Ambassador Robert Peter Jackson, the United States Ambassador to Ghana, has promised to engage Ghana’s Ministry of Agriculture in promoting the Building Business on Values Integrity and Dignity (B-BOVID) model of farming in the country.

B-BOVID, is a Ghanaian agricultural business based in Pretsir in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region, which promotes sound agricultural practices and ecological farming, and offers training to farmers on variety of improved agricultural methods.

It also organizes community outreach programmes to encourage small holder farmers to adopt modern technology, promotes healthy lifestyles and nutrition, and educates farming communities on the impact of climate change and land degradation.

Ambassador Jackson, who visited the farmlands of B-BOVID as part of his official working visit to the Western Region, said, “This agricultural model offers real opportunities for commercial agriculture and B-BOVID has shown the variety of things a farmer can do with little imagination”.

He said one of the key areas of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) support to Ghana, is agriculture and the need to improve food security.

So far, about 38 million dollars has been invested under the feed the future programme for agriculture at length, including aquaculture as well as sustainable fisheries.

His visit to the B-BOVID, he added, was to find out what has already been done and other innovative ideas that could be replicated across farm groups in the country.

Currently, the World Bank has selected B-BOVID as one of the model farms in the country to be promoted as the ideal farming model that other farmers could tap in to empower themselves and change their fortunes.

The US Ambassador said, the USAID would continue to work with B-BOVID and TRACTOR, a sister company of B-BOVID through the Coastal Sustainable landscapes project to increase knowledge in agroforestry, climate smart agriculture and natural resources management to help farmers add value to their food production.

“The U.S government is proud to partner with local Ghanaian organizations like B-BOVID and TRACTOR. Strong, successful agri-businesses and organizations like these ensure the sustainability of our investment in food security,” the US Ambassador added.

Mr. Issa Ouedraogo, Managing Director of B-BOVID, took the Ambassador and his team round the company’s Mill, the fish pond, the piggery, kraal, poultry and the ICT learning centre among other places.

B-BOVID wins prestigious UN award

B-BOVID’s model has received several commendations from several high ranking officials and global organisations including the United Nations,(UN).

In 2012, B-BOVID, won the UN’s Social Investment Pioneer Award along with nine other businesses from around the world.

The awards were given in recognition of the companies’ outstanding contributions to local community development.

The awards are the initiative of the Principles for Social Investment Secretariat and the United Nations Global Compact. source:citifmonline