The Secretariat of the National Food and Agriculture Show (FAGRO), in partnership with Praxis Africa have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide a marketing platform for the advancement of agriculture.
The platform is to boost local production and consumption as well as ensuring self-sufficiency in food and raw material production.
The move is also to leverage a new business mandate to improve agriculture and provide job opportunities through a strategic partnership.
Chairman of FAGRO, Mr. Adam Sulley, speaking at the launch noted that through the collaboration and support of Praxis Africa, FAGRO in 2011 was launched in North Dakota, USA cementing an already existing relationship between the two parties.
Sulley said most of FAGRO’s new business services are already being offered by Praxis Africa with the support of the Praxis Strategy Group and AdFarm.
“By extension it is proper that FAGRO has opted for an affiliation with Praxis Africa which is supported by Praxis Strategy Group and AdFarm as the most viable option after due diligence and other considerations,” Sulley said.
Mrs. Richelle Matthews, International Program for AdFarm/Praxis Africa said the key outcome of the partnership is to provide market access to farmers for better quality crops and additional education that ensures they are able to grow vibrant agribusinesses.
“We have worked closely to develop and implement some initiatives such as an agricultural television program that is designed to educate farmers on agricultural best production practices, proper use of agriculture inputs amongst others.”
In that regard, she noted Praxis Africa and AdFarm has cultivated a 100 acre cassava farm in Awutu Mankessim, Central Region and has worked closely with farmers in the community and to that effect, a processing plant has also been built for the community.
Mrs Matthews lauded FAGRO for instituting trade shows which are valuable in providing marketing platforms and networking opportunities in the sector.
Mr. Tony Mensah, Country Director, Praxis Africa said the partnership, moving forward will provide an avenue for research and marketing, consultancy for agriculture and food related issues as well as supply of inputs for small scale farmers.
A Senior Policy Advisor from the Ministry of Planning, Mr. Kojo Mensah Abrampa, commenting on the partnership said government as part of its transformational agenda will in the coming months, apply a demand approach to reduce the cost of agricultural production.
‘’To be efficient you look at your market first and that includes who is going buy it? How much can I produce? And what do I need now to produce is the way demands can be made before production and that should be the approach to improve the sector,” he expressed.
