In a bid to increase production and the viability of the livestock sector, farmers are expected to soon receive exposure to modern technology which is available in the industry.
The exposure is expected to take place at the 7th All African Conference on Animal Agriculture / Livestock Poultry and Fisheries (LiPF) Tradeshow.
This was revealed at a press briefing held at the Agricultural Resource Centre in Accra on Wednesday.
The conference will provide a platform where all the stakeholders will discuss some of the innovations and new ideas that together can grow animal production not only in Ghana but across all West African countries.
The AACAA is an event held every 4 years which is rotated among African countries and since its exception it had moved round East Africa and North Africa and this is the first time it is being held in West Africa.
This edition of the conference is dubbed; ‘innovations to harness the potential Africa Animal Agriculture in a Globalizing World.’
Speaking at the launch of the 7th AACAA, the Secretary, Ghana Society of Animal Production, Dr Julius Hagan said “there is the need for a focus to be placed on feed production and conservation of forages, as well as animal health and diseases control, development of communal grassing lands, commercialization of livestock production and entrepreneurship development and lastly the application of e-agriculture in livestock production.”
According to AACAA their conference on animal agriculture has determined that demand for livestock products in sub- Saharan Africa will increase several folds by 2050. The trend of increasing demand however is currently not matched by an increase in productivity within Africa.
Yet, this growing demand for livestock products presents an opportunity for the continent, in the form of greater contribution towards economic growth of Africa nations, as well as improved resilience and productivity of producers, and better farmer livelihoods and food security of the continent.
The AACAA’s overall objective for the conference is to provide an opportunity for scientists and broader stakeholders in the animal agriculture sector to discuss the potential role of innovation in animal agriculture to improve the livelihoods of Africa’s livestock farmers.
It will further examine how the continent’s animal agriculture can increase its private sector engagement, through public – private sector partnerships.
The conference expects about 500 participants from around the globe.
