FAGRO seeks partnership for increased food production

This was made known by the 2013 Planning Committee Chairman of the FAGRO, Mr Sulley Adam, at the annual FAGRO Stakeholders Meeting in Accra.

The one-day meeting provided a platform for stakeholders to deliberate on strategic agricultural themes and ways to make agriculture more profitable and rewarding for small holder farmers.

According to Mr Adams, FAGRO provides an opportunity for stakeholders to come out with strategies that would lead to the development of the agricultural sector for the benefit of small-scale, resource-poor farmers and other marginalised social groups.

Mr Adams called for massive investment in the FAGRO and agriculture, saying: “If we are to produce more and better, we must re-invest in agriculture; we must help the poorest farmers develop their own agriculture and seek to ensure greater commitment towards markets.”

For his part, the Managing Director of RST Company Limited, Mr Sampson Tetteh, called for the incorporation of demonstration farms into the main FAGRO event, as “demonstration farms are very important to encourage knowledge exchange amongst other farmers and enable the public to see firsthand how their food is grown using the latest technology to the highest standards of environmental care.”

He added that FAGRO had over the years set itself apart as the only agricultural fair in the country that provided the platform for farmers and participants to network, form strategic partnerships and learn modern techniques of agricultural marketing, the appropriate and modern use of farming technology and also farm business management such as laws and policies, accessing land, water, effective production services, resource management and conversation practices.

“I believe FAGRO has a potential not only to market Ghana’s agricultural potential but also serve as an important vehicle to encourage people, especially the youth, to get into agriculture and increase food production in the country,” he said.

A representative of the YARA Ghana Ltd, Mr Eric Quarshie, encouraged farmers to apply best farming methods, including fertiliser application for high yields.

He said the farmers in the country needed quality seeds, fertilisers, and other farm inputs that were accessible and affordable.