Canadian Ambassador urges Ghana to use agri-business to eradicate poverty

Pre-harvest conference, an annual event which seeks to promote business partnerships among value chain actors, especially farmers, buyers, processors, transporters, input dealers, equipment dealers, financial institutions, telecom companies and policymakers has seen another glorious climax at the Aliu Mahama Sports stadium.

For the first time since 2011, the event was held for three days with over 2,000 participants and exhibitors including farmers, traders, commodity brokers, input companies, machinery and equipment providers, transporters, financial institutions, ICT, Innovations, Poultry and Livestock companies, packaging and processing companies, development practitioners and government agencies in attendance.

The 8th edition was held under the theme “Agribusiness in Northern Ghana, the Future Starts Now”. Due to the impact of the conference, Pre-harvest has become one of the major interventional exhibition events in the country,

Her Excellency Mrs. Heather Cameron, High Commissioner of Canada to Ghana, commended the country for the significant progress in eradicating poverty however she mentioned that there are gaps to be addressed and urged stakeholders to leverage agribusiness in dealing with poverty especially in Northern Ghana

Ms. Rukia yacoub, World Food Programme representative and country director in her speech at the event mentioned steps taken by Canada to assist Ghana to improve economic growth in the agriculture sector.

“Canada’s development support is helping to transform agriculture and develop agri-business in Ghana. It is fostering economic growth that benefits everyone, leaving no one behind. But our efforts do not end there. We also have a growing trade relationship that benefits the agriculture sector.” She maintained.

The three-day event was packed with series of exhibitions, dialogue and networking sessions, training, field demonstrations and farm tours. For the first time in eight years, the event captured the livestock and poultry sector within the agribusiness.

There were further discussions aimed at accelerating and transforming agribusiness in Northern Ghana on the backdrop of Government’s Planting for Food and Jobs programme. The event also touched on the need agro-processors to source raw materials locally.

The 2018 conference was organized by Agrihouse Foundation in partnership with the World Food Programme, Ministry of Food and Agriculture and Northern Development Authority.

Pre-harvest also had support from Yara Ghana, Ecobank, Mel Consult, Tata John Deere, Kosmos Energy, Interplast, LK International, Dizengoff, RMG and Hatoum Trading