FAGRO Poised for Grand Show

By Emmanuel Kubi

Daily Guide: Sept,29,2010

THE NATIONAL Food and Agric Show (FAGRO), slated to take place in Accra from October 12-17 this year has received support from over 40 companies both international and local including media partners ready to provide financial and technical assistance for the show.
In a chat with DAILY GUIDE, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, Exhibition Director for FAGRO which will be held at the Ghana International Trade Fair Center said based on the large number of companies that have expressed their commitment to support event, it is bound to be an enormous success.
She said companies who have shown interest are operating at various levels in the agricultural value chain system ranging from manufacturing, marketing, finance and agro-chemicals to agricultural support-based organizations in the country.
They include Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), Millennium Development Authority (MIDA), Prairie Aveyime Rice, CFAO-Ghana, Yara-Ghana, Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF), First Capital Plus and Pioneer Food Cannery.
She said others are Cottage Italia, Indomie, ACDI VOCA/ADVANS GHANA, Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement System (GHIPPS), Pepsi, Gablin Foods Limited, Borges Olive Oil, Somovision, Sigma Group, Ghana Oil Company (GOIL), Traditional Caterers Association, DOMOD Aluminum Company and Rose Aluminum Company.
Media partners for the show are Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Metro TV, Daily Graphic, Daily Guide, the Heritage, Ghanaian Observer, Business Week and Financial Intelligence. Radio stations that are onboard for the event nationwide include Choice FM, Rite FM, Skyy Power, Aseda FM, Eagle FM, Ahomka FM, Fylla FM, Lorlonyo FM, Assh FM and Ark FM.
Ms. Akosa also revealed plans for a regional food competition the between Ghana National Caterers Association and students from the National Vocational and Technical Institutions to be held in the regions. Besides the competition there will be Practical Field Demonstrations by five Agricultural Training Colleges and daily seminars which would attempt to address the myriad challenges affecting the agricultural sector.
According to the exhibition director, the increase in sponsorship for the show is an indication of the commitment from both private and public sectors to transform the country’s agricultural sector into a modern one.
She said such collaborations of stakeholders were necessary since government cannot embark upon the task of revolutionalizing the agricultural sector.
She noted further that the theme for this year’s show, “Sustainable agriculture through appropriate technology,” will offer new business opportunities in the agricultural sector for companies to invest in especially in the area of modern agricultural technologies.
Ms Akosa called on other exhibitors and stakeholders who are not yet on board to do so “so that together we can promote sustainability in our agricultural sector.”