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Ghana Horticultural Expo 24: USAID Office Director calls for collaboration to boost productivity

USAID/Ghana Economic Growth Office Director, Andrew Read has affirmed the need for collaborative efforts to boost productivity and product safety in the horticulture sector.

Date Created : 7/10/2024 12:00:00 AM : Story Author : Dominic Shirimori/Ghanadistricts.com

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the maiden Ghana Horticultural Expo on the theme: “Celebrating Ghana's Horticultural Diversity; Produce Quality, Export More”, on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at the Accra International Conference Centre, he said it is vital for all stakeholders in the horticulture value chain to work together to increase the adoption of best practices and improve production consistency.

He added that with consumer health and international requirements in mind, “we must also ensure the use of safe and compliant inputs, provide additional training to producers and traders, and adhere to international standards”.

He asserts that challenges in these areas hinder producers and exporters from effectively meeting market demands, but was delighted that events such as the ‘Horticulture Expo’ will bring stakeholders closer to overcoming these hurdles.

The USAID Office Director underscored the role of improved horticulture to mean more fruits and vegetables in our home gardens and at the farmer’s market, thus providing improved access to critical nutrients for a balanced diet.

The three-day first-ever Ghana Horticultural Expo organized by the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE) and other partners including the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), GIRSAL, and Fidelity Bank hopes to bring together all stakeholders in the sector to observe demonstrations of horticultural products and practices, establish business connections, provide valuable insights into the latest trends and technologies, and create interest in the horticulture sector, especially among the youth.

USAID provides $85,000 support for Ghana Horticultural Expo, 2024

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through the Feed the Future Ghana Trade and Investment (GTI) Activity, sponsored the organization of the first-ever Ghana Horticultural Expo 2024 by providing over one-million Ghana Cedis ($85,000).

This, Andrew Read stated, “By funding this event through the Feed the Future Ghana Trade and Investment (GTI) Activity, we aim to enhance collaboration among stakeholders, increase private sector involvement in food security initiatives, and empower enterprises to position themselves as engines of growth in Ghana's economic transformation agenda”.

It is also worth stating that The United States as Ghana’s largest bilateral development partner in 2023 as part of over $250 million provided in bilateral programs, the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, provided over $140 million in bilateral development support. This funding covered various areas, including agriculture, economic growth, health, education, governance, and more.

And Andrew Read, having recognized the immense potential of Ghana’s horticulture sector said USAID is committed to its growth and sustainability and will continue to support efforts to create a better environment for stable economic and agricultural growth.