Accra, May 28, GNA - An European cooperation programme on Thursday introduced the second phase of its Pesticide Initiative Programme (PIP) to support the horticulture sector and improve on agricultural practice and food safety in Ghana.

PIP is a cooperation programme financed by the European Union and working to support the horticultural sector. It is implemented at the request of the Africa-Caribbean-Pacific (ACP) group of states and managed by COLEAP, an association that represents and defends the collective interest of producers and exporters of fruits, vegetables, flowers and plants. The programme was set up to help producers and exporters to make the necessary adaptation in installing traceability and food hygiene systems, as well as staff training to assist local service providers to enhance their competence and to recognize the expertise of ACP states in food safety. Speaking at the launch of PIP Phase II, Ms Morgan Webb, PIP policy adviser, said the programme had supported 28 ACP countries covering 80 per cent of product exports from the ACP to European countries.

She said local service providers trained by PIP had largely replaced the EU expertise in the delivery of technical assistance to producers and exporters, and that 42 companies and support structures in Ghana had benefited from the programme.

Ms Webb noted that the horticultural industry was faced with challenges and that suppliers must meet the increasing demands from their EU buyers. "Besides, consumers and retailers interested in the scheme must demonstrate fair and ethical trade as well as respect for the environment." She called on producers and exporters in Ghana to adapt and keep up with the new requirement.

A representative from the European Commission, Mr David Domes, said the PIP programme was fully in line with the guiding principles of the ACP-EU Cotonou Agreement which aimed at supporting the development of the private sector in ACP countries to alleviate poverty and to promote regional integration.

He said agriculture was a dominant economic sector, and that sanitary issues were central to trade and regional integration in Africa. In addition, he said, specific laws covering different sectors would lead to enforcement, monitoring and verification of compliance. He noted that the agreements would provide the legal and regulatory framework for an improved access of the ACP countries to EU markets and that complementary measures were being taken to strengthen the supply capacity of African countries and to make sure the countries could actually benefit from improved markets. 28 May 10