From left: Ligaya Diaz, Edwin Bekoe, Dr. Julius Hagan and Dr. Richard Osei Amponsah
ORGANISERS OF the 7th All Africa Conference on Animal Agriculture (AACAA) have indicated that the upcoming event aims to complement government’s ‘Rearing for Meat and Jobs’ initiative, which is targeted at increasing animal production through a globally acceptable framework.
Themed: “Innovations to ensure the future of animal agriculture in Africa in a globalizing world”, the event, a rotational quadrennial one for African countries, is slated for Monday, 29th July to Friday 2nd August, 2019, at the Accra International Conference Centre.
Ghana has become the first country in West Africa to host it this year with the headline sponsor being the USDA.
As the single largest event that brings together all stakeholders in the livestock industry under one roof, the conference is expecting about 500 local and international participants made up of policymakers, animal scientists, farmers, and private sector financial institutions, among others.
Director of the Animal Production Directorate, Ministry of Agriculture, Edwin Bekoe, stated the importance of keeping livestock as it formed a pivotal link in the Ghanaian farming and livelihood systems.
He highlighted that livestock production accounted for 14 per cent of agricultural GDP as it was a major source of income for most farmers in the country. He added that it would reduce rural poverty.
The All African Society for Animal Production (AASAP) is collaborating with the Ghana Society of Animal Production (GSAP), Ghana Animal Science Association (GASA) and Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), to host it under the auspices of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) in Ghana.
The 2019 edition of the livestock, poultry and fisheries trade show (LiPF) which is an initiative of MoFA and Agrihouse Foundation will run alongside the 7th AACAA.
It is an initiative that aims to showcase and promote the country’s livestock, poultry and fisheries production, value chain and job opportunities through exhibitions and training programmes.