Below are the current developments on Agriculture in Africa:
Quality Control of fertilizers in Ghana: Status and Prospects
The adulteration of agricultural inputs in Africa is wide spread and Ghana is no exception. Greedy fertilizer agents, businessmen and government officials mix fertilizers with inert materials such as cement, sell underweight fertilizers by reducing the volume or sell fertilizers which have lower concentration than what is indicated on their packaging. Agro-chemicals are also faked either by diluting and re-packaging in the original packs or by deliberately labeling containers wrongly. An analysis of thirty six samples of fertilizers from the three Northern regions of Ghana (PPRSD, 2012d) showed big gaps between the claimed values and the analyzed ones. For instance, where the claimed values of Nitrogen are 23% for N23P10K5, lab analysis recorded values of Nitrogen between 8% and 11.8% (that is 11% to 15% less than what is claimed). Samples of urea analyzed showed the nutrient content was usually in the range claimed. For Sulfate of Ammonia, 50% of the sampled fertilizers did not present any deficiency for both sulfur and nitrogen. The other half presented some severe deficits in sulfur and nitrogen, for instance, where sulfur was 24%, lab analysis indicated a percentage of 13.49 to 14.37% (9.63% to 10.51% less than what is claimed). One case showed a deficit of sulfur (9% ) and an excess of nitrogen (9.99%).One of the challenging fertilizers on the market is Sulfan. The product was labeled as nitrogen based fertilizer but the claimed values of nutrients are totally different from the values found after analysis. Fertilizers sold in the northern region of Ghana can be said to have various levels of nutrients deficiencies. You may obtain the report from Raoul Klutse. Email address: RKlutse@agra.org
Agricultural Issues
GM Foods: Understanding the Science and the Ghanaian Society
The World Health Organization defines genetically modified organisms (GMOs) as organisms in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally. The technology is called biotechnology or genetic engineering and it is involved in the production of foods called genetically modified foods or GM Foods. GM foods are foods produced from GMOs or organisms that have had specific changes in their DNA using the methods of genetic engineering or biotechnology. A number of organisms including micro-organisms such as bacteria and yeast, insects, plants, fish, and mammals have been genetically modified. Genetic material of organisms consists of DNA or RNA that serves as the blue print dictating the physical characteristics of the organism or living thing.
Reasons Why we need GMO labelling
Most people like to know what they are eating. However, labeling for genetically modified organisms is not required in any state. This is largely because of the money expended by GM seed producers toward blocking food-labeling laws. A common claim made by this group is that GM foods have been proved safe to eat and that there is a global scientific consensus to support this statement; therefore, no labeling is needed.
Biotechnology Interest Groups want Legislation Mandating GMO Labeling
Powerful farming and biotechnology interest groups announced Thursday they are banding together to push a federal voluntary labeling standard for genetically engineered food in an effort to stem the tide of state legislation seeking to mandate labeling. The Coalition for Safe Affordable Food consists of 29 formidable trade groups that say they plan to lobby on Capitol Hill for a national standard that would allow manufacturers to voluntarily label food and beverage products made with genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Ashanti GJA Goes Farming as it Acquires 20-hectare Land at Afram Plains
The Ashanti Regional branch of the Ghana Journalists Association has acquired a 20- hectare land in the Sekyere-Afram Plains District of Ashanti, for commercial farming. The Association says the initiative will promote agriculture and also create harmony between the media and farmers through collaboration. The Sekyere-Afram Plains area, considered the food-basket of the region has vast land begging to be utilized. The 20-hectare land situated at the Wenamda area closed to the Wiribon stream, is not only good for vegetable farming but also for maize cultivation because of its proximity to an irrigation dam there.
Ghana’s Buffer Stock Company For Sale
A news report attributed to the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Clement Kofi Humado, on Myjoyonline of Wednesday, February 5, 2014 revealed the Mahama-led administration’s plans to privatize the NDC’s much touted National Food and Buffer Stock Company due to financial difficulties. Reasons adduced by the Agric Minister for the privatization was not just red herring but also betray the ruling party’s belief in its own social democratic ideology. For worthy reasons such as providing ready markets to farmers in order to guarantee national food security and also to minimize…
Chief Calls for Protection of Wetland
The Chief of Sakumono, Nii Alabi Gbene II, has appealed to the public to support efforts to conserve the Sakumo Ramsar Site. He said recent industrial and urban development had led to the discharge of considerable volumes of effluence into the lagoon, which poses a threat to the sustenance of the lagoon. Nii Gbene II made the appeal at the Sakumo Ramsar Site during a ceremony to commemorate World Wetlands Day which fell on February 2, 2014….This year’s celebration had the theme: "Wetlands and Agriculture” and it sought to highlight the importance of wetlands in the provision of goods and services, including food.
African States Seek New Farmland Deals without Problems of Past
African countries that missed out on Gulf cash pouring into agricultural projects elsewhere on the continent are trying to entice Arab investors with deals they say are designed to avoid problems of the past. An earlier wave of foreign investment in African farmland aroused domestic hostility or even unrest on some projects, with opponents regarding them as land-grabs that eat into local people's food needs. Undeterred, governments of countries including Zambia and Ghana argue that everyone can benefit from such investment provided it is properly regulated.
African Science Councils Call for More Coordination
There is a crying need for coordination of science councils across Africa – at the national, regional, continental and international levels – participants at a conference of the Science Granting Councils in Sub-Saharan Africa project agreed. They called for better understanding of funding flows and relationships between research, development and national priorities. The consultative conference was attended by leaders of science funding councils from 17 countries covered in a study conducted by the Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology – CREST – at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa and commissioned by Canada’s International Development Research Centre, IDRC.
540 Nigeria Women to Receive Training on Fish Farming
The Federal Government is facilitating the training of 540 women from 19 northern states on fish farming. This is contained in a statement from the State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The statement signed by the Public Relations Officer in the ministry, Mr. Garba Yunusa, stated that the government was performing the programme in cooperation with the Kano State Government. The statement stated that the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hajiya Baraka Sani, launched the programme at the Kano Institute of Fisheries, Bagauda.
Reports/Articles
Agricultural Transformation Agenda in Nigeria: How Prepared is the Technology Transfer-Sub System?
CJ Obiora - Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 2014
The Agricultural Transformation Agenda is aimed at making agriculture work for Nigerians especially rural farmers such that it becomes not just a development programme but also an income generating commercial activity. If this would be achieved, the technology transfer sub-system with the mandate of extension services to the farmers need to be strengthened. The study investigated how prepared the sub-system is with reference to the on-going transformation. Ninety three staff of the Agricultural Development Programme were used for the study. Data were collected by the use of questionnaire and analyzed using mean score and percentage. Results show weak capacities with regards to training/human resource development (60%), equipment acquisition (75%) and workforce (90%) in the technology transfer sub-system.
Urban Sprawl of Wa, Ghana: Socio-Economic Implications for Small-Holder Farmers
K Peprah - International Journal of Innovative Research and …, 2014
Land use conflict arises when urban centres begin to sprawl, that is, encroach upon rural and agricultural lands at the periphery. Hence, the sustainability of livelihoods that depend on agricultural lands becomes threatened by the sprawl. The built up area reduces farmland, sand winners scoop the surface soil and farmers are pushed to use marginal lands. The socio-economic implications of this phenomenon in the lives of indigenous farmers are presented in this paper. The planners of emerging urban centers in developing countries particularly Ghana are being cautioned about the possibility of local small-holder farmers becoming urban poor people through the elimination of farming livelihoods (Jedwab, 2011). In terms of provision of income, employment, food security and export earnings, agriculture is the single largest sector in Ghana. Agriculture contributes about half of formal and informal employment and export earnings as well as 23.1 percent of GDP in 2012 (Mongabay, 2013, Government of Ghana, 2013).
Climate Variability and Household Welfare in Northern Ghana
PK Nkegbe, N Kuunibe – 2014
Climate variability poses a major risk to agricultural incomes in Africa. In Ghana, most of the country’s poor people live in the north and households find it difficult to hold back their productive assets during the lean season. This study investigates the impact of climate variability on household welfare in the area using a three-period panel data from the Ghana Living Standards Survey, in addition to data on annual rainfall and temperature for northern Ghana for the period 1991 to 2007. Using trend equations and the Ricardian approach to analyze the data, the results show rainfall exhibits a decreasing trend in all regions in the north of Ghana while temperature oscillates, with higher amounts of rainfall and moderate temperatures found to be significant drivers of improved welfare. The study thus concludes that climate variability negatively impacts household welfare, agricultural income, and farm revenue, and recommends inter alia households’ diversification of economic activities into areas not directly affected by the vagaries of the climate.
Land Access and Poverty Reduction among Women in Chansa in the North Western Region of Ghana
AT Aasoglenang, SK Kanlisi, FX Naab - 2013
Millions of families in Africa depend on agriculture for their livelihood and poverty reduction. Women who are the majority and poorer in Africa and particularly those at Chansa in Ghana are engaged in farming and they contribute immensely to agricultural production in their capacity as farm owners, farm partners and farm labourers. What is not known, which the study is interested in finding out, is whether their role as farm owners’ enables them have access to productive farm lands and the returns from farming contributes to the reduction of poverty among them. It is a case study and we employed qualitative methods such as interviews and focused group discussion in gathering data. The study revealed that land is a key factor of production in the community and contributes significantly to livelihood assets. However, the lack of ownership, control and full access to land by women in the Chansa community makes it difficult for them to cultivate food crops and invest in other projects that could reduce their poverty levels significantly.
Help Tools and Investment Potentials of Wheat Business in Ghana. Case Study: Olam, Ghana
K Effraim - 2014
The purpose of this study is aimed at investigating the business viability of the investment potential of wheat business in Ghana. Wheat is one of the oldest and most commonly consumed cereals in Ghana. Wheat is sold in Ghana mostly unpacked for the consumption of all. Unbranded wheat sold at the market leaves lots of doubt about its credibility and the origin of the cereal. This research presents ways in which business investors can reap the full benefit of branding and extending the market communication mix of the food and agriculture industry with the aim of attracting more locals to adopt wheat as a staple food. The research is made on business expectations and prospects to reveal the current situation present in the industry with regards to the consumption of wheat. Help tools are given, this serves as a yardstick, which in turn aids investors towards branding the cereal by establishing a trademark among others to satisfy the consumer at a profit. This material also serves as a guide book for an entrepreneur or investor whose target is to brand the cereal and expand the market communication in other sub-Saharan regions.