…as WFP supports 8th Pre-Harvest Event
The World Food Programme Representative and Country Director, Rukia Yacoub has indicated that the WFP is focused on helping farmers and agro-processors in expanding their businesses.
Speaking at the signing of an agreement between WFP and Agrihouse Foundation for the 8th Pre-Harvest Conference and Exhibition, the Country Director noted that, this conference would help build new partnership to foster the growth of Ghana’s agriculture sector and generally improve food and nutrition security.
Yacoub said “our participation this year is thus not new but on a larger scale due to the current focus area of our support in Ghana. For the upcoming event, WFP plans to sponsor the participation of 200 farmers from the three northern regions, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions.”
The 8th Pre-harvest Agribusiness Event will highlight agro-economic opportunities to investors. policy-makers, business leaders, academics, finance professionals, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and key Government Ministries, non-governmental and corporate bodies. Others include farmers and farming associations, representatives from the Agribusiness civil society, investors, financial institutions, input dealers, seed companies, district chief executives, and other relevant stakeholders.
During the three-day event, WFP will lead discussions on the importance and the role of supply chains in food systems and agribusiness, focusing on specialized nutritious foods. Additionally, it will discuss issues on sustainable agricultural warehousing and storage, post-harvest management, food safety and quality standards.
Smallholder farmers are expected to learn about new innovations and technologies, participate in trainings, exhibitions, field demonstrations, and market linkages.
The WFP has sponsored hundreds of smallholder farmers enrolled in the Purchase for Progress (P4P) initiative, she said.
Yacoub called for more collaboration among all stakeholders for the transformation of the agribusiness sector into a more inclusive, equitable, climate- smart, and oriented towards improving lives of the vulnerable and rural poor.
Earlier this year, the USAID ADVANCE handed over the Pre-harvest Agribusiness Exhibitions and Conference to Agrihouse Foundation, with the World Food Program as a key organizing partner.
The 8th Pre-Harvest Agribusiness Exhibition & Conference is being partnered by the World Food Programme, USAID, the Northern Regional Coordinating Council and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture of Ghana.
By Joshua W. Amlanu
