Accra, Oct. 12, GNA - The Third National Food and Agricultural Show (FAGRO), an annual agri-business event bringing together stakeholders in the sector, opened in Accra on Tuesday, with this year’s event focusing on value addition to improve the sector.

The 10-day event, which would showcase the latest agricultural technology, trends in agricultural marketing, and production practices, is being held on the theme: “Beginning with the End in Mind- The Value Chain Process”’, seeking to strengthening the weak linkages in the value chain system to increase efficiency and productivity in the sector.

The fair, being held at Efua Sutherland Children’s Park, brings together about 300 local and international exhibitors including farmers, food producers, traders, manufacturers, policy makers,

scientists, agriculturalists and other stakeholders, drawn from Ghana, China, Spain, USA, Burkina Faso, Israel and Brazil.

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture is partnering the FAGRO Secretariat to organise the event in collaboration with the management of Agricultural Development Bank (ADB).

FAGRO provides the platform for farmers and participants to learn modern techniques of agricultural marketing, the appropriate and modern use of farming technology and farm business management such as laws and policies, accessing land, water, effective production services, resource management and conservation practices.

Nii Amasa Namoale, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, in-charge of Fisheries, who touted the event as one that would project Ghana’s agriculture and make it a commercial success, said it would bridge the gap between agricultural producers and their customers.

He said government would lend support to the event to bring creativity and innovation in agriculture in Ghana.

Alhaji Alhassan Bukari, National Chief Farmer, who also lauded objectives of the event, called on government to support the platform for accelerated development of the agricultural sector in the country.

He urged farmer based groups and associations to adopt the belief that their collective approach and concerted effort to improve the agricultural sector would take Ghana’s development agenda to “new heights”.

Mr Adam Sulley, Chairman of FAGRO 2011 Planning Committee, said the event would address the critical shortfalls needed to transform the agricultural sector.

He called on stakeholders to support the initiative in order to improve and develop Ghana’s competitive advantage in agriculture, as well as generate growth to reduce poverty.

Activities lined up for this year's show include food competitions, World Food Day celebration, intensive seminar and field demonstrations and counselling on health related issues.