The Eastern Regional Minister, Mrs Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, has officially launched the fifth edition of the Eastern Commodity Satellite Market Fair (ECSMF), scheduled to take place from September 1 to 5, 2025, at Jackson Park in Koforidua.This year's event which was launched yesterday is under the theme:"Eastern Commodity Satellite Market Fair: Shaping the Future of Agricultural Industrialisation Through Strategic Investment."Speaking at the launch, Mrs Awatey described the fair as a transformative initiative that has become a flagship program for the region."Today's event is not just a ceremony but a call to action.
It marks a significant milestone in our collective effort to create a sustainable and efficient agricultural marketing system, one that prioritises accessibility, affordability, and innovation," she said.The minister highlighted the achievements of the fair since its inception in 2019, including the successful linkage of over 40,000 farmers and small-scale processors to structured markets, both locally and internationally.The fair, she noted, has created platforms for value addition, product branding, and critical conversations around agribusiness and investment.Speaking on the importance of a coordinated approach to agriculture, Mrs Awatey stated that the future of agriculture was no longer in small, scattered efforts and added that it lied in strategic partnerships, market-led production, technology adoption, and industrial-scale investment.She assured stakeholders of the Regional Coordinating Council's continued commitment to expanding the satellite market model, improving rural infrastructure, attracting investment, and promoting policies that support agribusiness development in the Eastern Region.Hon.
Awatey also connected the fair's goals with national agricultural priorities under former President John Dramani Mahama's proposed initiatives, including the Feed Ghana Programme, Agricultural Modernisation, and support for smallholder farmers.She commended the Regional Department of Agriculture, the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council, and supporting partners such as YARA Ghana, TIAST Group, Joy Dadi Industries, and the World Food Programme for their consistent contributions toward making the fair a success.Addressing the media and civil society, she called for more advocacy and public education to amplify success stories and promote the fair's benefits across the region and beyond.Hajia Habiba Yusifu, Eastern Regional Director of Agriculture, noted that the fair offers a vital platform for stakeholders in the agricultural value chain to explore modern marketing strategies, value addition, and access to investment and financing opportunities.She commended Municipal and District Directors of Agriculture for their dedication since the fair's inception and expressed appreciation to key partners including TIAST Group, World Food Programme, YARA Ghana, Legal Crop Improvement Centre, and Joy Dadi Industries for their continued support, which she said sustains the vision of the fair.Also speaking at the event, Mr Stephen Boadi, Eastern Regional President of the Conference of District Directors of Agriculture, encouraged other regions to replicate the ECSMF model to promote agricultural marketing across the country. FROM AMA TAKYIWAA AGYEMANG, KOFORIDUA
