Yara Ghana Partners Agrihouse Foundation to Empower Farmers, Input Dealers and Processors at 13th Annual Pre-Harvest Agribusiness Conference and Exhibition

Yara Ghana, a leading fertilizer company dedicated to promoting sustainable agriculture in Ghana, reaffirms its commitment to enhancing agriculture by partnering with Agrihouse Foundation again, for the 13th Annual Pre-Harvest Agribusiness Conference and Exhibition. The event is scheduled to take place from Tuesday 24th October  to Thursday  26th, October 2023, at the Agrihouse Agri-village Learning ,Innovation ,Training and Demonstration Centre, in kudula, Tamale, in the Northern Region.

Yara Ghana’s steadfast partnership with Agrihouse Foundation spanning over 13 years for the annual Pre-Harvest agribusiness conference and exhibition, underscores  its dedication to connecting farmers with buyers and building a resilient agricultural value chain.

 Yara Ghana’s involvement in the Pre-Harvest program reflects its commitment to promoting best farming practices, offering premium fertilizer products, and advocating for sound business practices within the agricultural value chain, ultimately benefiting the growth, profitability, and sustainability of farmers and businesses.

The 13th edition of the annual Pre-Harvest Agribusiness Conference and Exhibition, themed “CONNECTING THE UNCONNECTED: THE FARMER, THE INPUT DEALER, AND THE PROCESSOR,” aims to provide market linkages, education, and opportunities to individuals across the entire agricultural value chain.

The three-day event encompasses conference sessions, presentations, exhibitions, and a marketplace for fostering business-to-business interactions. Serving as a dynamic platform, facilitating contract negotiations for farmers and strengthening the capacity of smallholder farmers, Farmer-Based Organizations (FBOs), Aggregators, Processors, and other key players in the agricultural value chain.

Participants will also have the opportunity to engage in practical and immersive sessions aimed at providing deeper insights into best practices and capitalizing on the multitude of opportunities within the agriculture sector.

These sessions encompass commodity break-out discussions, intensive training programs, farmer-buyer matchmaking dialogues, panel education sessions, field demonstrations, keynotes, and exhibitions—all of which contribute to showcasing and promoting businesses while fostering networking opportunities.

As part of their contribution to the event, Yara Ghana will lead field demonstrations and training sessions, engaging over 2000+ farmers at the 13th Annual Pre-Harvest Agribusiness Exhibition and Conference to be held at the agrihouse Agri-village training and demonstration centre in Kudula  in Tamale in the Northern Region. Their Expert agronomists will provide guidance, high-quality, crop-targeted fertilizers to support participants in producing nutrient-rich, high-quality food to strengthen local communities.

Having evolved over 13 years with positive outcomes, Yara Ghana encourages continuous support, participation, and collaboration among the entire agricultural value chain. They envision Pre-Harvest as a platform that will continue to provide tangible benefits to Ghanaian farmers, strengthen food security in Ghana, and contribute to the country’s resilient and sustainable agricultural development.

Expressing her appreciation for Yara Ghana ‘s consistent support, Ms. Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, the Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, highlighted Yara Ghana’s pivotal role in promoting the agricultural sector. She emphasized that Yara Ghana stands out as an exemplary corporate organization that has generously supported the growth of Ghana’s agriculture sector.

Ms. Akosa underlined the enduring partnership between Yara Ghana and Agrihouse Foundation, spanning an impressive 13 years, and described Yara Ghana as a dedicated ally in the quest to elevate Ghana’s agricultural landscape. She hailed Yara Ghana’s continued sponsorship of the Annual Pre-Harvest Agribusiness Conference and Exhibition as a testament to their unwavering commitment.

“Our partnership with Yara Ghana is a source of immense pride for us at Agrihouse Foundation. Yara Ghana has consistently demonstrated its commitment to Ghana’s agricultural sector by sponsoring our Annual Pre-Harvest event for the past 13 years. This level of dedication is truly remarkable and exemplifies what can be achieved when the private sector collaborates with organizations like ours to empower our farmers and promote sustainable agriculture,” Ms. Akosa emphasized.

She went on to highlight the specific areas where Yara Ghana has made a significant impact, saying, “Yara Ghana has been a key driver in promoting crop nutrition, empowering women in agriculture, and advocating for best practices throughout the agricultural value chain. Their contributions extend beyond just sponsorship; they actively engage in practical initiatives that benefit our farmers, including education and training programs.”

Ms. Akosa also acknowledged Yara Ghana’s role in enhancing the participation of women in agriculture, emphasizing that the company’s support has been instrumental in fostering gender inclusivity within the sector.

 “Yara Ghana’s initiatives have not only improved crop yields but have also uplifted the lives of many female farmers. Their commitment to women in agriculture is commendable, and it aligns perfectly with our mission to empower all farmers,” she added.

Commodity Breakout Session: Bringing together a diverse range of participants including farmer groups, farmer-based organizations, aggregators, buyers, students, smallholders, and commercial farmers, the Commodity Breakout Session aims to offer invaluable insights into excelling within the agricultural value chain.

Farmer-Buyer Matchmaking: An exclusive networking event, the Farmer-Buyer Matchmaking session is tailored to allow farmers to connect with potential wholesale buyers and various agribusinesses along the value chain. During this interactive session, both farmers and buyers have the opportunity to establish connections and finalize deals that can shape the course of their agricultural endeavours.

Another highlight of the event is the Exhibition: Spanning the entirety of the three-day event, an engaging exhibition showcase will unfold, providing a space for purchasing and selling products at affordable prices. This platform serves as a hub for exploring the latest innovations, products, and services driving advancements in the agricultural sector, ranging from Crop Varieties, Seeds, Farm Equipment and Machinery, to Agrochemicals and Fertilizers, as well as Livestock, among others.

Field Demonstrations: During this phase, farmers and industry participants engage in practical learning, gaining firsthand experience and adopting best practices in farm management. Hosted at the Agrihouse Foundation Agri-Village, this immersive experience

Agrihouse foundation’s, Annual Pre-Harvest Agribusiness Conference and Exhibitions event, for the past 12 years, have provided and created market linkages and built the capacity of over 150,000 value chain actors and stakeholders.

Beneficiaries and participants of the annual Preharvest event ranges from farmer groups, buyers, development partners, policy makers, agribusinesses, ICT professionals, and aggregators. Others include input dealers, equipment and machinery dealers, transporters, financial institutions, telecommunication companies, out growers, civil society, and processors, who converge in the Northern Region, to network, exhibit, share knowledge, train, engage in field demonstration activities and most importantly, negotiate and seal deals.

The intervention has served as a stimulating platform for match-making, exchange, agribusiness development, stakeholder linkages, and has brought about growth in local economies, through the creation of expanded agribusiness opportunities. It has also assisted in removing constraints on market access for farmers and agribusinesses who require access to lucrative markets and economic opportunities to improve their livelihoods and those of their families.The annual Pre-Harvest event, culminates with conference events, presentations, exhibitions, and a marketplace for business-to-business meetings.

It continuous to serve as a dynamic platform for farmers to negotiate and seal contracts and strengthen the capacity of Farmer-Based Organizations (FBOs), Aggregators, Processors, and value chain actors for them to play a key role as agricultural market actors.

After twelve (12) successful editions, and through feedbacks and testimonies, we are confident to say, the annual Pre-Harvest event, has lived up to its overall goal of creating markets and linking farmers to buyers.

Yara Ghana, is a leading fertilizer company established in 2007, to strengthen the high quality of input supply and related services along the agricultural value chains in Ghana.

Yara Ghana’s key focus have always been on providing Ghanaian farmers with knowledge, crop nutrition solutions, and digital technologies that can help them improve their yields and quality in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner. This will help farmers achieve enhanced livelihoods while contributing to local, regional, and national food production, and to ensuring Ghana’s long-term food security.