Agricultural Issues
Government Increases Producer Price for 2011/2012 Main Cocoa Crop
Ghana News Agency
Government on Friday announced an increase in the producer price of cocoa pegging it at GHc3, 280 per tonne for the 2011/2012 season up from the GHc 3,200 for the last season, despite falling world market prices for the commodity. Thus, Ghanaian cocoa farmers are expected to earn GHc205 per bag of 64 kilogram of the produce. The prices take effect from October 14, 2011, the official opening of the season. Ghana expects a good yield this year and the forecast by the sector regulator, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), projects between 850,000 to 900,000 metric tonnes this season. [more]
Breadbasket Initiative Yields Results In Northern Ghana
An ongoing three-year initiative in Tamale, Northern Ghana, which assists farmers access quality seeds and farm inputs, as well as adopt correct farming techniques and agronomical technology, has more than doubled yields of the staple maize. Dubbed the bread basket initiative, it’s also aimed at increasing incomes of small holder farmers and generating youth employment. Zugu Yizegu village was chosen for the initiative, ending next year, due to challenges that plague its people like lack of sufficient food. Most farmers here have access to huge tracts of communal farmlands, but cannot afford quality seeds, farm inputs, or tractor service to plough their lands. Also, the land has lost fertility resulting in low yields. The region is also plagued by flooding and fires that burn crops. Due to poor roads, farmers experience late arrival of farm inputs. Yet according to Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), if resources are well managed soy beans can be cultivated in this region to supply the whole country in addition to maize and rice. [more]
Developing Countries Must Apply Science and Technology to Agriculture
Myjoyonline.com
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor, Friday, called for a determined application of science and technology in developing countries to help attract the youth into agriculture and boost food production. “It is science and technology, which in many cases hold the key to the progress we want to see. We need to do more to build academic collaborations and to focus minds on Africa’s distinctive agricultural challenges. [more]
Food Crisis/Security
High Volatile Food Prices Set to Continue -Hunger Report
AllAfrica.com
Food price volatility featuring high prices is likely to continue and possibly increase, making poor farmers, consumers and countries more vulnerable to poverty and food insecurity, the United Nations' three Rome-based agencies said in the global hunger report released yesterday. Small, import-dependent countries, particularly in Africa, are especially at risk. Many of them still face severe problems, following the world food and economic crises of 2006-2008, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Program (WFP) said in "The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2011" (SOFI), an annual flagship report which they jointly produced this year. [more]
Feature: Food Security in Ghana - Does The Government Understand the Concept?
Myjoyonline.com
World Food Day 2011 takes on a special significance in the light of the current global food crisis and the famine across the Horn of Africa this year’s celebration takes on a special significance. After all it is about food security. But does the Government of Ghana (GoG) and other governments really understand the concept of “food security”. It is important all people involved in the delivery of food understands the concept of food security. The following explanation is given by the World Health Organization (WHO). [more]
Ghana: Climate Change Threatens Country's Food Security
AllAfrica.com
An increased body of evidence shows that climatic variability is adversely affecting Ghana's natural resources such as land, water, forests and vegetation, as well as human capital. Climate change is, therefore, expected to have significant impact on key resource-dependant sectors, such as agriculture and food production, and consequently on food security. Food security is under threat from unpredictable changes in rainfall and more frequent extreme weather. [more]
Gender Issues
Ending Rural Poverty Is Key to Rapid Econ Development
Modern Ghana
The Gender and Youth Development Coordinator of Global Media Foundation (GLOMEF), Ms Lovelace Eyram Kpogo has noted that the solution to move Ghana from its current economic status to a higher income country resides in pragmatic measures to resolve rural poverty. Rural poverty, which usually manifests in the form of feminist poverty, according to her, has been identified to be one of the major and complex socio-economic problems bedeviling the Ghanaian economy, and stressed the need for holistic development approaches that target the rural poor, especially the rural women. [more]
Local Government/Decentralization
Government Secures $89 M for Poverty Reduction
Myjoyonline.com
The government has mobilized $89.1 million as part of efforts at reducing poverty in 40 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) throughout the country. The program is under the Ghana Social Opportunity Project (GSOP) which is aimed, among other things, at improving social spending and increasing access to employment and cash-earning opportunities for the rural poor during the agricultural off-season. [more]