Below are some current developments on Agriculture in Africa:
Agricultural Issues
Breeders Bill will Protect Local Plant Breeders - Scientist
Dr. Stephen Amoah, a Research Scientist of the Crop Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has described the Plant Breeders Bill currently before Cabinet as a positive development. He said the Bill will help address the interests of plant breeders as well as promote agricultural productivity. Debunking the allegations from certain quarters that the Breeders Bill, when passed, would give the giant seed companies’ monopoly over seeds and denying farmers of affordable seeds, Dr. Amoah explained that the Bill would provide the legal framework for breeders’ investment and efforts to be recognized and necessary royalties paid to breeders. “The Bill when passed into law will provide an incentive to stimulate new breeding initiatives that will focus on national development, provide a ….
Embrace GMOs for Food Security
Dr. Mrs. Marian Quain, a Senior Research Scientist has called on Ghanaians to embrace the use of biotechnology in agricultural production to ensure increased crop yields. Dr. Quain, who is also the head of Biotechnology Research Programme at the Crops Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-CRI) argued that there is the need for the country to adopt improved means of food production to meet the rising food needs of the populace because of Climate Change and increased pressure on the available arable land due to increasing population. She made the suggestion during a presentation at a three-day day workshop for Northern Sector journalists at Fumesua, near Kumasi. Dr. Quain warned that: “With Climate Change, if we go on with agriculture as we always do, we will go begging for food in the….
Who is Telling Us the Truth About GMO?
A major bill that will soon take centre stage on the floor of Parliament is the Plant Breeders’ Bill (PBB). It is currently at the consideration stage. The Bill, which was laid before the House earlier this year, was referred to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Agriculture to take a second look, following massive demonstrations and protests against it in various parts of the country. The Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Doe Adjaho, charged the committee to take into consideration suggestions, complaints and protests by sections of the public…. Citing Clause 23 of the Plant Breeders’ Bill, the Food Sovereignty Ghana said the Bill sought to pre-emptively knock out of order any attempt by the government to control “the production, certification and marketing of material of a variety or the importation or exportation of the material.”
Africa Government Urged to Pay Attention to Research
Dr. Joseph Fening, Director of the Soil Research Institute, has urged African leaders to empower researchers and research institutions to undertake research that informs policies on sustainable, efficient and equitable management of natural resources. This, he said, will enable the researchers to provide accurate data about a particular society for a proper solution, saying: “Africa has vast natural resources which if utilized well could help alleviate poverty and increase job-creation to meet the Millennium Development Goals. “Such approaches will go a long way in ensuring and assuring the country’s resilience to both expected and unexpected climate change shocks,” he stressed.
Cashew Project to Revive Legon Botanical Gardens
A cashew plantation has been initiated by the African Cashew initiative (ACI) to revive the University of Ghana Botanical Gardens at Legon. The project, which is a collaboration among the ACi, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG), form part of efforts to increase cashew yields in Ghana. The initiative is also intended to increase cashew yield to more than one tonne per hectare compared to the current 300-400 kilogrammes per hectare. Mr. Abu Dadzie, a Research Scientist at the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, said cashew farming had the potential to enhance the socio-economic growth of the country through employment creation and export to generate foreign exchange.
Agric Ministry Bans Vegetable Exportation to EU Market
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has placed an embargo on the exportation of vegetable products from Ghana to the European market. The ban, which spans for the next three months, is to ensure that vegetables from the country are devoid of harmful organisms in order to meet the EU market standards. Deputy Minister of Crop Services at the Ministry, Dr. Ahmed Yakubu Alhassan said the vegetable exporters have been made aware of the decision and expected compliance.
Cassava Prices Drop in Akuapem North Due to Glut
A cassava glut has caused the prices of the commodity to collapse in the Akuapem North Municipality. An acre of cassava that used to sell at between Gh¢1,500.00 and Gh¢2,000.00 at the farm gate, now sells at between Gh¢450.00 and Gh¢900.00. The glut has also affected the price of cassava dough, which is the major product of the rural industry in the area and employs majority of the women in the farming areas of the Akuapem North Municipality. At the time of going to press, a maxi-bag of cassava dough, which used to cost between Gh¢100.00 and Gh¢80.00, now cost between Gh¢50.00 and Gh¢40.00. The women in the cassava dough business also complained that, because of the glut, some of the market women who come to buy from them often insist that more of the cassava dough is added to the already packed dough before they buy.
Journalists Must Effectively Report on Science Issues – Director
Professor Walter Alhassan, Former Director General of the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has appealed to the public to disabuse their minds of the notion that Genetically Modified Organic (GMO) foods have health implications. He said most developed countries had, over 10 years, used GMO foods without any risk or problems. Professor Alhassan made the appeal when he spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at the end of a three-day training workshop organized for 26 Journalists in the northern sector in Kumasi. It was organized by the Programme for Bio-Safety Systems in conjunction with the International Service for the Acquisition of Agro-Biotech Application Afri-Centre, and the African Bio-Safety Network Expertise.
Launch of Ghana’s Climate Change Policy, What Next?
Abu Seidu, 57, a leader of a farmer group in the Saboba District of the Northern Region expressed worry about the continuous low rains recorded in this year’s major farming season. His fear is that he might not be able to get a good harvest because his five-acre rice farm is not maturing as expected. “I have applied fertilizer but the rain is not coming. It just drizzled yesterday and stopped. If we have a dam around it would have been very beneficial”, he said. Abu is not the only farmer in the Northern Region to complain about the dwindling rainfall pattern but other farmers in an interview with the Ghana News Agency complained bitterly about the turnout of events and want authorities to act especially in that part of the country where over 80 percent of the people are small0- scale farmers.
Turkish Vow To Grow Organic Vegetable In Ghana
A Turkish farmer in Weija Irrigation project in Ghana have vow to grow organic fruits and vegetable because of the health and environmental benefits for a healthier lifestyle. “Organic plantation and processors certainly enable the provision of healthy foods and a sustainable environment with increasing awareness of the benefits of eating organic foods and nutrition”. Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Weekly Observer Newspaper, at the project site in Tuba, Mr. Paa-Grant Arthur, Project Extension Officer of the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority, hinted that the Turkish Government shows key interest in the project at a time when H.E. John Mahama paid visit to Turkey to enable Ghana’s opportunities for trade and investment in organic products in both countries. He said “it is a fact that organic products are …
EDAIF approves Ghȼ57.1 million to 28 Small-holder Cooperatives, Companies and Institutions
The Board of the Export Trade, Agricultural and Industrial Development Fund, (EDAIF) in June and July this year, approved Ghȼ57.1 million in grants and credit in favor of twenty-eight beneficiaries. The beneficiaries of the above facility comprise of fifteen (15) small-holder cooperatives and associations, eight (8) companies and five (5) public institutions. A grant facility of Ghȼ48.5 million was approved in support of government’s initiatives and interventions in different sectors of the economy. Major among these was an approval of GHC21.7 million towards expanding local rice production. A release singed by Chief Executive Officer of the Fund, Dr. Barfour Osei indicated that “a huge step was taken towards large scale shea butter cultivation in Northern Ghana with an approval of Ghȼ3.43 million”.
Local Rice in Short Supply as Ban on Imported Rice Yields Benefits
According to agribusiness company, Finatrade, government's crackdown on the importation of rice has contributed in surging demand for local rice as it outstrips supply. Mr John Awuni, Corporate Affairs Director of Finatrade, distributors of a brand of locally produced rice ‘Pride Rice,’ said even though supply levels have not been reduced, demand seems to outstrip supply. He wants the Ministry of Trade to sustain the crackdown on the numerous unfair trade practices, including evasion of import duties and other taxes, under invoicing, infringement of trademarks, and smuggling. Owing to the free fall of the cedi, coupled with a ban on inland importation of rice, traders are said to be reporting a boost in the patronage of locally produced rice.
Mahama cuts sod to restore Komenda Sugar Factory
President John Mahama will cut the sod for the renovation of the Komenda Sugar Factory in the Central Region on Tuesday, August 19, 2014. Poor management coupled with the lack of requisite policies to keep it operational, led to the collapse of the factory. After decades of failed promises to bring it back to life, the government secured a $35 million loan facility from India to revamp the collapsed factory. Communications Minister, Dr. Edward Omane-Boamah said on Joy FM's Super Morning Show Friday, that the government was determined “to revamp that national asset so that we will be able to produce sugar in this country for consumption and also for other industrial use.”
Farmers, Authorities Discuss Ways to Improve Food Production
Representatives of smallholder farmers’ groups have met with officials from the regional and district departments of agriculture in the Northern Region to discuss ways to enhance the capacity of peasant farmers to improve food production. Key issues discussed included fertilizer arriving when the farming season was over, high cost of agricultural inputs with little or no subsidies in some cases, unavailable tractor services, and the weaknesses in the regime of seed distribution. The farmers’ groups, which comprise the aged, women and the disabled, were drawn from hard-to-reach communities including Bamvim and Datoyili in Tamale Rural, Songnayili in the Sagnarigu District, and Langbinsi and Gambaga in the East Mamprusi District.
Lumber Firms to Import Logs for Local Market
Domestic lumber firms and traders in Ghana will soon import logs from other countries to shore up the demand for wood products on the local market, the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Ms Barbara S. Asamoah, has said. She said the move would enable the wood companies to bring in raw lumber that would be processed as raw materials to revamp the one-time vibrant industry. “Currently, my ministry is discussing the possibilities of obtaining some tax waivers to enable the members of the Domestic Lumber Traders Association (DLTA) to bring down their first consignment of lumber imports from Guyana,” she said. Ms. Asamoah said the rapid depletion of the country’s forest covers, once endowed with abundant big trees was causing many of the wood processing firms to fold up.
Reports/Articles
Mass Media and Agricultural Development in Nigeria: An Examination of Agricultural Campaign on Community –Based Radio Stations In Bauchi State
AB GARBA - Proceedings of the Multi-disciplinary Academic …, 2014
The belief that farmers can use improved information to advance their productivity and profitability is widely held. Since agricultural campaign conveys information capable of facilitating access to, and transfer of agricultural innovation, to rural farmers, an appropriate channel is therefore needed to undertake such task. Radio in particular has the capacity of reaching large number of geographically dispersed, remote and often not highly literate people, and can thus be used to mobilize farmers to adopt improved farming techniques. Community-based radio stations were established in different localities across Bauchi state and they are well engaged in transmitting Agricultural programs like ‘A koma gona’ and ‘Noma tushen arziki’, using the local languages of the host communities….
The Establishment of Vegetable and Fruit Markets and Nurseries: A Case Study in the Greater Sekhukhune District, Limpopo Province, South Africa
P Maponya, D Modise, E Van Den Heever, S Mahlangu… - Journal of Agricultural …, 2014
This paper highlighted the importance of the establishment of vegetable markets, fruit markets and nurseries in the Greater Sekhukhune district, Limpopo Province, South Africa. This entailed taking a representative sample consisting of 69 agricultural projects, with 1096 beneficiaries participating in this research. The following 5 local municipalities were visited: Ephraim Mogale, Greater Tubatse, Elias Motsoaledi, Fetakgomo and Makhuduthamaga. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used in the form of a detailed questionnaire written in English, a focus group discussion, a stakeholder’s discussion, and field observations as part of the data collection. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the 69 projects, in order to cover uniformity and homogenous characteristics such as infrastructure requirements, skills availability, production…..