Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa – General Manager, FAGRO Secretariat
This year’s edition of the much-touted National Food and Agric Show – FAGRO 2017, one of the important activities in the agriculture sector, is expected to take place at the Tamale Sports Stadium in the Northern Region from 26-30 September 2017.
The event, which is being held under the theme: ‘Creating Jobs In Agriculture – Northern Region In Focus,’ will be attended by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Minister of Food and Agriculture Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Northern Regional Minister, The Netherlands Ambassador to Ghana among other dignitaries.
FAGRO has been specially designed for hardworking farmers agric input dealers, machinery companies, financial institutions, who annually come together to strategize for agricultural business and development.
A news release issued in Accra and signed by Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, General Manager of the FAGRO Secretariat said, “This year is a positive one for FAGRO and agriculture in general, as the government has started the line with the ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ agenda.”
“We are convinced that the agric sector deserves even more than the attention it is currently receiving.”
She said “FAGRO’s focus on the north this year is to implement the vision we have for the north as the nation’s bread basket,” explaining that “this is because, when agriculture is developed in North Ghana’s developmental agenda will be greatly stepped up.”
She said that the highlights of the activities for this year’s event will include leadership summit for women in agriculture, an Agric College Dialogue, a seminar on how to Structure Strong farmers Cooperatives, Business Plan Writing Bootcamp for Agribusiness players and a forum to discuss the government one district, one factory agenda.
According to the General Manager, the secretariat is forming a strong partnership with Yara Ghana Limited, Ministry of Agriculture, the National Farmers and Fishermen Award Winners Association, Dizengoff, Barclays Bank Ghana Ltd, AFGRI Equipment Ghana, John Deere, Africa Lead and the Northern Regional Coordinating Council for FAGRO 2017.
She said the women in agriculture seminar scheduled for the opening day is expected to enhance their knowledge, as well as provide networking opportunities in the agriculture value chain.
And the Agric College dialogue aims at redirecting students’ attention to making agric a priority career choice.
The Agribusiness training on Business plan proposal writing would take place the next day.
“Workshops, training programmes and farm tours will also be organized during this period… It’s our flagship programme and has set the benchmark for other programmes to be rolled out every year by the Secretariat,” Nana Akyaa Akosa explained.
FAGRO 2017 will conclude with the district dialogue; one district one factory agenda, the conference will build on how feasible the government’s agenda is within the shortest possible time frame, she added.