Accra, Sept. 23, GNA - Dr. Kwame Amezah, Acting Director, Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) on Wednesday stressed the need for concerted efforts between government, the private sector and other stakeholders to achieve the Millennium Development Goals in agriculture. He said MOFA sought to promote sustainable agriculture and thriving agribusiness through services to farmers, processors and traders for improved livelihood.

Dr. Amezah made the call at the launching of the first National Food and Agriculture Show in Accra.

It was on the theme: "Promoting and Adding Value in Agricultural Production for Poverty Eradication."

The five-day event scheduled from November 29 to December 3, 2009 would provide opportunity for effective stakeholder dialogue and networking through seminars and lectures.

On exhibition would be farm produce, processed food, equipment and machinery, regional traditional Ghanaian dishes to be climaxed with a night of agriculture, where there will be a grand regional food competition.

Dr. Amezah said the event was in line with MOFA's core objectives of creating an environment for sustainable growth and development in the agriculture sector.

He urged farmers and agricultural associations to participate in the seminars and other programmes outline for the event. "We hope the organisers would extend this event to all the regions to afford rural farmers the opportunity to showcase their farm produce and attract patronage from manufacturers and exporters, to create sustainable revenue for farmers, "he said.

Ms. Alberta Nana Akyaa Asoka, Project Co-ordinator said World Bank development report for 2008 focused on agriculture as an essential tool for development in developing countries.

She said the agricultural sector remained a sector that had been neglected by major aid programmes and corporate institutions that had the means to assist in its development.

Ms. Asoka said among challenges affecting the growth of agricultural production in Ghana, was lack of effective stakeholder's dialogue and adequate marketing of agricultural produce. She noted that Ghana's agricultural sector could only thrive when all segments of the sector were in harmony and effectively communicate with each other to address challenges which hamper their growth.