Agric Minister Lauds B-Bovid�s New Agric Model In W/Region

The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Fiifi Fiave Kwetey, has lauded a new agric model being spearheaded by B-Bovid, an innovative agro firm in the Western Region. The Minister�s comment followed a tour of the company during a recent visit to the Western Region. The model, which is the first of its kind in Ghana, is combining everything agriculture. These comprises the all inclusive social organic farming and a profit sharing model, encompassing a mechanisation center, Information, Communication Technology (ICT) for Agriculture center, an Alternative Livelihood Center (ALC,) , Animal Husbandry, Poultry, Aquaculture , Agro- Tourism and Production. Other areas are the plantation projects of nursering and forestry management, being carried out by the company and partners such as Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL) and USAid respectively. All these projects being carried out by the company overwhelmed the Minister and his entourage, who apparently had visited a number of agro firms in the region to acquaint with their operations. Fiifi Kwetey, visited the innovation center of the company, which is well stocked with information on modern agricultural activities where he was briefed thoroughly on all ongoing activities being carried out by management and staff. He was particularly excited about the development of the company's organic vegetable value chain project, expected to feed local and external markets. The project, according to the company, could also be replicated in other farming communities in the other nine regions of Ghana ostensibly to create jobs and wealth for Ghanaians. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of B-Bovid, Issa Ouedraogo, who welcomed the minister and his team to the innovation center, briefed him on the concept and potential it holds for the development of Ghana. He explained the role the concept could play in addressing poverty and food insecurity in the Western Region, which has become the toast of global attention because of the development of the extractive industry including mining, oil and gas. Speaking to the management of the company, Fiifi Kwetey, acknowledged the immense contribution the model could make to advance agriculture in Ghana, and expressed optimism that the model could be replicated in the other parts of the country, not only to create jobs for Ghanaians, but increase food and agro production to ultimately shore up the national economy. He said he was overwhelmed by the creativity, innovation and corporate social inclusive combination of activities, all geared towards achieving productivity and good results. He pledged the support of his Ministry to local organizations such as B-Bovid, working assidously to breath life into the country's Agricultural sector for overall national development.