Below are some current developments on Agriculture in Africa:
Policymakers to Meet in Kigali on Getting Nutritious Foods to People
More than 275 high-level stakeholders from government, business and civil society will converge in Kigali, Rwanda, on Monday March 31, for a three-day consultation on Getting Nutritious Foods to People. Nearly one in three people globally suffers from a lack of essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, zinc and iron in the diet, according to an International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) release made available to the Ghana News Agency. This condition, known as hidden hunger, increases the risk of stunting, anaemia, blindness, infectious diseases, and even death.
Agriculture Campaign Targets 85m in Africa
A campaign to help lift 85 million Africans out of poverty through targeted investment in agriculture has been launched in Ethiopia. The "Do Agric, It Pays" project spearheaded by advocacy organization ONE Campaign, is calling for African governments to commit to spending at least 10 per cent of national budgets on effective agriculture investments, through transparent and accountable budgets. At the heart of the Do Agric campaign is an effort to push political leaders to adopt better policies that will boost productivity, increase incomes and help lift millions of Africans out of extreme poverty… The AU has declared 2014 the Year of Agriculture in Africa.
Ghana Reiterates Commitment in Combating Illegal Fishing
The Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mr. Nayon Bilijo, has stressed Ghana’s commitment in combating illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) activities in fishing. The Minister gave the assurance at the just-ended global fisheries confab in Thessaloniki, Greece, under the theme; “Global Fishing Capacity – Less Is More,” organized for key stakeholders and NGOs in the fisheries sector from all parts of the world... Ghana, the Minister stated, was revisiting all its management plans and legal frameworks to make sure that the country was seen as one of the leaders on the African continent in the global fishing and tuna world.
Six African countries to Receive Agric Support
Six African countries on Friday signed an agreement with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to receive 2 million dollars each from the Africa Solidarity Trust Fund to improve food security on the continent. The beneficiary countries are the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mali, Niger and South Sudan. The agreements were signed at the FAO Regional Conference for Africa currently underway in the Tunisian capital, Tunis. Graziano da Silva, Director-General of FAO who signed the agreement with the Ministers of Agriculture of the beneficiary countries urged African governments to contribute to the Fund. He said the Africa Solidarity Trust Fund initiative was an indication that …
Rice Farmers In Ghana Get Government Support
As part of government’s efforts to reduce importation of rice into the country, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) through the Japanese government grant assistance has purchased machinery and equipments worth GH¢6.4 million to assist underprivileged rice farmers in the country. The machines and equipment purchased include 70 agricultural tractors with matching implements, 43 power tillers with attachments, 35 rice threshers, 20 rice reapers and 5 rice mills all to be distributed to rice farmers on hire purchase. The sector minister, Hon. Clement Humado, said in line with government’s vision of reducing the importation of rice into the country.It is therefore important that Ghanaians who are into rice production…
Ghana Too Dependent on Imported Goods - Haruna Iddrissu
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Haruna Iddrissu, has expressed the government's concern about the country's dependence on imported goods. He said although Ghana was capable of producing its basic needs and foodstuffs for its local consumption, the country was too comfortable with importing them. According to him, the service sector has recently contributed more to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country than the manufacturing sector due to the size of its imports. Mr Iddrissu made these remarks when the Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Mr Li Yong, paid a courtesy call on him at the ministry in Accra.
EDAIF Approves GH¢55.8m for 10 Businesses
The Board of Directors of the Export Trade, Agricultural and Industrial Development Fund (EDAIF) has approved GH¢55,806,267 for 10 businesses engaged in different sectors of the economy. A statement signed by the acting Chief Executive of EDAIF, Dr Barfour Osei, said while GH¢46,541,058 of the amount was approved as new credits and projects, GH¢9,265,209 was for rescheduled credit facilities. “These approvals are in line with the fund’s objective of providing financial resources for the development and promotion of export trade agriculture, related to agro-processing and industrial development,” it said.
Farmers To Benefit From B-BOVID Profit Sharing
B-BOVID, an agribusiness based on social entrepreneurship, has introduced a unique profit-sharing concept which will greatly benefit local farmers and their communities. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of B-BOVID, Issa Ouedraogo disclosed this in an interview with BUSINESS GUIDE at Pretea in the Ahanta West District. He explained that farmers, who sell palm fruit to B-BOVID, would receive an end of year bonus from the business in addition to the market price for their produce. He added that the bonus would be paid out of the profit made by the palm oil mill and would be based on the quantity supplied by a farmer to the company in that financial year.
Ayensu to Purchase Cassava from Farmers
The Ayensu Starch Company Limited (ASCO) has indicated its readiness to purchase cassava from farmers in its catchment area. Consequently, it has asked farmers in the area to send their cassava to the company for purchase. This was the outcome of a meeting by the management of the company, the Ayensu Cassava Association (ACFA), the Policy Adviser of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mr. Kofi Smith, and representatives of Guinness Ghana Limited (GGL). The decision by the company to purchase the cassava from farmers in its catchment area followed complaints raised by the farmers’ association over the refusal of the company to purchase their produce.
Cocoa Farmers Unhappy with Government Neglect
The National Treasurer for Concerned Cocoa Farmers Association, Nana Kojo Agyei has expressed disappointment with government and COCOBOD over the seeming collapse of the mass cocoa spraying exercise. Nana Kojo Agyei says the association is also not happy about government’s attitude towards the numerous challenges of the cocoa farmers, warning government’s stance could pose very serious consequences for the sector in the future. “Government no longer seems interested in improving the conditions of farmers who produce one of Ghana’s foreign exchange earners,” Mr Agyei said.
Ministry, Marubeni to Set Up Sugar Complex at Savelugu
A Sugar complex is going to be establish at Savelugu in the Northern Region. The complex, which will cover between 10,000 to 30,000 hectares, will comprise a sugar estate and a sugar plantation. The Ministry of Trade and Industry has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Marubeni Corporation, a Japanese company concerning the establishment of the complex. Under the agreement, the Ghana Government will be responsible for funding the front end engineering design for the agricultural estate, conduct the environmental impact assessment, and also facilitate the acquisition of land and permits while the Japanese company is expected to facilitate…
Invest More in Agricultural Sector-Dei
A co-founder of Blue Skies, producers of fruit beverages, Mr. Seth Kwasi Dei, has attributed the slow pace of the country’s economic development to the neglect of the agricultural sector. According to him, although the agricultural sector remains the largest in terms of employment, lack of financial support and neglect of the sector by “the educated” continue to affect Ghana’s economy. Speaking at the 11th MTN-Business World Executive Breakfasting Meeting in Accra Thursday, Mr. Dei, a renowned Ghanaian investor, said the key to solving the numerous challenges bedeviling Ghana’s economy was for the country to invest more in the agricultural sector.
Gender Gap Holds Back Africa’s Women Farmers
Tackling the pervasive inequality faced by women farmers across Africa is critical if the continent is to reduce poverty, boost economic growth and feed its growing population, a new report published on March 18 by the World Bank Group and The ONE Campaign indicates. The report, titled; “Levelling the Field: Improving Opportunities for Women Farmers in Africa,” examines the scale and causes of the dramatic differences between how much men and women farmers produce in six African countries- Ethiopia, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda- which together makes up more than 40 per cent of sub-Saharan Africa’s population.
An Agriculturist Calls for the Observation of National Anti-counterfeiting Day
An agriculturist has called for the observation of annual anti-counterfeiting day, to create awareness about the dangers of counterfeiting to the national economy, individual businesses and the health of the people. Mr Lawrence Alato of the Plant Protection and Regulatory Division of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, was speaking at an anti-counterfeiting workshop organized by Croplife Ghana for stakeholders in the agriculture industry in Accra. Croplife Ghana is an umbrella organization that promote the interest of importers of agrochemicals into the country.
Strength Of Agric Economy Depends On The Youth
Getting more African youth involved in agriculture and boosting support for the region’s vulnerable family farmers will be pivotal to improving food security and economic well-being in the years to come, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Director-General, José Graziano da Silva, have said. He also says water scarcity, low investment and conflict as being among the challenges to food security in the region, but said he was confident that Africa could “reach peace, stability and food security” in the future.“The region’s economic growth rate is above the global average and most of the world’s fastest-growing economies are in Africa,” Graziano da Silva told ministers of agriculture and funding partners at …
National Best Farmer Receives Nissan Pick-up
As part of NDC 2012 manifesto to encourage and support farmers, the Government on Thursday presented a Nissan pick-up and fishing equipment to the national best farmer, Kwame Gyan at a ceremony at Central Regional Coordinating council (RCC) for his achievement. The items included fishing nets, an outboard motor, one live jacket, mono line, 23 sets of floats and 10 “T” shirts and four twines. Dr. Samuel Sarpong, the outgoing Central Regional Minister commended Mr. Gyan for the feat chalked in his vocation and express hope that the award would inspire him for greater works.
The Danish Green Growth Model; Lessons for Ghana
It is often not common for the world to agree on issues of global concern, but when the agenda of meetings are spiced with narratives as global warming, floods, storms, droughts, crop losses, desertification and rising sea levels, the aroma is simply irresistible. From the north to the south and from the east to the west, countries are experiencing alarming disasters and harsh weather conditions some of which have not been seen for decades. All over the world, countries are spending several billions of dollars to either adapt or mitigate the effect of climate change, which is just not having a toll on agriculture and food security alone but threatening the very existence of human.
AGRIPRO To Hold 2nd Agribusiness Workshop
AGRIPRO presents the second edition of THE PLATFORM, a monthly Agribusiness creation and management workshop with networking for people who are interested in initiating new Agribusinesses as well as people who aspire to venture in the Agricultural Industry… The workshop would be made up of two main intensive focus group discussions on Poultry production and Vegetable production. With the purpose; to create a platform for entrepreneurs and investors in the agribusiness industry for the discussion of prevalent issues and development of strategies for the various sectors in the industry. It’s our aim to create a healthy relationship between investors and entrepreneurs in the industry.
Food Security/Crisis
World Unprepared for Climate Damage to Food Security
A key U.N. report on climate change, due out early next week, will show that the impacts of rising temperatures on food security will be more serious and hit earlier than previously thought, a situation the world is “woefully unprepared” to cope with, aid group Oxfam warned on Tuesday.“Hunger is not and need never be inevitable. However climate change threatens to put back the fight to eradicate it by decades,” the charity said in a briefing paper that analysed 10 factors that will have an increasingly important influence on countries’ ability to feed their people in a warmer world.
Ghana: Global Pollination Project-Ghana (GPP-Ghana) Holds Second National Seminar
The second national seminar of the Global Pollination Project-Ghana (GPP-Ghana), yesterday, took place in Accra. The seminar, which was held on the theme: "Enhancing the Ghanaian Economy and Food Security through Conservation of Pollinators," was organised by GPP-Ghana in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). In an address, Dr Lamourda Thiombiano, a Representative from the FAO Ghana, said pollination was a key to crop reproduction as it ensured the production of quality fruits, seeds and vegetable production, which contributed over…
Achieving Food Security in Bayelsa State
There are strong, direct relationships between agricultural productivity, hunger, poverty, and sustainability, as three-quarter of the world’s population live in rural areas and eke their living from agriculture, hence the need for proper planning and timely implementation of agricultural development programmes which is imperative to achieving food security for all Food Security for all as a Sine-qua non for Sustainable Development” is by no less timely, as the Federal Government of Nigeria, under the visionary leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan (GCFR), alongside the Minister for Agriculture, Dr Adewunmi Adeshina , has repositioned the agricultural sector in Nigeria…
Reports/Articles
Promoting Farmer Participation in Client-oriented Breeding: Lessons from Participatory Breeding for Farmer-preferred Cassava Varieties in Ghana
JA Manu-Aduening, B Peprah, G Bolfrey-Arku, A Aubyn - 2014
Participatory breeding has been proven as an effective means of increasing adoption of superior crop cultivars by farmers in regions where low in-put agriculture is practiced. Farmers in four Ghanaian communities were engaged in a participatory breeding to develop superior cassava varieties. Their needs, which were elicited in an initial situation analysis, helped in identifying cassava diversity for field evaluation. They had equal opportunities as scientists to evaluate and select suitable accessions for each cycle of field screening. Farmers were consistent in their selections and based their selections on perceptual distinctive traits such as canopy shape, stem colour and root skin colour.
Baseline Feed the Future Indicators for Northern Ghana 2012
YA Zereyesus, KL Ross, V Amanor-Boadu, TJ Dalton - 2014
Poverty is a major development indicator, influencing health and nutrition status as well as empowerment. For this reason, it has become the focal point for policy interventions in many development projects. To monitor performance of its intervention investments in Ghana and provide a foundation for evaluating outcomes emanating from these activities in relation to the Feed the Future Initiative, the Economic Growth Office of USAID|Ghana sponsored this population-based survey research project. The results provide benchmarks for the identified Feed the Future indicators.The study was conducted by the Monitoring, Evaluation and Technical Support Services (METSS) staff in Ghana and the U.S.
Food Sovereignty in the Era of Land Grabbing: An African Perspective
K Ambalam - Journal of Sustainable Development, 2014
Food is a basic human right. One of the humanity’s significant achievements has been to produce adequate food for the largest growing population. However, the co-existence of chronic hunger and malnutrition with presence of adequate capacities to address it is one of the gravest paradoxes of our time. In one-third of African countries the average daily calorie intake remains below the recommended level of 2100 kcal. The need and importance for greater food sovereignty has emerged out of broader concerns over the negative impact of world’s food system on food security and environmental sustainability.
Exploration of Farmers’ Preferences and Perceptions of Maize Varieties: Implications on Development and Adoption of Quality Protein Maize (QPM) Varieties in Zimbabwe
L Machida, J Derera, P Tongoona, A Langyintuo… - Journal of Sustainable …, 2014
Quality protein maize (QPM) technology is relatively new in Zimbabwe and farmer awareness of QPM was low. Participation of smallholder farmers in the development of QPM breeding objectives and dissemination strategies was solicited through participatory rural appraisal (PRA) techniques. Seventy two farmers participated; of Zimbabwe. Data collection techniques included work-sharing, village or resource mapping, Venn diagramming, semi structured interviewing, matrix scoring and ranking and pairwise ranking. The results suggested that protein malnutrition was prevalent in the districts. Maize was the most important crop and farmers grew three types of maize, namely …
Cooperating to Make the Best Use of Plant Genetic Resources in West and Central Africa: A Regional Imperative
SK Nyamekye - Cooperating to Make the Best Use of Plant Genetic …, 2014
Plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) are a precious heritage of the people of West and Central Africa (WCA) where the agricultural sector is the major contributor to the livelihoods of its people. The region is endowed with diversified agroecosystems in which plant genetic resources (PGR) play an integral role by contributing to the provision of food as well as ecosystem services. The region is recognized as a primary centre of diversity of key food crops such as millet, cowpea, fonio, several types of yam, African rice, Bambara groundnut and oil palm. It is a secondary centre of diversity for sorghum and robusta coffee. A significant number of staple food crops and ….
Safety Nets, Gap Filling and Forests: A Global-Comparative Perspective
S Wunder, J Börner, G Shively, M Wyman - World Development, 2014
In the forest–livelihoods literature, forests are widely perceived to provide both common safety nets to shocks and resources for seasonal gap-filling. We use a large global-comparative dataset to test these responses. We find households rank forest-extraction responses to shocks lower than most common alternatives. For seasonal gap-filling, forest extraction also has limited importance. The minority of households using forests for coping is asset-poor and lives in villages specialized on forests, in particular timber extraction. Overall, forest resources may be less important as a buffer between agricultural harvests and in times of unforeseen hardship than has been found in many case studies.
From Vulnerability to Resilience: Agroecology for Sustainable Dryland Management
E van Walsum, L van den Berg, J Bruil, P Gubbels - Planet@ Risk, 2014
This paper explores the main institutional and political factors contributing to the gap between evidence and mainstream policies/funding priorities in dryland management.It explores two agricultural paradigms: firstly, it explores the dominant paradigm that favours modernization, economies of scale and specialisation. Secondly, it explores the agroecological paradigm with resilience of farming communities and their ecosystems as its central concept. It then discusses a number of practical experiences, each illustrating that agroecological approaches can lead to triple wins: increased productivity, increased natural resource sustainability and increased food security. But sharing good practices alone is not enough to bridge the gap.
Agricultural Mechanization: A Strategy for Food Sufficiency
CA Adamade, BA Jackson
Nigeria has set an ambitious target to become one of the top 20 economies in the world by the year2020. The major drive is to set a solid foundation for sustained rapid socio-economic development which will depend upon synergies among the key sectors of the economy. The fundamental value of Agriculture in the development and growth of the Nigerian is indicated in its contribution as a source of food and raw materials for agro-industrial processing and the linkage effects with employment, national income, market opportunities for industrial output and reduction in poverty and health improvement…