Agricultural Issues
Farmers Sensitized on New Fertilizer Subsidy Program
Myjoyonline.com
The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) and Ghana Federation of Agricultural Producers (GFAP) have organized a day’s sensitization workshop for 54 farmers on fertilizer subsidy implementation guidelines. The workshop held in Accra on Wednesday was aimed at educating farmers on a new fertilizer subsidy program introduced by government. Mr. Justice Amoah, National Desk Officer in charge of the fertilizer subsidy program, said the program targets all category of crop farmers including small, medium and large scale farmers. [more]
Ghana's Cocoa Farmers Get Solar Powered Boreholes
Ghana Business News
Since the legendary Tetteh Quarshie brought cocoa seedlings to Ghana from the island of Fernando Po many decades ago, the country’s fortunes have improved tremendously and that single cash crop, often referred to as the golden pod, has roped in a lot of revenue. It has also offered employment to tens of thousands of Ghanaians right from the farms through marketing agencies, Ghana’s Cocoa Marketing Board (COCOBOD), to the numerous factories that depend on the crop as raw material, right down to the wholesalers and retail outlets that sell the products from cocoa. [more]
The Import of Middle Income Status for Ghana
GhanaWeb
Ghana attained Middle Income Country (MIC) status in November 2010 and this stirred up euphoria and a flurry of media hype, bringing to Ghanaians the feel good factor. Thanks to our ex-presidents Rawlings and Kufuor for laying a solid foundation for this to materialize under the able watch of President John Atta Mills. According to a posting on Ghanaweb site, Dr Grace Bediako, government statistician, reported on 8th November 2010 that Ghana’s GDP estimate had been revised upwards to 44 billion new Ghana cedis or the equivalent of 30 billion dollars. With Ghana’s current population at 24 million, this works out to a per capita income (PCI) of about 1,225 dollars. If this trend continues with the population growth rate at 3% and the economic growth rate at 9% per annum, then in 23 years, the current PCI can be quadrupled by the year 2035. [more]
Revamping Ghana's Agriculture for Job Creation and Poverty Reduction
Ghana News Agency
Agriculture, a main economic activity in Ghana, creates employment, determines the income levels and standards of living of many people, particularly those in the rural areas. Agriculture in the country, which mainly involves food, animal and fish production, contributes to 34 per cent of Gross Domestic Product and plays a central role in promoting growth and poverty reduction. Indeed, Ghana’s growth and poverty reduction is largely contingent on the success of the agriculture sector, an engine of growth in the national economy. [more]
Fish Farmers Recount Prospects of Aquaculture for Job Creation
Myjoyonline.com
Specialists in fisheries are of the view that the country has great capacity to increase fish production through aquaculture, if principal challenges like weak extension service system and high cost of quality fish feed are adequately addressed. Ghana is endowed with natural inland water resources unique for the successful venture of aquaculture. [more]
Government Acquires 53.8 Million Dollars to Boost Fisheries Sub-Sector
Ghana News Agency
The World Bank Board of Executive Directors has approved a total of 53.8 million dollars for Ghana’s fisheries sub-sector, a statement issued by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Accra on Monday has said. The amount comprises a grant of 3.5 million dollars from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and a loan of 50.3 million dollars from the International Development Association (IDA), the soft loan arm of the World Bank, to be used to implement the Fisheries and Aquaculture Project. The amount has five components, with the first component, the Good Governance and Sustainable Management of the Fisheries Sub-Sector, comprising 15.2 million dollars from the IDA and 3.5 million dollars from the GEF. [more]
Relevant Research Articles
Developing Policies for Smallholder Agriculture TransitionAE Woolverton - 2011[PDF]
Ghana's sustained agricultural growth[PDF]
An assessment of internally generated fund and its contribution for District Development [PDF]