By Paul Mamattah
A research conducted by the World Bank, indicates that the global horticulture market is estimated to be valued at 20.77 billion Dollars as at 2021 and is projected to reach 40.24 billion Dollars by 2026 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.2 percent.
Again a post from the Economic Times publication, also indicates that India has a horticulture contribution to Growth Domestic Products of about 6 percent which India is expected to have the highest ever horticulture production of 329.86 million tons in 2021/2022 which will be an increase of 2.2 percent from the previous year.
This was disclosed by the Chief Business Strategist of Inspire Africa Consult limited, Mrs Mawuena Trebarh, at the launch of the 10th edition of the Ghana Garden and Flower Show in Accra organised by the Ghana Garden and Flower Movement (GGFM) in collaboration with Strategic Communications Africa, Stratcomm Africa.
The innovative (GGFM) was initiated by Strategic Stratcomm Africa in 2013. The movement seeks to contribute to the realization of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) through creating awareness among Ghanaians about the commercial, aesthetic, psychological and health benefits of horticulture and floriculture.
It also seeks to celebrate Ghana’s unique flora and fauna, whilst pointing people to the income generating and job creation opportunities inherent in them. Ultimately, the aim of the Show is to encourage the harnessing of our flora and fauna for national development and improved livelihoods.
Launching the programme, Mrs Trebarh, indicated that the global Flower and Ornamental Plants market is valued at 475.60 million Dollars in 2020 and is expected to reach 725.40 million Dollars by the end of 2027, growing at a CAGR of 6.3 percent during 2021-2027.
She further pointed out that Europe is the largest Flower and Ornamental Plants market with about 47 percent market share with Asia-Pacific follows, accounting for about 20 percent market share.
Mrs Trebarh, who is also the former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, encouraged all stakeholders to see Green Living as a collective responsibility and take up innovative and responsible ways to protect the environment.
She expressed her appreciation to StratComm Africa for leading this movement to uncover the vast potential of this industry to not only create jobs, but to initiate and sustain important conversations about our environment, climate change and its impact on our wellbeing as a nation.
The Manager for Communications at StratComm Africa, Mrs Sharon Anin, stated that the event will promote sustainable growth of the horticulture and floriculture industry in Ghana adding that it will also contribute to the development of trade and investment opportunities in Ghana by creating jobs and income generation.
She further noted that the event will contribute to increasing foreign exchange earnings for the country from horticulture and floriculture.
Mrs Anin, explained that Flora and fauna preserve the environment and hence human life yet it appears that this important benefit of flora and fauna is lost on many.
She noted that cultivation of gardens and flowers in our surroundings contributes to the preservation of our environment and helps us save resources.
“Flowers and Gardens are great for life and we must use our God given flora and fauna to protect and manage our environment and, thereby, enhance our lives and our surroundings”. She added.
The 10th edition of the event is line-up of activities including; five-day exhibition which offers an extensive variety of floriculture and horticulture-related products to view and also choose from, there will also be the “Green to Riches” conference and workshops, a karaoke night, movie night, live Band, fashion in the park, Israeli Green Innovation Challenge and more.
The event will also mark the introduction of a number of exciting activities aimed at further growing the impact of the movement and the show.
The 10th edition of the show is slated for Wednesday August 31, to Sunday September 4, 2022.
