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The National Food and Agriculture Show (FAGRO) with invitation from the National Farmers Union, USA will participate, together with interested agric stakeholders in the National Farmers Union convention, Investment meeting and Field Trips in the USA. The program, scheduled from Saturday, March 8 to Tuesday, March 14, 2014, aims to provide an excellent opportunity for Ghanaian agric stakeholders to promote, learn, experience and discuss trade and investment opportunities with over 600 other agric stakeholders from the USA, Nigeria and other European countries. Activities for the 7 day program will include exhibition of agric technology and equipment, Investment/Business meetings, field trips to companies and farms, seminar on Farm Management, Attracting the youth into Agric, Farm Insurance, Policy Formulation and a unique talk session with renowned agricultural expert and consultant, Kate Fitzgerald on Direct/Mobile farm product Marketing, Farm, Food and Economy. Ghanaian agric stakeholders such as farmers, policy makers, fishery sector players, input suppliers and other affected parties will therefore have an opportunity to identify issues, concerns, and opportunities regarding the agricultural sector, adopt and learn means to move their businesses to another stage said Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, Exhibition Director of FAGRO. "The NFU convention, which is a program for farmers and organized independently by farmers on an annual basis, has for the past 112 years, served as a strong voice for American farmers and agric stakeholders. They are a strong and united association, consisting of various farming groups and other agric stakeholders. They run a 100% full administrative office. Members meet to discuss challenges of farmers and play a major role in agric policy formulation. For them, agric or farming means Business, she continued. Ghana stands to learn and gain so much from this Union, if we want to build a strong farming association, independent of the Government, but works closely with Government. Currently, we have so many farming associations in Ghana, making it so challenging to identify the most active and recognized one. Our Agric sector as a whole stands to benefit so much from this convention, if we get the opportunity to participate consistently, She added. According to the President of the Farmers� Union, Mr. Roger Johnson, one unique feature of the NFU gathering is that participants direct the agenda, allowing them to gain information on topics that will be most relevant to their particular operations and the diversity of the group also ensures valuable interaction and learning opportunities among the participants. The program line-up, such as the Investment meetings and Field Trips platform will also serve as a unique ground to discuss the challenges and prospects in the agricultural sector" "Mr. Johnson added. The FAGRO secretariat is excited about the 4th invitation to them and the fact that, other agric stakeholders can join them on this educational, business and capacity building trip. FAGRO participated in the convention in March last year, together with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, where we were given speaker platforms to speak on Women in Agriculture in Ghana and International Agricultural Update. According to Mrs. Dr. Mary Asiamah, Director of Women in Agricultural Development at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the convention program serves as an opportunity for over 600 farmers, ranchers, agricultural stakeholders, partners and Government bodies from across the world to gather, share ideas, interacts with insightful speakers and discussion panel, on diverse means to develop agriculture in both developed and developing countries. I am excited to learn that, FAGRO, the Ministry of Agriculture and interested agric companies and individuals are going to participate in this year�s convention program. I had the opportunity to participate and present a paper on International Agric Update and Women in Agriculture in Ghana, together with Alberta last year. It was indeed and eye-opener, our agric sector stands to benefit immensely from this Union, in terms of education, business and appropriate technology adaptation, she added. The program takes place in Sante Fe, New Mexico, USA from March 8 � 14, 2014. By participating in this convention program, "agric stakeholders have a unique opportunity to take stock of a �partnership in progress� and to confer with other colleagues in the agricultural sector globally on ways and means to further increase their development effectiveness and to strengthen their capacity to safeguard income, employment and food supply, and in turn reduce poverty among the rural population which currently falls short of its potential. The National Farmers Union (NFU) Founded in 1902 has a rich history and it�s a powerful and respected voice on critical issues on agriculture in the United States of America�s (USA). The National Farmers Union is also the premier farm organization dedicated to family farm agriculture, cooperative businesses, and rural communities. NFU is very supportive of the continued partnership with FAGRO to strengthen Agriculture security with homegrown stakeholders. This initiative will strengthen national food security while providing new economic opportunities for the Ghanaian farmers .