–North West implemented by GIZ and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture with co-financing from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Two representatives of the beneficiary farmers spoke of the challenges they face, especially marketing their produce at premium prices and appealed for standardized prices for these grains as done with cocoa to protect them.