The initiative designed to revamp and build capacities for the livestock, poultry, and fisheries sector players by the Agrihouse Foundation has been launched. The 2021 LiPF tradeshow with the theme: We Move; W)n Yaa, was launched at the Nungua Farms, Accra.
A programme like this is a shared mission of promoting and sustaining the poultry and livestock production for employment, income generation, food security through research, technical backstopping, and capacity building, and wish to assure everyone that, at the tradeshow, there would be an exhibition of all kinds of livestock, poultry and fisheries food value chain to showcase job opportunities, as well as training sessions to promote capacity building.
This was said by Madam Amen Arose Ghartey, the Farm Manager of Nungua Farms when she was given the welcoming address at the launch. Giving a critical contribution of the farm to the livestock sector, she said the farm is mandated to produce and supply elite and parent stock of pigs, rabbits, and grasscutter to farmers.
“We provide capacity building for farmers, students, extension workers in the poultry, piggery, grasscutter, and rabbitry. Furthermore, we have a small feedmill that supports farmers in the catchment area in formulation and preparation of their feed”, she added.
She welcomed all to the enclave and urged the Ghanaian populace to make it to the main event in May at Efua Sutherland Part Accra.
The Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa expounded that the Livestock, Poultry and Fisheries Tradeshow seeks to encourage farmer groups and livestock farmers to deliberate on the potentials present in the animal agriculture and ways to improve the sector, to promote and identify opportunities in the livestock, poultry, and fisheries sector.
Moreover, the tradeshow is to encourage people to venture into the animal sector and the career opportunities it offers as well as serving as a perfect platform to link actors within the animal sector value chain.
According to her, the tradeshow would elapse for 2 days. The first day or opening day would follow by various training sessions in livestock, poultry, and fisheries. On the same day, the exhibition ground would be opened for business, where exhibitors would advertise their wares and products.
The second day, thus the last day will continue with the training. Participants would be engaged by the industry experts on poultry management and production, fish farmers would be trained on the best types of fish to grow for the Ghanaian market, fish management options, feed and distribution options. “There would be a breakout business session on piggery, cattle, rabbit, fish, grasscutters, and poultry where farmers and interested persons would be trained and interact with experts and their mentors”, she added.
She called on the general public to help move the sector forward as this year’s theme We Move; W)n Yaa after stepping up last year. She assured of best training from experts to farmers and business opportunities.
“Livestock, poultry, and fisheries undoubtedly play a key role in preventing people from falling into poverty, therefore, deserve all the attention the sector can get. Farmers alone must not be left to face the challenges of the industry so when we move, we move together with the policymakers, financial institutions, investors, value actor players, and even the consumers. We all must play a part in developing a sustainable animal agricultural sector”, the Chief of Party USDA-GPP, Carianne De Boer said.
She explained that livestock products are important to human livelihood for quality nutrition, human health, and well-being, however, animals and their products pose risks to human health, therefore, this shows how the sector is interlinked with others and requires collaborative efforts to harness its potentials in contributing to the national economy.
Madam De Boer gladly expounded how the poultry sector has improved the lives of people especially women and youth from been unemployed to owing productive ventures and from poverty to prosperity.
She seized the opportunity and launched the 2021 maiden edition of the Livestock, poultry, and fisheries tradeshow which would take place in May, and invited all Ghanaians to participate and join in the discussions on ways to position the industries and take advantage of such opportunities.
In a message from ADB, a supporting organizer of the LiPF tradeshow, Mohammed Ali, the assistant communication officer said the ADB is exultant to support such initiatives that build capacities for young individuals in the value chain.
“Agricultural development is very critical to the survival of the economies of Ghana and the African continent, so we as ADB are all out to support any project which aims at promoting agribusiness”, Mr. Ali said.
He urged interested persons who seek to collaborate or want any form of funding from ABD not to hesitate but to visit any of the ADB branches for support with the required documentation.
The Livestock, Poultry and Fisheries Tradeshow was introduced in 2019 by Agrihouse Foundation to close the gap that existed between the livestock and the crop sectors in the Ghanaian agricultural sector.
