FAGRO 2014 To Host Roger Johnson, President Of National Farmers Union, USA

The President of the National Farmers Union (NFU), USA; Mr Roger Johnson will for the first time participate in the National Food and Agric Show (FAGRO) scheduled to take place from Wednesday, November 12 to Friday, November 14 this year at the Kumasi Cultural Centre. The NFU, a family farmers union founded in 1902 in Texas, USA, protects and enhances the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership. The NFU, which represents farmers and ranchers in all states, with organised divisions in 33 States, is very active in the legislative arena; pushing issues that benefit America�s farm families and consumers, such as Country-of-Origin Labelling (COOL), the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and trade issues. Mr Johnson, in an email interview noted that NFU first connected with FAGRO in 2011 when a delegation from Ghana including key government officials and agric stakeholders visited the NFU headquarters in Washington, DC. �Earlier this year, a delegation from Ghana joined the NFU at its annual convention in New Mexico and participated in a variety of farm risk management sessions with beginning farmers and ranchers from within and outside of the USA,� he added. Mr Johnson said the NFU believes that the combination of rich natural resources and industrious, motivated citizens underscores the great agricultural potential of Ghana, adding that, with the ever-expanding world population, each and every nation needs to do what it can to better educate its farmers and help them meet the needs of consumers. �NFU has common ground in seeking educational opportunities for those with a vested interest in agriculture and in forging strong network connections,� he said. Mr Johnson encouraged FAGRO to continue seeking opportunities for farmers, especially beginning farmers and women. The Exhibition Director of FAGRO, Ms Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa said Mr Johnson, representing the NFU as a guest of honour at this year�s FAGRO, will address farmers and stakeholders at a lecture on the topic, �Changing Attitudes: Taking Agric as a Business.� �Mr Johnson will also pay courtesy calls on key government officials, diplomats, educationists and stakeholders in the agric sector,� she said. Ms Akosa noted that farmer organisations in Ghana could learn from the NFU by uniting to form a mother union to serve as a strong force in the country�s agricultural sector and playing a vital role in policies and legislations regarding farmers and the agric industry.