Below are some current developments on Agriculture in Africa:
Agricultural Issues
Ghanaian Vegetables Meet International Standards
Vegetable farmers in Ghana producing for export and export companies are increasingly complying with quality and safety standards in line with international market requirements, a study by GhanaVeg has confirmed. The study dubbed: “GhanaVeg Vegetable Business Opportunities in Ghana: 2014”, says this could be used as a good example for the domestic market. GhanaVeg is an initiative of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in line with efforts towards prioritizing commercial agriculture. The study report was recently presented to the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Fiifi Kwetey, in Accra, by the Netherlands Ambassador to Ghana, Hans Docter. The GhanaVeg report recommends that farmers would have to deal with pesticides in a more responsible manner, making use of the Integrated Pest Management and Good Agriculture Practices (GAP).
Farmers Accuse COCOBOD Officials of Corruption
Cocoa farmers in the Wassa Amenfi West District of the Western Region are accusing some officers of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) of massive corruption in the distribution of fertilizer to farmers. They are alleging that some COCOBOD officials charged each farmer GHC 100 as a prerequisite to getting fertilizer. Some of the farmers who spoke to Citi News claimed they were made to pay the amount but they are yet to be supplied with the fertilizer. “They took GHC 100 each from us with the explanation that the COCOBOD authorities will come and supply us with the fertilizers,” an angry farmer told Citi News. She continued saying, “since we paid the money, we have not heard anything from them up till now and so we are very upset.”
Growing More Than Fruit: Turning Ghana's Farms into Healthy Businesses
Harvesting papayas is Lemeul Mantey's livelihood. He's determined to get the best out of his trees, which grow in the farming community of Nsawam, west of the Ghanaian capital of Accra. To get the juiciest fruit, careful planning and preparation is vital. "If you want to kill the weeds, you put on your knapsack sprayer, put in water and chemicals, take your protective clothes and then spray," Mantey explains. "You kill all the weeds, that's the practice." Ghana may not produce as many papayas (also known as pawpaw) as Nigeria, but the country was formerly a big exporter of the brightly colored commodity. These days, it is pineapple which is key for Ghanaian growers, who exported close to 46,000 tonnes in 2011. "Agribusiness for me denotes the collective business activities that are performed from farm to the dining table," explains Malindube Kombase, regional director of Mobile Business Clinic. "These involve ….
An Urban Wastewater Solution: African Vetiver Grass
The world is witnessing a water quality crisis, mainly brought about by rapid population growth, industrialization, food production practices and poor water use strategies. As population increases, so does wastewater output. In developing countries, about 90 percent of all wastewater is discharged untreated directly into rivers, lakes and oceans. The impact of wastewater on the environment and human health is not only striking but frightening. A report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN-HABITAT in partnership with members of UN Water indicates that two million tons of sewage, industrial and agricultural waste are discharged into the world’s waterways and at least 1.8 million children under five-years-old die as a result every year. That is, one child lost every 20 seconds due to water related diseases….
Here are Major Environmental Stories from January to December 2014
Accra, Jan. 1 - Food Sovereignty Ghana (FSG), a group opposed to Genetically Modified Food, says Ghana is in serious danger from the Plant Breeders Bill, currently before Parliament. Accra, Jan. 14, - Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has called for a global effort to tackle the menace of climate change which is impacting negatively on human endeavors, irrespective of geographical location, stage of development, race, gender or religion. Abu Dhabi, (UAE), Jan 20, - President John Dramani Mahama on Monday morning joined other world leaders to participate in the Abu Dhabi sustainability week in a renewable energy conference. Langa (N/R), Jan. 21, - Some small holder farmers in five communities in the Savelugu Nanton Municipality have adapted to climate change effects such as low rains, often resulted in low crop yields.
Reports/Articles
Biotechnological Approaches to Improve Nutritional Quality and Shelf Life of Fruits and Vegetables
EE Abano, JN Buah - International Journal of Engineering and Technology, 2014
The objective of this review was to provide comprehensive overview of the application of biotechnological approaches to improve the nutritional quality and shelf life of fruits and vegetables. In doing so, the following issues were critically assessed: the origin and definitions of plant biotechnology; successful application of biotechnology in fruit and vegetables production; the dynamics of ripening and perishability in fruits and vegetables; the understanding of the fundamental processes that influence fruit set, maturation, and ripening; the effect of the biotechnological application on the nutritional quality and shelf life of fruit and vegetables; the challenges associated with the commercialization of biotech fruits and vegetables; the need for biotechnology in the production of fruits and vegetables in the 21st century, and the new paradigm shift necessary to improve nutrient…
Climate Change and Business Education in Ghana: A Study of the University of Ghana Business School
AA Baku, A Ahenkan, SY Agyei-Boachie, CO Gyamfi - 2nd UGBS Conference on …, 2014
In recent times it is no longer a secret or contested fact that the effects of climate change have the potential to impact negatively on ecosystems, water resources, human health, agriculture, infrastructure, energy production and, sustainable business. In a similar vein it is increasingly becoming a widespread acceptable fact that the integration of climate change in business education has a significant potential to facilitate sustainable business activities by educating future business leaders on the strategies to adopt in order to effectively and efficiently mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change. Generally the aim of this study is to promote the integration of climate change in business education in Ghana. The study sought to achieve this aim by first determining whether University of Ghana Business School undergraduate students have a fair knowledge of climate change issues, secondly whether climate…
Association of Indigenous Knowledge with Nutrition, Health Claims and Consumption of Traditional African Leafy Vegetables: A Comparative Study of Agricultural and Pastoral Communities of Narok South District
PK Langat - 2014
Several studies have shown that increased awareness of health protecting properties of no nutrient bioactive compounds in fruits and vegetables has directed immense attention to vegetables as vital dietary components. African leafy vegetables are among the plant products that can have immense benefits of these non-nutrient bio-active compounds to alleviate micronutrient related deficiencies. The diversity and status of consumption of these African leafy vegetables usually depend on the indigenous knowledge of the local communities that is passed down through generations and varies from place to place, between communities, and between individuals. For the pastoralists, knowledge on African leafy vegetables is often lacking because they do not form items of diet.
Access to Weather Forecasting and Early Warning Information by Communal Farmers in Seke and Murewa Districts, Zimbabwe
S Mudombi, G Nhamo - J Hum Ecol, 2014
In the context of current climate variability and the projected climate change there is need to strengthen the resilience of communities particularly those whose livelihoods are highly sensitive to change. Climate change is likely to result in increased frequency and intensity of weather and climate extremes. The first objective of the present research was to analyze how communal farmers in Seke and Murewa districts of Zimbabwe accessed weather forecasting and early warning information. The second objective was to assess how access to such information influenced their farming decisions. The data was collected in 2011, using a general survey of 300 communal farmers and interviewing key informants. The findings show that the two districts are and will be more vulnerable to dry spells, droughts and to some extent, violent storms. There was a general lack of access to timely, reliable rainfall forecasts and early…
Agriculture Innovation System Approach for Sustainable Agriculture Development: A Review
R Sharma, RPS Khar, AK Ishar - 2014
With the change in context of agricultural development, the innovation approaches has also changed. Different approaches namely National Agricultural Research System (NARS), Agriculture Knowledge and Information System (AKIS), farmer first and last, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and Public Private Partnerships (PPP) are/have come up to mitigate rapid changes over the years. The present agricultural research efforts are failing to bring about the social and economic transformations due to one or the other reasons. To cope, compete and survive in emerging challenges, it becomes necessary to develop new approaches. In this context, the concept of Agriculture Innovation System (AIS) approach offers a new framework for analyzing the role of science and technology and their interaction with other actors to generate goods and services. It recognizes the importance of certain types of relationships and linkages for information flow in ever-changing biophysical and social environments. There are some success stories of Agricultural Innovation System in the developing and the developed countries namely shrimp farming and small scale food…
Crop Farmer Indigenous Knowledge of Soil and Water Conservation Practices under Climate Change In Sudan Savanah Zone of Borno State, Nigeria
AA Ibrahim, SB Mustapha - ATBU Journal of Science, Technology and Education, 2014
The study examined crop farmer indigenous soil and water conservation practices under climate change in Sudan Savannah zone of Borno State, Nigeria. Structured interview schedules were administered to 128 respondents selected through random sampling technique. Data were analysed using descriptive (frequencies, percentages, mean scores and standard deviation) and inferential (logit regression analysis) statistics. The study revealed that majority of the farmers (57.8%) was male and economically active, had attained one form of formal education or other with reasonable years of crop farming experience. The soil and water conservation practices of the farmers had influence due to climate change were zero tillage and dry planting. The socio – economic factors which significantly affected the indigenous soil and water conservation measures under climate change were age and farming experience.
Is the World Prepared for Epidemics Like Ebola?
S Jamal - 2014
Recent outbreak of Ebola has not only killed thousands of people but has utterly affected the way people live while damaging healthcare systems and demolishing the economies of the West African countries. While Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia struggle to fight with Ebola, many countries have closed their borders, imposed travel bans and enforced necessary quarantines for health workers returning from Africa, to contain and stop the virus from spreading to other regions. As the world slowly wakes up to the catastrophic situation havocked by Ebola virus, thousands of people are getting infected each day, posing a threat to the whole world. Discrete actions and policies of the world leaders such as travel bans reveals there is more focus on keeping themselves safe rather than eliminating the disease itself. The report studies how the virus outbreak in any region is an equal threat to the whole world….