Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa (left) FAGRO Exhibition Director and H. E. Irene Vida Gala, Brazils Ambassador to Ghana
Despite some challenges being faced in the agricultural sector, the Brazilian Ambassador to Ghana, Irene Vida Gala has lauded strides being made in the industry.
She noted that Ghana still has a lot to learn from the South American nation in order to reap the full benefits of a buoyant sector that has barely taken off but holds lot of prospect.
In a specially-arranged meeting between her office and organizers of the annual Food and Agriculture Show (FAGRO), the ambassador stated that if Ghana is to continue making strides in the sector, then factors such as land ownership, growing what we eat, capacity building and technology must be taken seriously.
She said “there is a lot Ghana can learn from Brazil. Many Ghanaians are hard working and ready to work but where to focus their effort is the challenge but Brazil sees Ghana really going up and up and up.
“It is also important for the Ghanaian government to focus on the subject of land ownership; government needs to bring this discussion to the table and invite stakeholders to make an input, in terms of interests and how the spoils will be shared.”
Her statement comes on the heels of the holding of the 4th edition of FAGRO, the biggest agriculture show in the sub-region slated from August 23 – Saturday, August 25, 2012
Ms Gala indicated that Brazil has been successful in supporting small farmers who have contributed about 98 percent of what Brazilians eat, adding that Brazil was also supporting Ghana in the area of capacity building and the on-going cassava and cashew project is a perfect case study.
“It took Brazil 30 years to come this far in technology and Ghana will definitely get there. There will be a big revolution in Ghana in the next 30 years if focus is placed on technology,” she added.
This year’s FAGRO will witness about 15 Brazilian companies exhibiting, in a move the ambassador said, was aimed “at getting them to appreciate the fact that the government of Ghana fights corruption and so they will be doing business in a transparent environment”.
This year’s FARGO show is themed: ‘linking farmers to the appropriate market: a value chain process.’
By Esther Awuah
