…as Kosmos Energy provides financial and technical support
The 8th Annual Pre-Harvest agribusiness exhibition and conference has begun to gather momentum, as Kosmos Energy provides both financial and technical support to this effect.
The Pre-Harvest event seeks to accelerate the transformation of agribusiness in the northern part of the country.
At a media ceremony, Vice President and Country Manager of Kosmos Energy, Mr Joe K. Mensah, noted that his outfit is focusing on creating more value outside its core mandate for the country.
Currently, Kosmos Energy runs the Agritech Challenge, a key programme under the Kosmos Innovation Centre (KIC) which is a nine-month competition in which young men and women create their own businesses.
These young entrepreneurs are supported by the KIC which offers market research, capacity building programmes, training and mentoring, all aimed at taking business ideas from concept to market.
Mensah said “we don’t want to go and just explore for oil, or sell hydrocarbons and then turn our backs. We want to leave something that would be impactful and long-lasting.”
For this reason, Mensah noted that Kosmos Energy would continue to partner the pre-harvest event because of the important role this plays in the agriculture space.
The Pre-harvest comes as a necessary facilitator, providing the right platform for bringing commodity buyers, agribusiness service providers and farmers to establish business relationships and further discuss contracts to explore and exploit other growth possibilities.
The Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa noted that for the first time since its inception in 2011, the pre-harvest event will be held for three days.
Akosa said this is expected to attract 2,000 participants and exhibitors including farmer, traders, commodity brokers, input companies, machinery and equipment providers, poultry and livestock companies, among others.
The event features training programmes, workshops, field demonstrations, innovations and exhibitions.
Exhibitors are expected to increase from the 72 participating companies in 2017 to about 120 exhibitors this year.
In 2017, the event brought together over 800 farmers, buyers, input dealers, manufacturers, government officials, development partners and financial institutions, among others.
Over the years, the event has helped farmers to access new market opportunities and technology to increase agricultural productivity.
Earlier this year, the USAID ADVANCE handed over the Pre-harvest Agribusiness Exhibitions and Conference to Agrihouse Foundation, with the World Food Programme as a key organizing partner.
By Joshua W. Amlanu
