Below are the current developments on Agriculture in Africa:
Agricultural Issues
Parliament Reconvened Yesterday with the First Agendum of GMO
Parliament reconvened yesterday with the first agendum of considering the Plant Breeders Bill (2013), which the House failed to pass in 2013. The consideration of the bill was further torpedoed by numerous petitions which the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho referred to the leadership of the House for further action… One of the objectives of the Act is to ensure an adequate level of protection in the field of safe development transfer, handling and use of genetically modified organisms resulting from biotechnology that may have an adverse effect on health and the environment, he said.
Biotechnology and Genetically Modified Organism Foods (1)
Genetically modified organism foods have made a big splash in the news lately and a lot of opinions have been expressed. I believe a lot of education on this subject has to be done for the ordinary Ghanaian to understand and come to real terms with it. To some extent, I am extremely pleased with the general reactions of the masses. Indeed, it is very normal to raise concerns and ask questions about it, as it directly affects us. We owe it a duty as scientists to throw more light on this old but somewhat new subject of biotechnology and its progeny of genetically modified organisms or foods (GMOs / GMFs) so as to gradually clear all the ill-thoughts and misconceptions involved.
Consult More on Plant Breeders Bill
The Abibiman foundation, a livelihood and development organisation, on Friday called for the extension and expansion of the consultation on the Plant Breeders Bill to make it more acceptable. “In matters of food security and sovereignty, all actors and majority of Ghanaians should be well consulted. Farmers should also be well educated on the subject before an attempt is made to put ownership on seeds. Mr. Kenneth Nana Boateng, Chief Executive Officer of the foundation.
Government to Revive Agric for Higher Economic Development
The government is to implement an agricultural revival programme from March this year targeted at positioning agriculture as the conduit for higher economic development. As part of the programme, educational institutions will be supported to undertake large-scale farming and implement a graduates-for-agriculture project to entice graduates into agriculture. Additionally, the government will pursue an aggressive agri-business strategy and establish agricultural mechanisation centres in all the districts. The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Clement Humado, made this known in an interaction with journalists after the opening of the 22nd ordinary session of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, yesterday.
Ghana Does Not Have Money to Conduct Agric Census
Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has stated that financial constraints are hindering efforts to execute an agriculture census in rural areas. According to the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Clement Kofi Humado, the agricultural census has not been carried out in the past 20 years and it has resulted in a gap in the presentation of agricultural data in the country. The minister was speaking at a meeting on agricultural data and information systems. It was organised by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in Accra. The meeting sought to reflect on the development of agriculture data and information systems in the country.
FAGRO Sponsors Ghanaian Farmers to US Convention
Ghanaian farmers are to participate in the National Farmers Union convention investment meeting and Field Trips scheduled for Saturday, March 8 to Tuesday, March 14, 2014, in the United States of America. The farmers, who are being organised by the National Food and Agriculture Show (FAGRO) secretariat, with invitation from the National Farmers Union, USA will participate in the fair to promote, learn, experience and discuss trade and investment opportunities with over 600 stakeholders in agriculture from the USA, Nigeria and other European countries.
Farming in Africa – Time to Debunk Some Myths
We have come a long way from the usual images depicting Africa as a starving continent. African countries are more determined than ever before to grow food for their people. New technologies and ideas – from mobile phone information systems to new varieties of crops – are rapidly transforming agriculture. But the sector continues to suffer from stereotypes inside as well as outside Africa. Farming across the continent remains synonymous with poverty and subsistence. Simply, people don't believe it will pay a proper wage, let alone their children’s school fees or health bills. It is seen as a dead-end job and most definitely not something of interest to aspiring youth.
Prices of Commodities to Shoot Up Next Week
A market survey conducted by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at the Makola Market and in some markets in Accra revealed that prices of commodities may go up by next week. This, according to some traders, who spoke to the GNA on Friday, would be as a result of the recent increases in fuel and transport fares. The survey conducted on some items shows that its prices had gone up compared with the previous week… For example, three tubers of yam were being sold at GH¢ 10.00 last week was now selling a little about GH¢ 12.00 today, whilst four big fingers of plantain , which sold at GH¢ 2.00 last week, was now selling between GH¢ 4.00 and GH¢ 5.00. A crate of egg which was selling at GH¢12.00 last week is now selling at GH¢ 15.00. an increase of GH¢ 3.00. However, at the Osu Market the GNA observed that…
Farmers Turn Farm into ‘Pre-Schools’
Farmers at Wortikpo in the Kpetoe-Ziope District have turned their farms into ‘pre-schools’ where they superintended their children to sing and play. The community has no pre-school, compelling parents to take their children to their farms where they sing and play under trees. This came to light at a day’s community sensitization on Early Childhood Care Development (ECCD), organised by the Department of Children of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection at Wortikpo. The farmers appealed to stakeholders to help establish a pre-school in the community.
Minister Blames Rising Poverty in Ghana on Climate Change
The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Ms. Babara Serwah Asamoah, has attributed Ghana’s poverty to climate change. According to her, the effect of climate change is evident in the rapid change in rainfall patterns, long dry seasons, drying up of major streams and rivers, heavy erosion, loss of soil fertility, loss of biodiversity, drastic decline in none timber forest products, among other things. Speaking at a workshop on effects of climate change for high level policy makers and politicians, she said such negative effects had culminated in an increase in poverty in many rural communities which derived direct livelihood from forest and wildlife resources.
Reports/Articles
Impact of NERICA Adoption on Incomes of Rice-Producing Households in Northern Ghana
AN Wiredu, BO Asante, E Martey, A Diagne, W Dogbe - Journal of Sustainable …, 2014
The Multinational NERICA Rice Dissemination Project in Ghana promoted the adoption of NERICA varieties and complementary technologies. NERICA adoption was expected to increase rice production and the incomes of beneficiary households. This study assessed the impact of NERICA adoption on the incomes of rice-producing households in northern Ghana. With data from a cross-section of 150 systematically selected rice-producing households, the study revealed 36.7% adoption rate. Agriculture and rice production were the most important livelihood activities as they contributed 80% and 55.09% of total household income respectively…
Effect of Indole 3-Butyric Acid and Media Type on Adventitious Root Formation in Sheanut Tree (Vitellaria paradoxa C. F. Gaertn.) Stem Cuttings
DB Akakpo, N Amissah, J Yeboah, E Blay - American Journal of Plant Sciences, 2014
Shea nuts play an important role in food security for rural folks within sub-Sahara Africa, serving as the main source of income for many people living in Northern Ghana. Unfortunately, the full economic potential of the Sheanut tree has not been fully realized due to the difficulty involved in its domestication. This difficulty in vegetatively propagating sheanut trees has greatly hindered its cultivation and the realization of its true eco- nomic potential. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of rooting media and varying indole 3-butyric acid (IBA) concentrations on adventitious root formation in cuttings taken from coppiced sheanut trees. Results indicated that 3000 ppm produced significantly (p < 0.05) better rooting (57.5%) than 5000 ppm (30%), 7000 ppm (45.0%) and the control (7.5%).
Climatic Variability and Food Security in Developing Countries
F BADOLO, RK SOMLANARE - 2014
This paper contributes to the existing literature on climatic variability and food security. It analyses the impact of climatic variability on food security for 71 developing countries, from 1960 to 2008. Using two complementary indicators of food security (food supply and proportion of undernourished people), we find that climatic variability reduces the food supply and the proportion of undernourished people in developing countries. The adverse effect is higher for African Sub-Saharan countries than for other developing countries. We also find that the negative effects of climatic variability are exacerbated in the presence of civil conflicts and are high for the countries that are vulnerable to food price shocks.
Adoption of Improved Maize Seed Varieties in Southern Zambia
T Kalinda, G Tembo, E Kuntashula, Z Lusaka - Asian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2014
Maize is the principal agricultural crop produced by Zambian smallholder farmers for household consumption and sale. Their production strategy is therefore important in meeting food security and income needs. This study uses data collected from a survey of a random sample of farm households in southern Zambia to develop a Tobit regression model. The model identifies farm and farmer characteristics important for adoption of improved maize seed varieties as well as to determine the role of farmer perceptions of technology attributes in maize varietal adoption. The results indicate that expectations about output price and yield are important determinants of adoption.
Development of Conservation Management Scenarios: The Case of Amanzule Wetlands
R Adupong, B Gormey - … Western Region of Ghana. Narragansett, RI: Coastal …, 2013
The importance of the natural environment to human survival cannot be underestimated. This appreciation of the values of the natural environment is widely acknowledged and accepted by stakeholders and modern driving factors of change such as religious beliefs and advancement in technology. The Quran regards the environment as Allah's creation… These wetlands are vital ecosystems and provide ecological, social and economic services. Prominent services provided by the wetlands include: fish catch, source of water to wash clothes and utensils, sand for making blocks and building and mangroves (serving as firewood, building material and charcoal) among others.
Pink Disease Caused by Erythricium salmonicolor (Berk. & Broome) Burdsall: An Epidemiological Assessment of its Potential Effect on Cocoa Production in Ghana
AY Akrofi, I Amoako-Atta, M Assuah, E Kumi-Asare - J Plant Pathol Microb, 2014
Pink disease caused by Erythricium salmonicolor (Berk. & Broome) Burdsall has been reported on Theobroma cacao, L (cacao) in Ghana for many years but has not been studied in detail. During an epidemiological assessment of the potential effect of the disease on cocoa production in the Western region of Ghana, the disease was found on 393 out of 25,600 cacao trees inspected and on 46 out of 128 farms surveyed. Typical symptoms of pink disease were observed on infected branches and four different growth forms, cobwebby, pink to salmon encrustation, creamy pustules and orange fruiting bodies were identified.