The Ghana Association of Agricultural Economists (GAAE) has held its 5th Annual Conference under the theme “Agricultural Innovations, Entrepreneurship and Trade for Sustainable Development”. The two-day conference was held from 6th – 7th October, 2022 at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Sunyani. The conference attracted over 80 local and international participants with about 58 oral presentations.
Speaking at the opening of the Conference as the Chairperson for the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor of UENR, Professor Elvis Asare-Bediako, highlighted the importance of the 5th Annual GAAE Conference as a platform for experts and actors in the agricultural and allied sectors. The Conference featured key speakers such as the Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Hon. Yaw Frimpong Addo, MP, who represented the Minister of Food and Agriculture as well as Prof. Daniel Bruce Sarpong, GAAE President.
In his welcome address, Prof. Daniel Bruce Sarpong, GAAE President, on behalf of the Association, expressed their profound gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor and Management for the tremendous support for the GAAE Conference.
The Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Hon. Yaw Frimpong Addo, MP, who represented the Minister of Food and Agriculture on his part in his keynote address asserted that Agriculture Economists play a critical role in the agricultural value chain. Adding that the Ministry has made plans to work with the Association in carrying out their activities including teaching.
This year’s conference featured discussions around agricultural finance and livelihood diversification, agricultural technology, agricultural marketing and value chain analysis, food security and climate-smart agriculture to contemplate and help address issues on agricultural innovations, entrepreneurship, commerce, and sustainable agriculture production and come out with practical and feasible policy directions in curbing them.
