FAGRO 2011 to focus on value chains

By Bernard Yaw Ashiadey

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture in partnership with the National Food and Agricultural Show (FAGRO) has launched the third FAGRO show in Accra with a call on all stakeholders in the agricultural sector to continuously adopt a system of operation whereby other areas of the production process are outsourced to experts to enhance speed, quality and save cost.

Under the theme, ‘Beginning with the End in Mind -- The Value Chain Process,’ the show seeks to emphasise the need to build and promote an effective value-chain system in order to increase efficiency, productivity and add value to products and services.

The Deputy Food and Agricultural Minister in charge of Fisheries, Nii Amasa Namoale, said there is the need for the country to enhance its agricultural sector in order to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and also, because the sector is the backbone of the economy.

“The agricultural sector in Ghana is the backbone of the economy and the most efficacious way to reduce poverty, promote growth and ensure food security.

“The sector employs close to 60 percent of the labour force and is the biggest contributor to the country’s GDP and export earnings.”

He said FAGRO will, this year, focus its attention on promoting the Value-Chain Process (VCP) in the country’s agricultural sector. This decision stems from the vital role VCP plays in the sector to help generate growth and reduce rural poverty in developing economies like Ghana.

“Experts believe that with the increasing globalised agricultural markets, African countries like Ghana need to form strategic partnerships through value chains that enhance investments, trade marketing and food security.

“In spite of its significance in the fight against poverty, the value-chain system in the country’s agricultural sector is nothing to write home about as it continues to battle challenges of appropriate technology, financing, information and efficient channels of distribution.”

FAGRO 2011 is to help find ways on how to improve and streamline the VCP to achieve the desired results in the agricultural sector.

This year’s show is slated for 7^th – 16^th October at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park in Accra.