Rukia Yacoub
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has indicated that it will sponsor the 8th Annual Pre-Harvest Conference and Exhibition slated from 3-5 October 3, 2018 at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale in order to link actors in the food value chain to those in other parts of the country,
WFP’s representative and country director, Rukia Yacoub, in a remark, stated: “We are particularly interested in its benefits to smallholder farmers who produce the majority of the food in Ghana but remain among the most food-insecure livelihood groups.”
Also, it mentioned that globally, WFP focused its support to national governments on Sustainable Development Goals 2 – Zero Hunger and 17 – Partnerships.
She said the national Zero Hunger Strategic Review, which was launched by President Akufo-Addo in May 2018, identified the triple burden of malnutrition, reduction of post-harvest losses, improvement of linkages between smallholder farmers and markets, enhancement of food safety in value chains and mapping of food-insecure populations as key gaps which need to be addressed to enable Ghana to achieve zero hunger by 2030.
“These gaps, which are also reflected in the government’s policies, such as the Planting for Food and Jobs and One District One Factory initiatives, will be WFP’s focus areas from now until the end of our new Country Strategic Plan in 2023.”
Ms Yacoub also lauded Canada’s invaluable partnership and funding through which WFP has been able to phase out its traditional programmes in Ghana.
“Two Ghanaian-owned industrial agro-processors in Kumasi and Sunyani have been funded and provided with technical expertise to enable them produce specialized fortified nutritious foods of international standards which help prevent malnutrition, particularly stunting among children. 10,000 smallholder farmers in the Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo regions, have been identified for linking to these agro-processors.”
The 8th Pre-harvest Agribusiness Event is expected to highlight agro-economic opportunities for farmers, agribusiness, input dealers, investors and financial institutions, sister UN agencies, civil society, government and non-governmental institutions, policy-makers, municipal and district chief executives, and others.
She also called on the private sector to participate in discussions on Sustainable Agricultural Warehousing and Storage, Post-harvest Management and Food Safety & Quality standards, which WFP would lead during the three-day conference.