Horticulture Expo: Gov’t targets stronger agric value chain to boost horticulture exports
Government says it is integrating agriculture, agribusiness, and industry as part of efforts to strengthen Ghana’s productive economy and make locally produced agricultural goods more competitive on both domestic and international markets.
The Ghanaian government is focusing on enhancing the agricultural value chain to boost horticulture exports, aiming to create stronger connections between production, processing, packaging, and market access. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, the Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, disclosed this during the 3rd Ghana International Horticulture Expo.
The event gathered various stakeholders, including farmers, exporters, processors, investors, and industry players, to exhibit products and explore avenues for sector growth. The expo aimed to foster partnerships, identify investment opportunities, and promote Ghanaian horticultural products, emphasizing the potential for job creation, increased export earnings, and overall economic development.
The minister emphasized that government's strategy hinges on providing industries capable of processing and adding value to raw materials, ensuring market access for finished products, and supporting farmers' harvests. She highlighted the importance of integrating trade, agribusiness, and industry under one ministry, recognizing that agriculture cannot transform independently from processing and market sectors.
Davis Korboe, the President of the Federation Association of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE), stressed that transforming agriculture requires more than policy discussions; it demands practical support for farmers and businesses. He called for improved access to irrigation, land, skills, and patient capital, especially for young entrepreneurs looking to enter agriculture.
Korboe also demanded stronger capacity in production, storage, processing, and marketing of agricultural products to achieve food security and competitiveness in export markets. The expo, themed "From Soil to Sovereignty: Building Agricultural Self-Reliance," underscored the need for Ghana to bolster domestic agricultural production while developing the ability to process and market locally produced goods for both local and international consumption.
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