The International Potato
Centre (CIP), a development institution delivering sustainable solutions to the
pressing world problems of hunger, poverty and the degradation of natural
resources is set to partner the Maiden Fruit and Vegetables Fair (FRUITVEG)
2019.
CIP is a custodian to a
collection of potato, sweet potato and Andean roots and tubers including the
world’s largest in-vitro collection of potato diversity.
In a statement the Country
Manger of the International Potato Centre (CIP) Ghana, Dr
Thomas van Mourik, observed that, “CIP is
constantly seeking to forge new, relevant partnerships to ensure that the centre
is informed and provides access to the most advanced technologies and skills,
acting as an intermediary to share their technological know-how to potato and
sweet potato farmers in developing nations.”
The Maiden National Fruits
and Vegetables Fair (FruitVEG Fair 2019) is scheduled for the Koforidua
Technical University (KTU) from Wednesday, August 21– 22,2019.
We are excited to be a part
of this effort to deliver a convergence arena that seeks to fulfil a need for
an agenda benefiting smallholder, medium and large scale farmers in the
developing world concerning this important sector,” Dr
Mourik said.
The Executive Director, FruitVEG
Secretariat, Christopher Kpeh acknowledged the
importance of CIP partnership for FRUITVEG 2019.
He emphasised that the secretariat seeks to
promote the fruits and vegetables sector by rallying support for increase
cultivation of fruits and vegetables for local consumption, industrial use and
export to gain foreign exchange.
“In an increasingly
competitive global grocery market, retailers are looking to the fruit and vegetable
business more and more for ideas on how to boost their sales, improve consumer
experience in their stores and distinguish their overall offer. In many areas,
this will translate into a higher demand for better-tasting products that can
command a better price, but in developing markets the affordability of quality
fresh produce may well be an influential deciding factor,” he said.
He outlined that CIP seeks to share improved sweet potato
farming knowledge and technologies, contribute to structuring of sweet potato
farmer unions, and to significantly contribute to improving food security and
household incomes within the sub region.
FruitVEG Fair 2019 under the theme,‘Fruits and vegetables, a catalyst for
health and economic development’ will showcase, celebrate and deliberate on the
business feature within the fruits and vegetables sector as well as the vital
role played by growers, suppliers and buyers within the sector in the Eastern
Region.
Mr Henry K. Crentsil Jnr, the Eastern Regional
Director, Regional Department of Agriculture stated that,
Eastern Region remained a key player in the cultivation of fruits and vegetables in Ghana
hence the directorate welcomes the opportunity to partner FruitVEG Fair 2019.
He
commended the FruitVEG Fair Secretariat for identifying the region as the first
point of its campaign to promote fruitful dialogue and showcase Ghana’s fruits
and vegetables potential so all partners can join in deepening the
competitiveness of the Ghanaian vegetable sector.
Through
exhibitions and seminars stakeholders will be linked to untiring efforts at
feeding our growing population, providing raw materials to the nation’s
industries and contributing substantially to the nation’s foreign exchange
earnings through export.
FruitVEG fair is a product of FruitVEG Initiative Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, VERITAS Publics, Infocus BCW, Rite FM, Karidok Juice, among other stakeholders.
By Times Reporter
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