Business News of Friday, 1 May 2015

Source: GNA

GhanaVeg holds 5th workshop for stakeholders

As part of measures to improve on the vegetable sector of the country, GhanaVeg has organised a day’s business platform meeting and vegetable fair for stakeholders in Accra.

The workshop, which brought together consultants, agronomists, importers of agro-chemicals, vegetable exporters and producers; sought to share ideas on how to improve on the growth and development of the vegetable sector.

The business platform event, which also introduced the first vegetable fair, was on the theme: “Innovative Technologies, Healthy, Quality Produce and New Connections for Domestic Trade and Export.”

Mr Joep Van den Broek, Programme Leader, GhanaVeg speaking at the fifth business platform meeting, said the organisation is driven by a strong belief in healthy and quality vegetables from Ghana through new ways of doing business.

GhanaVeg is an initiative supported by the Kingdom of the Netherlands which aims at enhancing commercial agriculture in Ghana.

He said their mission is to establish a sustainable and internationally competitive vegetable sector that contributes to inclusive economic growth and has the capacity to continuously innovate in terms of the products and services.

He said as part of its activities, five new proposals have been approved in the areas of seed supply, out-grower scheme and certifications and nursery construction on greenhouse.

The Programme Leader noted that in September, there would be a trade business delegation from the Netherlands to Ghana to deliberate on opportunities in the sector.

He said there are ongoing discussions with Government to establish a vegetable taskforce council for the sector in its operations.

Mr Thierry Van Helden, First Secretary, Kingdom of Netherlands Embassy, commended vegetable exporters and producers for their efforts in transforming the sector.

He said the Netherlands is working with Ghana to address some of the challenges in the sector.

The fair attracted 17 companies.