USAID_FtF_Ghana_Partners_Meeting_March2017

= USAID Feed the Future Implementing Partners Meeting = = March 21-22, 2017 at the Labadi Beach Hotel, Accra – Ghana. =
 * Report by:** Alejandro Beltran
 * The two-day meeting was successfully attended by various USAID implementing partners (ATT, RING, SPRING, ADVANCE, IWAD, etc) including actors from the public (Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Univ. of Ghana, the KNUST and Univ. of Cape Coast, Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, AGRA) and private sector (Sahel grains, Premier foods, etc).
 * The meeting took stock of the achievements and challenges of the various implementing partners and outlined the strategic opportunities for the next 5 years.
 * The USAID/Ghana Mission director underscored the need for partnerships as key to implementation. Emphasis was made on scaling out/up various innovations with key partners while leveraging resources to meet targets.
 * A representative for the Minister for Food and Agriculture speaking on the role of the private sector in Agricultural development in Ghana, pledged government support to the private sector actors by creating enabling environment for growth in the agricultural sector.
 * Several panel discussions were held to discuss specific issues of concern. One in which we participated was titled “Health and nutrition: Understanding and addressing aflatoxins.” A presentation was given on the overview of aflasafe and the current state of its registration in Ghana. Previous presentations made were: Aflatoxin and child health (KNUST Mycotoxin lab); Levels of aflatoxins in household (groundnut) and aggregated (maize) – (UDS research team); and Premium price for aflatoxin-safe groundnut (SPRING). All presentations can be found in eLibrary section of [|www.ghanalinks.org]
 * Two main questions directed to this presentation were: Whether the use of aflasafe is the solution to the aflatoxin problem and whether farmers will be able to recover an additional investment on aflasafe as part of their production cost.
 * Answers provided to questions were: aflasafe is not a “fits all solution” but an integral part of a package of management strategies that targets the source of contamination with carry-over effect from field to store through processing. Secondly, the cost of aflasafe per hectare is USD $18 and from the Nigeria’s experience there is up to 500% returns on investment for farmers who used aflasafe in the package of other inputs.
 * I had the opportunity to speak to the Deputy Chief of Party of RING – we could partner with RING where aflasafe treated maize and groundnut could be used to formulate feed for their community/household poultry rearing among women to reduce mortality and increase productivity.
 * Dr. Sulemana Stevenson, a research consultant who conducted the market premium research for SPRING expressed interest in aflasafe and gave an assurance of discussing it with the Northern Regional Minister who is also an agribusiness person to see how they can get the product to their farmers. Contacts of Mr. Abdou Kolambigue, Dr. Alejandro and Dr. Ranajit were shared with him for future communications.
 * Lastly, the CEO of Sahel grains - private sector firm working on maize value chain was exposed to the prospects of using aflasafe to improve the maize value chain. He asked that we communicate further on this.
 * In summary, the meeting was successful, with high potential of linking up with several USAID implementing partners (RING, ADVANCE, ATT)/private sector working on nutrition related and/or maize and groundnut value chains.