Horticulture can create jobs, businesses and export opportunities for Ghana – Prof Naana Jane

Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has urged for increased investment in Ghana's horticulture sector, stressing its potential to generate jobs, foster business growth, and open export avenues. She emphasized that horticulture should not be solely viewed as mere gardening or floristry, but rather as an industry comprising growers, skills, services, markets, and livelihoods.

During the inauguration of the 14th Ghana Garden and Flower Show in Accra, the vice president outlined the opportunities within the sector. She urged horticultural enterprises to evolve into sustainable businesses capable of providing employment, serving larger markets, and potentially competing internationally. Prof Naana Jane drew parallels to Kenya's success, asserting that Ghana has the capacity to achieve similar accomplishments or exceed them.

However, she stressed the need for comprehensive attention to the entire value chain, particularly given the perishable nature of many horticultural products. To address this challenge, she called for improved transport, storage facilities, quality standards, financial support, and access to markets to prevent value loss during the supply chain process.

The Feed Ghana Programme, under the government's purview, focused on prioritizing the cultivation of vegetables, with expansion opportunities through irrigation, enhanced inputs, greenhouse production, and better market access. Additionally, the establishment of farmer service centers nationwide was highlighted, aiming to provide producers with export support, inputs, machinery, and market linkages.

Prof Naana Jane also highlighted the potential of horticulture to create employment for young people, emphasizing that the sector should not only encourage increased production but also guide young entrepreneurs in developing businesses around their produce. She connected horticulture growth to Ghana's environmental initiatives, such as the Tree for Life project and efforts to enhance green spaces in urban areas.

She urged local authorities, developers, and businesses to create demand for green spaces while ensuring that Ghanaian producers are well-equipped to meet market demands and explore export opportunities. The vice president emphasized that "green means business," urging stakeholders to collaborate in making Ghana greener while generating businesses and livelihoods.

She also called on training institutions, financial institutions, the private sector, and industry groups to contribute to the sector's development by providing necessary skills, financial support, market development, and maintaining industry visibility.