FAGRO seeks to change face of farming

Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, General Manager of National Food and Agriculture Show (FAGRO), has underscored the need for the State to educate farmers on improved schemes and technologies to boost productivity for national food sufficiency.

She said with the myriad of challenges confronting farmers, the 6th National Food and Agriculture Show should showcase modern agricultural equipment aimed at changing the face of farming.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra, Ms Akyaa Akosa noted that majority of farmers and agriculture stakeholders’ productivity is low due to inappropriate technology, farmer management, and lack of finance as well as absence of insurance.

She said progress made with the introduction of schemes and technologies is far advancing with new insurance, financing schemes and the introduction of appropriate technologies, green housing, irrigation and turnkey projects.

“FAGRO will this year focus its energies and activities on some schemes and technologies that can aid in reducing risk in our agri-businesses and farmers for growth and development.

“Agri-business, companies, entrepreneurs, farmers and governments are increasingly recognising that the reduction of risks is a foundation for a successful sustainable development and that is exactly what FAGRO 2014 is all about,” she added.

The theme for the 2014 FAGRO is “Sustainable agricultural growth and development: reducing risk,” and would be held in Kumasi from November 12 to November 14 at the Cultural Centre.

The FAGRO Manager noted that experience shows that disasters, harsh climatic conditions, destruction of farmlands, post-harvest losses are intimately linked and affect adversely properties and livelihoods causing a major setback to what she described as “hard-won development gains and worsen poverty”.

The show creates a platform for companies to present and exhibit appropriate emerging technologies that are helping shape agriculture, open doors for stakeholders to learn how appropriate those technologies have been designed for the market.

The 2014 event is expected to witness a general exhibition of local and international agricultural companies in manufacturing, poultry and poultry equipment, seeds and seedlings, aqua culture, feeding equipment, packaging and processing technology, Irrigation systems, financial institutions among others.