GHANA PREPARES FOR RAPID EXPANSION OF FOOD PRODUCTION
With over half of Ghana’s labour force employed in agriculture, which represents one third of its GDP, and industrialisation of its economy still a long way off, its current administration has introduced a parliamentary bill to invest substantial amounts of oil revenue, expected to flow in December 2010, into the agricultural sector.
As a signatory to the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact in 2006, which aims to assist in transforming the nation’s agricultural sector, the government has directed capital toward repairing and improving the transportation and distribution infrastructure serving agricultural exports, improving access to its air and sea ports as well as limiting post harvest losses estimated at up to 50% of total production.
Against this encouraging background, Exhibition Management Services (EMS), one of South Africa’s longest established event organisers, in partnership with Accra based EXPO Promotions, announced the first in a series of agribusiness events, AGRITEC West Africa 2011, an International Exhibition & Conference on Agribusiness & Aquaculture, Agricultural & Horticultural Equipment, Systems & Technology together with Associated Infrastructure which will take place from 10?12 May 2011 at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Ghana’s capital city Accra.
With the invited support of Ghana’s Minister for Food & Agriculture, Kwesi Ahwoi, the exhibition will feature the latest scientific developments in crop cultivation and farm machinery, irrigation systems, horticulture, agricultural and garden tools, agrichemicals, food processing and packaging, cool?chain technology, grain transport and processing, pest control and biotechnologies, agricultural education, aquaculture, biofuel production and agritourism amongst many others.
According to John Thomson, Managing Director of EMS, “Ghana, with its economic and political stability, enlightened leadership and vast human, land and climate resource, could, and I believe should be the sub?Saharan West Africa hub for long term sustainable modern agricultural development. Based on our experience here in South Africa, I know that there is a pressing need for an international agri?business trade fair in Accra which would focus world attention on its potential as a modern, progressive agricultural economy.”
AGRITEC West Africa 2011, which is expected to host a number of country pavilions, will bring international manufacturers and suppliers in contact with a highly targeted West African audience tonetwork with buyers, investors, key decision makers, governmental authorities and representatives of various trade related bodies. Visitors to the 3?day event will include agents, distributors, investors and entrepreneurs, agriculture technologists, agricultural storage, transport and logistics suppliers, farming institutes and students, farmers, government departments and agencies, importer, exporters, wholesalers and the media.
One of Ghana’s most successful commercial producers of fruits for local consumption and export is Blue Skies who pride themselves as innovative and leading the way with their new product development. “We were the first to introduce fresh pomegranate juice, the first to introduce fresh cut coconut and we will continue to be the first with many of our future product launches,” says their website blueskies.com. Their products are cut and packed at source and delivered to many of the major supermarket chains in Europe in forty eight hours.
On 10?11 May, and running parallel with the exhibition, will be a two?day conference which will bring understanding and awareness for the need to achieve food security in Ghana by transforming its farming production into large scale commercial output as well as the business opportunities that this presents to investors, entrepreneurs as well as the entire agribusiness sector.
AGRITEC West Africa 2011 will take place from 10?12 May 2011 at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Accra, Ghana.
This article was originally posted on West Africa Business Communities
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