The United States Agency for International Development
(USAID), through the U.S. government’s Feed the Future Initiative, and the
National Seed Trade Association of Ghana (NASTAG), held the seventh annual
Pre-season Planning and Networking Forum on March 30 in Ghana’s Northern
Region. The event brought together 800 government officials, farmers,
agribusinesses, processors, agro-input dealers, seed companies, and producers
from across the country to build partnerships, establish market linkages, share
lessons learned and coordinate planning for the upcoming planting season.
The objective of the event is to create a platform for the agriculture sector
to build more competitive businesses and enhance agricultural productivity in
northern Ghana. In attendance were Northern Regional Minister Salifu Saeed and
USAID/Ghana Deputy Mission Director Steven E. Hendrix.
At the event,
Honorable Saeed and Mr. Hendrix handed over 22 seed vans (motorized vehicles)
to selected seed producers and agro-input dealers. These vans will assist
them in reaching the most remote farming communities in Northern Ghana, to
mitigate challenges these communities face accessing high-yielding seeds.
Additionally, the event featured panel discussions and an exhibition of
irrigation technology, farm and processing equipment, and improved seed
varieties. Topics discussed included ways to increase access to finance for
agribusinesses, the availability of high yielding seeds, and current
investments made in northern Ghana.
“Today’s pre-season
event is an important forum for catalyzing agriculture-led economic growth. It
has linked hundreds of Ghanaian agribusinesses to local and international
markets and fostered partnerships between farmers and agribusinesses,” said Mr.
Hendrix.
Through Feed the Future, the U.S. government’s global
hunger and food security initiative, USAID works with the Ghana Government and
development partners to improve the competitiveness of the maize, rice and
soybean value chains. Ghana is one of Feed the Future’s priority countries. In
Ghana, Feed the Future works to increase agricultural competitiveness, with a
focus on the three northern regions, by introducing farmers to new technologies
and techniques that boost productivity, strengthening agricultural research,
linking farmers and agribusinesses to markets, and stimulating private sector
investment.
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About USAID
USAID is the lead U.S. government agency that works to
end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to
realize their potential. USAID has supported Ghana in increasing food security,
improving basic health care, enhancing access to quality basic education, and
strengthening local governance to benefit all Ghanaian people.
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