Below are some current developments on Agriculture in Africa:
Agricultural Issues
Cashew Generated 170 Million Dollars in 2013
The cashew industry generated 170 million dollars in the form of foreign exchange earnings for the economy in 2013. Mr Justice Samuel Adjei, Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister who made this known in Sunyani said the industry is the largest contributor to non-traditional export crops. The Deputy Regional Minister was speaking at the closing session of a five-day master training programme, for stakeholders in the cashew sector, drawn Ghana, Burkina-Faso, Togo, Benin, Cote D’Iviore, Senegal and Sierra Leone…Mr Adjei said the impact of cashew on poverty reduction and the environment in the Savanna regions has been significant. He entreated investors who are interested in the cashew industry to come into the region and take advantage of the suitable land and vegetation that promote the cultivation of the highly economic crop.
Ghana Must Think Beyond Cocoa - Alan Kyerematen
The Former Minister of Trade under the Kufour administration has said the failure of the country to maximize its export is due to its inability to develop other traditional produce available to it. Speaking at a forum organized by Graphic Business on how to maximize value of exports to improve Ghana’s trade balance, he said “the country has not been able to think beyond cocoa”. Cocoa is the most important agricultural commodity in Ghana and is the main stay of Ghana’s economy and serves as a source of employment for some 800,000 farmers and generates about 2-3 million dollars a year. The commodity is the country’s fourth leading foreign exchange earner, worth about 30 percent of all revenue from export and responsible for 57 percent of overall agricultural export. However Mr. Kyerematen stressed that it was necessary for ….
Cocobod to Seek Extra Cash for Syndicated Loan
Finance minister Seth Tekper has confirmed Cocobod will seek additional funding for this year’s syndicated loan. Cocobod had earlier announced it will seek 1.8 billion dollars this year for its syndicated loan. However finance minister Seth Tekper has announced this figure will be increased to 2 billion dollars. Last year Cocobod signed a $1.2 billion syndicated loan from international banks for the 2013/14 cocoa crop purchases as against $1.5 billion for 2012/13. The credit facility between Cocobod and a consortium of international and local banks was led by French lender Societe General. The Cocobod syndicated loan is used to purchase cocoa beans from farmers.
Cocobod Incentives Diverted
Mr Hamid Haddie, Kwaebibirem District Manager of Transroyal Limited, has alleged that about 2,500 cocoa farmers in the district did not receive the solar torch lights and mosquito nets distributed nationwide by Cocobod as incentives. Mr Frank Ntow, District Manager of Akuafo Adamfo Buyers Limited, also corroborated the allegations when the two spoke to Ghana News Agency (GNA), in an interview. The two said the items rather found their way in the open market and appealed to Cocobod to device an efficient way of distributing the items in future. Nana Yamoa Abaasa, District Chief farmer confirmed to the GNA that the package did not benefit all cocoa farmers, explaining that the beneficiaries were registered members of Ghana Cocoa Coffee and Shea nut Farmers Association.
Government Determined to Improve Cocoa Industry
The introduction of the Hi-Tech programme is a testimony of government’s determination to help improve the cocoa industry. Mr. Randy Nkrumah, District Manager of Duakwa Depot of the Cocoa Merchant, a licensed cocoa-buying company in the country, made the statement at a meeting of cocoa farmers of the company in the Agona Area at the week-end. He stated that the introduction of the Hi-Tech programme has helped to reduce poverty among farmers. He was emphatic that the mass cocoa spraying exercise introduced years back, was part of the Hi-Tech cocoa production method. The District Manager stressed that the mass spraying, when embraced by cocoa farmers in the country, would definitely help increase their yield.
Poor Fermentation Affecting The Quality Of Cocoa
Nana Debrah Amanor, Suhum Municipal Chief Farmer, has called on traditional authorities to help educate cocoa farmers, to allow cocoa trees attacked by the swollen shoot disease, to be cut down and replanted. Nana Amanor stated that the affected farmers would be adequately compensated by government if they agreed for the trees to be cut down and replanted. The Municipal Chief Farmer made the call when he addressed a meeting of farmers within the Suhum Municipality at Nfranor, to educate them on the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD), among other issues. Other prominent cocoa farmers delivered lectures on the rehabilitation of cocoa farms, child labour, CSSVD Control, and sale and application of fertilizers. Nana Amanor noted that if affected cocoa trees were not cut down, the disease could infest other farms and …
GMO Maize will Make Nonsense of Homowo - Ga Priests
Priests of the Ga Traditional Area, have rejected the introduction of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) corn into the country, saying it will make nonsense of the essence of the Homowo festival. The priests are of the view that their gods are not familiar with GMO corn, and are therefore likely to reject Kpokpoi that will be offered them as sacrifice. The Homowo Festival is characterized by the preparation of Kpokpoi, a special dish made from corn that is served to the gods in gratitude for bumper harvest. The priests have, therefore, called for the indefinite suspension of all GMO cultivation in Ghana. A statement signed by Duke Tagoe, General Secretary of Food Sovereignty Ghana, and copied to Ghana News Agency on Friday, said "the priests found it appropriate to lend their voices to the threats GMO will pose to the nation’s organic source of food."
Communities Asked to Create Buffer Zones near Dams
Mr. Asher Nkegbe, Upper East Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has re-echoed the call for adherence to the creation of buffer zones to prevent growing siltation and pollution around rivers and dams. He said the creation of buffer zones was vital in natural regeneration around rivers and dams, and gave the assurance that his outfit was working in close collaboration with stakeholders in Agriculture and communities to sensitize farming communities to create buffer zones. Mr. Nkegbe made this known in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Bolgatanga on Wednesday. He said moves under the sustainable land management programme had started in earnest to support farmer-groups in the Upper East Region to plant shrubs and encourage tree-planting around river banks of the dams, as part of activities to control siltation.
Tamale Metro Agric Director Sees Prospect in Farming
Mr. Stephen Yakubu, Tamale Metropolitan Director of Agriculture says agriculture still remains the surest way to end poverty in Ghana. He therefore asked farmer based organizations to be honest in their relationship with organizations that support them to step up production and adopt the best agronomic practices to increase their yield. Mr. Yakubu was speaking during a capacity building workshop for 150 smallholder rice farmers at Zorbugu, a farming community in Tamale. The capacity building programme was organized by Savanna Irrigation Farms and Agro-Trade Investment Company Limited (SIFA), a local agro-trade company, and funded by Market Development in Northern Ghana (MADE), in collaboration with UK Department for International Development.
Nigeria Releases Cassava with Higher Vitamin A
Three newly improved vitamin A cassava varieties with yellow roots, have been released by the Nigerian government, stepping up efforts to tackle the problem of vitamin A deficiency especially among women and children in the country. These new varieties were developed jointly by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture IITA and the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), the IITA said in a press statement copied to the GNA. The three varieties, UMUCASS 44, UMUCASS 45, and UMUCASS 46 are the second in the series of pro-vitamin A varieties released in the country, and are commonly known as NR07/0220, IITA-TMS-IBA070593, and IITA-TMS-IBA070539.
Ban on Rosewood Timber, Still in Force
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources says the ban on the harvesting, transportation, processing, export or sale of rosewood in any form still remains in force. A statement signed by Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, the Outgoing Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, urged especially dealers in rosewood that no rosewood timber in any form would be allowed as transit timber through Ghana. The statement said the measure was being instituted to curtail the practice whereby rosewood was illegally harvested in Ghana, transported to neighboring countries and brought back into the country as transit timber.… The statement said "All existing permits and licenses issued by the Forestry Commission for the harvesting, transportation, processing, export or sale of rosewood in any form are revoked'
Ghana’s Poultry Imports Quadruple Since 2002
Ghana’s poultry imports have more than quadrupled since 2002 and increasing at a rate of five per cent annually. Last year Ghana’s total meat imports rose from 97,719 metric tonnes in 2012 to 183,949 metric tonnes registering an increase of 88 per cent. “Currently we consume an average of 225,000 metric tonnes of meat annually and interestingly domestic production constitutes only 30 per cent of our meat production while poultry imports alone constitutes 80 per cent of our total meat imports,” Dr Hanna Louisa Abissiw, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), said. Speaking at the launch of Ghana Broiler Revitalization Project in Accra, the Deputy Minister said if that situation was allowed to continue it would spell the doom of the poultry industry in Ghana.
Ministry Honours Companies for Sponsoring National Farmers Day
An awards ceremony has been held to honour institutions and organizations that have consistently sponsored the hosting of the National Farmers Day. Jointly organised by the Ministries of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) or Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MOFAD), the companies which had offered help in cash or in kind totalling GH¢20,000 or more received mementoes while others were given certificates in the categories of platinum, gold, silver or bronze for their immense support to the annual event…At the ceremony, the Minister of MOFA, Mr. Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey, commended all organisations and institutions that had consistently donated towards the celebration.
Government still Subsidisng Fertilizer -Deputy Agric Minister
A Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture in charge of Crops, Dr Ahmed Yakubu Alhassan, has refuted allegations that the government intends to cancel the Fertilizer Subsidy Programme (FSP) being implemented by the government. He said there was no such policy decision to withdraw the programme, adding that should there be any such intent, it would be done in consultation with the same stakeholders before it is executed... “I want to assure the farmers that the ministry has finished all our necessary work with same companies and also following up at the Ministry of Finance to get the resources to redeem the debt and when we do that then we do the 2014 programme,” he said.
GFAP Advocates for Cattle Ranching Legislature
The Ghana Federation of Agricultural Produce is advocating for an immediate cattle ranching legislature to regulate the activities of alien herdsmen in the country. The farmer base organisation said such a legislature would reduce the conflicts between crop farmers and herdsmen and help check the influx of alien herdsmen into the country whose activities are causing destruction to farms, rural livelihood and food security... Briefing journalist in Tamale on the outcome of their research findings on the cattle ranching law in Ghana, President of the Organisation, Adam Nashiru, said the lack of a specific law, both at the national and district levels to regulate the activities of herdsmen has been the cause of cattle rustling, poisoning of grazing field with weedicides and infiltration of alien herdsmen into Ghana
GIDA Advocates Protection of Irrigation Lands from Encroachment
The Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA), has urged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to protect the nation's irrigation lands from encroachers to promote poverty alleviation and food security. Dr. Ben Vas Nyamadi, GIDA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), said government's policy of ensuring regular supply of fresh vegetables to cities like Accra and Tema led to the creation of irrigation schemes at Dawhenya, Ashaiman and Weija, but over the years individuals and estate developers had encroached on the lands. He said the savannah belt of the country, covering Upper East, Upper West, Northern, Greater Accra, Volta and the upper part of the Brong Ahafo Regions has single rainy season, with a prolong dry season, hence, the need to promote irrigation farming in such areas to provide jobs for the youth.
Food Security/Crisis
Institutions to Launch Online Food Security Information
Two institutions are teaming up to improve global information and awareness on hunger and food-related issues. The Thompson Reuters Foundation, the corporate charity of the world’s biggest news and information providers, is teaming up with Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to launch the initiative aimed to improve global information and awareness on hunger and food-related issues. A statement by Beatriz Beeckmans of the FAO Media Relations in Rome and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Monday said the online food security information service would cover food production, food security, food waste, agriculture, land use and malnutrition.
Reports/Article
Factors Affecting Farmers Willingness to Pay for Improved Irrigation Service: A Case Study of Bontanga Irrigation Scheme in Northern Ghana
H ZAKARIA - 2014
The aim of this paper is to examine factors affecting farmers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for improved irrigation services at the Bontanga Irrigation Scheme. There are 13 communities in the scheme’s catchment area of which Six (6) communities were randomly selected and 113 farmers interviewed with a semi structure questionnaires. Contingent Valuation Technique was adopted to estimate farmers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for improved irrigation services. The mean WTP for improved irrigation per ha per season was GHS 22.92 ($10.51), far below the GHS 50.00 ($22.94) proposed by management. The study found age and maintenance culture of irrigation facilities to be significant in influencing farmers’ willingness to pay at 10% significant level. Also on-scheme income as ratio of household income and off-scheme income were significant in influencing farmers’ willingness to pay at both 5% and 10% level of significance. The study recommends that any proposed increase in Irrigation Service Charges (ISCs) should be….
An Assessment of the Socio-Economic Factors Influencing Fertilizer Use among Sugarcane Farmers in Mumias
CA Anangwe - 2014
In this paper, the researcher investigated the socio economic factors affecting the likelihood of households to use fertilizer in sugarcane production in Mumias. In Kenya sugarcane production supports the livelihoods of approximately 6 million people. The objectives of the study were; to describe the fertilizer use patterns in Mumias and to assess the socio economic factors affecting fertilizer use. Sugarcane production in out growers contracted farms has been declining in the past few years from 137 tons of cane per ha (TCH) in 1973 to 58 TCH in 2010. This is due to inadequate fertilizer use as the main reason. It is in view of this problem that the objectives of the study were formulated to determine the factors affecting fertilizer use in sugarcane farming in Mumias…
An Analysis of Adoption of Quality Protein Maize (Qpm) As A Source of Protein For Resource-Poor Farmers: A Case Study In Makueni District
BK Kamolo - 2014
Malnutrition has been prevalent in many parts of the world. Its multiple causes have made it difficult to eradicate and therefore it has been a major concern to many nations. Several measures have been taken to curb it including medical, nutritional and lifestyle interventions. One of ways that is widely been advocated is the use of the Quality Protein Maize, an improved maize cultivar. Quality protein maize (QPM) is a variety of maize whose protein content has been increased. It has 90% of the nutritive value of milk, a standard reference protein as compared with 40% for conventional maize and can stem or reverse protein malnutrition. Consumption of this new variety leads to growth among malnourished young children. Research has shown that babies and adults consuming QPM are healthier and they are at lower risk for malnutrition disorders such as marasmus and kwashiorkor.
Impacts of Climate Variability on Food Security in Northern Ghana
RA Kasei, B Ampadu, S Yalevu - Journal of Earth Sciences and Geotechnical …, 2014
The problem of climate variability and its impact on food security in terms of agricultural productivity continues to attract scientific research in many parts of the tropics. Temporal variability of rainfall is associated with the yields of rainfed crops. In the North of Ghana perennial food shortage has been of major concern. The paper present an overview level analysis of the major climate variability factors in two districts (Bawku and Yendi) and to identify areas and periods with high levels of climate variability that have the potential to limit or adversely affect crop or livestock production. Analyses with regards to some aspects of rainfall management of the two districts were carried out using INSTAT. Participatory Rapid Rural Appraisal surveys were conducted on some selected communities of the two Districts for information on farming systems, vulnerability to climate variability and their coping strategies. Climate variability factors that have the potential for climatic stress on food security and the lack of environmental consciousness resulting in poor land and water management were contributed to seasonal food deficits in both areas.
An Analysis of Technical Efficiency of Mangrove Rice Production in the Guinean Coastal Area
BS Balde, H Kobayashi, M Nohmi, A Ishida, M Esham… - Journal of Agricultural …, 2014
In Guinea, the national rice consumption exceeds rice production, leading to concerns about food security. Thus, recent governmental measures have been directed towards promoting rice production, particularly in the coastal areas, the only zone where the mangrove rice production is practiced. Rice is the most important food crop and its production is the most organized food production system in the country. Therefore, it’s of interest to examine the efficiency of mangrove rice production, in this study an attempt is made to determine the technical efficiency of mangrove rice production by using the stochastic frontier model. The study used primary data collected through a field survey. The analysis revealed that farm area and depreciation cost of farm tools contribute to significantly enhance the mangrove rice productivity. The inefficiency model revealed that age of household head, household size, farming experience, off-farm income and remittance significantly influenced the technical efficiency.