Below are some current developments on agriculture in Africa:
Agricultural Issues
Universities Discuss Importance of Soil Fertility Management
A three-day roundtable discussion to create awareness of the importance of the Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) project has ended in Accra. It was organized by the University of Alicante in Spain, in collaboration with five West African universities — the University of Ghana, the University of The Gambia, the Federal University of Technology, Nigeria, the University of Dschang in Cameroun and the Njala University in Sierra Leone. The coordinator for the discussion, Ms. Ester Boldrini, explained that the ISFM system was a set of agricultural practices adapted to local conditions to maximize the efficiency of nutrient and water use to improve productivity. According to her, capacity building in the partner universities was very important and expressed the hope that the outcome of the discussion would impact positively on students from the various universities.
Why the Government should Support Cashew Processing
The government has repeatedly expressed its willingness and commitment to foster extended processing and value addition in the cashew value chain. Detailed below are a number of programmes and regulations through which this could be achieved. The business environment for producing, processing and trading in raw cashew nuts (RCN) is still marked by the general constraints that businesses face in Ghana including electricity and water shortages, availability and access to finance, among others. These factors seem to weigh particularly heavily on the processing segment of the value chain. These challenges, notwithstanding, cashew processing still remains a profitable venture if adequately supported.
Ban on Inland Rice Imports not Effective
The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has alleged massive importation of rice through the inland borders of the country in spite of the government ban on the practice. According to them, the alarming phenomenon was defeating the purpose for which the ban was imposed which included reduction in the importation of foreign rice in order to increase the production and consumption of local rice. It was also expected to get accurate statistics of the cereal imported into the country, while ensuring that the right taxes were slapped on it to make the price competitive on the local market. Speaking in separate interviews on the impact on the directive on the importation of rice through the inland borders on the local rice production and consumption, the Programme Co-ordinator of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), Ms Victoria Adongo and Mr Kweku Amoak, a rice farmer, told the GRAPHIC BUSINESS in Accra they claimed that “The ban on rice import has only remained on paper since it was announced years ago”.
West Africa Fertilizer Programme to Promote Mobile Soil Test Kits
The USAID West Africa Fertilizer Programme is to provide training on the use of mobile soil test kits as part of efforts to promote agricultural enhancing technologies to boost productivity and ensure better returns on farmer investments. The two-day regional workshop on the theme: “Promoting Mobile Soil Test Kits for Rapid Decision-Making” would be attended by farmer-based organizations, soil fertility management specialists, extension agents, potential investors, input dealers and fertilizer stakeholders from seven West African countries including Ghana, Togo, Benin, Mali, Senegal and Nigeria. The workshop is being hosted by United States Agency for International Development West Africa Fertilizer Program (USAID WAFP), in collaboration with the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the Africa Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnerships (AFAP), Envaserv Research Consult (ERC) and Columbia University. An official statement issued to the Ghana News Agency said the workshop is intended to raise awareness and promote the use of mobile soil test kits in assessing and improving soil fertility and productivity in West Africa.
Climate Change Centre Inaugurated in Ghana
The West African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) has been inaugurated in Accra to provide evidence base information to support sustainable adaptation and mitigation of climate change effect in West Africa. WASCAL is also to help the region to build resilience to climate change through the provision of the necessary scientific evidence and policy briefs on sustainable management of the environment. The Centre, located at the premises of the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Accra, was inaugurated by Mr. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Minister of State at the Presidency, on behalf of Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur on Friday. WASCAL was established in 2012 by 10 West African countries namely, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Togo, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Niger, the Gambia, Senegal and Benin while the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany funded the infrastructure, to assist in the scientific study and research into climate change issues.
FAO and IFAD Renew to Work Together
Government has made a multi-purpose office complex in Accra available to two United Nations Agencies -- the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) -- to facilitate their operations and accommodate staff in the country. This gesture from the government of Ghana recognizes the critical role that the two Rome-based agencies play in the country’s development agenda. Over the past years, FAO and IFAD have worked closely with government and the people of Ghana to improve the nation’s social and economic well-being. Mr. Fifi Kwetey, Minister for Food and Agriculture, said FAO's presence in Ghana has brought enormous benefit to the country and that Ghana is looking forward to increased collaboration to improve on various agricultural interventions. The Agriculture Minister also noted that government will be pleased to seeing Ghana becoming a hub for IFAD in Africa. He further called for stronger collaboration between the UN agencies to develop agriculture, which is the bedrock of the Ghanaian economy and provides job opportunities for the majority of people.
FAO/IOE to Get Rid of Sheep and Goat Plague by 2030
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE) Media Advisory is to launch a global PPR control and eradication campaign to get rid of sheep and goat plague, known in French as “peste des petits ruminants” (PPR) by 2030. A statement issued by the FAO and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday said the conference will take place in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire from March 31 to April 2. Goats and sheep plague in many countries are increasingly threatened by PPR, the statement added. It said representatives from around 70 countries will be in attendance, and will include Ministers of States, OIE National Delegates; Dr José Graziano da Silva, the Director-General of the FAO, Dr Bernard Vallat, Director-General of OIE, donor agencies, the scientific community, the private sector and civil societies.
Poultry Farmers to Benefit from Modern Facility
Poultry farmers in Brong Ahafo and the three Northern regions would soon be hooked to the Ghana National Broiler Revitalization Project (GHABROP) to increase locally produced poultry products. To that effect, the Omanhene of the Dua Nkwanta traditional area, Nana Boakye Tromo III, had given more than 100 acres of land to a Ghanaian investor to situate an ultra-modern processing plant to serve players in Brong Ahafo and the three regions of the North. Dr Hannah Louisa Bissiw, the Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, in charge of Livestock, announced this on Wednesday at the launch of Ghana National Association of Poultry Farmers (GNAPF) Advocacy to Document Policy in Accra. The GNAPF had support from the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) to embark on advocacy on National Broiler revitalization project for Import Substitution. The advocacy programme would include training and capacity building for members on the document policies to boost the industry and membership drive.
Farmers in Ghana Lack Access to Storage Facilities
A survey conducted by the Ghana Trade and Livelihood Coalition (GTLC), a non-governmental organization with focus on agriculture has revealed that 82.9 per cent of rice and tomato farmers in the country did not have access to storage facilities. The study mentioned the farmers in communities that lack storage facilities as Ohiamadwen 95.0 per cent, Nyanga 92.2per cent, Nakori 94.9per cent, Derma 98.3 per cent, Bugubelle 98.2per cent, Akomadan 100per cent and Afife 95.0 per cent. The data was collected in 10 small-scale commercial rice and tomato production areas in nine regions; seven centres gathered information on rice and four on tomatoes, while one centre generated data on both crops. Sixty farmers were interviewed at each centre and a total of 660 farmers were involved. This was contained in agro-policy performance barometer report released by the GTLC and shared with some farmers, agriculture extension officers and non-governmental organizations in Takoradi in the Western Region.
Indian Government Investment in Komenda Sugar Factory "Risky" – CPP
The joint venture partnership between the Government of Ghana and the Government of India towards reviving the Komenda Sugar factory is a highly risky one, which could be counterproductive, the Convention People’s Party’s Political Affairs Director Ekow Duncan has said. “The Komenda that you have put in place is the same structure as Aveyime Rice: Indian Exim loan, Indian Management; you run a very serious risk by having such an investment. “You know what the Indians can possibly do?...They will at one stage spend the money, abandon the project and go away and the liability will be [for the] Ghana Government,” Mr. Duncan told Morning Starr’s Kafui Dey on Starr 103.5FM Friday. The Indian Government is bearing $35 million dollars of the $36.5 million joint venture project meant to revive the defunct factory. Ghanaian Think-tank, IMANI, in August last year said the government of Ghana needed a minimum of $90 million dollars to revive the factory.
Reports/Articles
Does Cocoa-Fruit Intercropping Impact Infestation by the Cocoa Mirid Bug SAHLBERGELLA SINGULARIS (HEMIPTERA: MIRIDAE)?
R Babin, B François - 2015
Worldwide, crop monocultures have proven to be particularly susceptible to pests and diseases. In Africa, unshaded “pure” cocoa plantations are often highly damaged by mirids and consequently require intensive phytosanitary protection. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of an alternative agronomic practice, a cocoa-fruit intercropping system, on infestation by Sahlbergella singularis, the main pest of cocoa in Cameroon. We focused our study on the potential effect of fruit trees as physical barriers, limiting mirid infestation during the first years of plantation, when fruit trees are not yet developed enough to provide cocoa with shade. Over two consecutive years, we assessed mired infestations in seven four-year-old plantations located in the Centre region of Cameroon. Plantations were about one-third ha and included lines with fruit trees (avocado, safou and citrus) replacing cocoa on a regular basis. Mirid infestation was assessed at the population peak through observation of individuals or recent damage on cocoa pods and shoots. Spatial pattern analysis was done with presence-absence data through join count analysis and permutation tests. Our results showed that 1) mirids were strongly aggregated at small distance and 2) the cocoa-fruit intercropping system presented here did not impact mirid distribution on cocoa.
Optimization of Dugout Fisheries for Climate Change Adaptation in Northern Region, Ghana
E Agbeko, K Kwarfo-Apegyah, DN Akongyuure
The fisheries sector is one of the climate sensitive areas that could be impacted by climate change. Increases in temperature, floods or drought will alter water level/availability for growth and survival of most fishes in dugouts. Adaptation strategies are needed to respond or cope with actual and projected dwindling of inland fish stock. Northern Ghana abounds with numerous dugouts and reservoirs which could be harnessed for higher fish production in view of climate change. A Tilapia is proliferous fish that can tolerate harsh climatic conditions including fluctuating water levels and high temperature. This paper assesses Tilapia; Oreochromis niloticus for fish stock enhancement in water stress dugouts. Effects on fish stocks was determined through fish catch assessment and water quality monitoring. Total fish catch was sorted into species, enumerated and weighed. Results showed that the survival rate of the Tilapia (O. niloticus) stocked under extensive culture system was 99.6% excluding predation. This study indicates that O. niloticus was ideal for fish stock enhancement and could be adopted to increase fish yield, improve adaptation to climate change and increase economic returns from dugout fisheries. The study also revealed that water quality of dugouts improved due to good fishery management intervention.
Helping Small Family Farmers to Move Up or Move Out
S Fan, J Brzeska, T Olofinbiyi
How can family farmers best contribute to their country’s agriculture needs as well as broader development goals? First, we should determine which farmers can be profitable and assist them in doing so. Second, for those who aren’t profitable, we need to help them shift to other economic pursuits… To sustain the momentum built during the year, a number of forward-looking events were held. The Global Dialogue on Family Farming, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on October 27–28, brought together diverse stakeholders to take stock of achievements during this International Year of Family Farming and set the tone for concrete actions beyond 2014. The Family Farming Knowledge Platform, to be launched in early 2015 and hosted by FAO, was presented at the Global Dialogue as a tool for sharing knowledge and data on family farming. This platform will be vital for policy dialogue and policymaking….
Is Reliable Water Access the Solution to Undernutrition? A Review of the Potential of Irrigation to Solve Nutrition and Gender Gaps in Africa South of the Sahara
L Domènech - 2015
Interventions aimed at increasing water availability for livelihood and domestic activities have great potential to improve various determinants of undernutrition, such as the quantity and diversity of foods consumed within the household, income generation, and women’s empowerment. However, current evidence on the topic is diluted across many different publications. This paper aims to connect the dots and review the literature available on the linkages between irrigation and food security, improved nutrition, and health. We conclude that the evidence remains insufficient to draw broad conclusions due to the low number of rigorous studies that can be used to assess the linkages. Based on the limited evidence, six factors that should be taken into account in irrigation development to address nutrition and gender gaps with a focus on Africa south of the Sahara are identified: (1) food security and nutrition gains should be stated goals of irrigation programs; (2) training programs and awareness campaigns should accompany irrigation interventions to promote nutrient-dense food production and consumption as well as…
Policy Interventions in Watershed Management: The case of the Inchaban Watershed, Ghana
OD Mireku, AK Mensah - International Journal of Water Resources and …, 2015
Before the twentieth century, watershed management in most Ghanaian communities relied solely on religious-based restrictions such as the use of taboos and sacred groves, to deter people from encroaching on watersheds. However, the advents of Christianity, western education, and urbanization, and the desire to develop the resources of the country have reduced the effectiveness and respect for traditional restrictions for the protection of the environment. Also, customary administration over watersheds has had a lot of challenges in evaluation and assessment of environmental damages, enforcement of laws to bring illegal land users to book, and integrating the rights of land users with policies on regulation and management. In the face of these numerous problems in the reliance on customary laws and practices, several watershed management policies have been consolidated with other key water sector policies such as the Water Use Regulation LI 1962, the Integrated Water Resource Management Policy (IWRMP) of 1996 and the National Water Vision Policy of 1997to streamline the administration over local watersheds.
Adoption of Improved Maize Farming Technologies by Women Farmers in Zambia
C Sebatta, M Wamulume - American Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 2015
The aims of this study were to identify key factors that affect women household heads ‘awareness and knowledge of existing improved farming technologies and to determine the factors that influence women farmers’ adoption of animal draught (ox plough) and agroforestry in Zambia. The study was a survey in which semi structured questionnaires were used to interview women household heads. The focus of this study was mainly on women farmers who are household heads cultivating maize under draught animal (ox) and agroforestry farming practices. The study was conducted in Mkushi and Mazabuka districts in the Central and Southern provinces of Zambia respectively. Data were collected between June 2012 and September 2012. Mkushi and Mazabuka districts were purposively selected because they lie within the “maize belt” of Southern Africa where maize production intensification technologies have been implemented since the 1990’s. The study was conducted at micro level (village level) in the selected agricultural blocks, after which stratification of women farmers was done among adopters and non-adopters. Finally, simple…
Cassava Processors’ Perception and Knowledge Needs for Adoption of Cassava Postharvest Technologies in Ikeduru Local Government Area (L.G.A) Imo State, Nigeria.
EC Anumihe, RA Ihenacho, CO Osuagwu… - Proceedings of The …, 2015
This study analyzed the cassava processors’ perception and knowledge needs for adoption of cassava post-harvest technologies in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State. The purpose of the study was to ascertain how cassava processors in the area perceive the new cassava post-harvest technologies required for its processing, the relationship between the existing and recommended knowledge of cassava processing in the area, ascertain the reasons for adoption of the post-harvest technologies and to examine the constraints to effective adoption of cassava post-harvest technologies. One hundred and eighty respondents used for the study were selected by random sampling. Data were analyzed by mean score analysis, percentage, frequency counts etc. The result of the analysis in table 1 shows that about 3.3% of the respondents were between 30-40years old, about 66.7% were between 41-50years old, about 70% of the respondents were aged 30 and 50years. The processing experience ranged from 1-50years. Also about 26.7% of the respondents in the area had no contact with extension agent, 51.1% received 1-3 contacts in a…
Trade Dimensions of Food Security
A MATTHEWS - 2015
The standard FAO definition of food security implies that people can only be considered as food secure when sufficient food is available, they have access to it and it is well utilized. (i.e. their absorption translates into improved nutritional outcomes). A fourth requirement is stability across those three dimensions over time, which means the ability to manage risks effectively. 1 Most people in developed countries can be considered as food secure, in the sense that these conditions are generally met, although the economic crisis since 2008 has seen a growth in the number of people seeking food assistance, while there are concerns about poor nutrition, as well as fears that shocks such as trade embargoes could threaten the food security of even wealthier citizens. This study focuses on the links between trade and food security in developing countries where hunger and undernourishment are more acute policy concerns. On, balance, trade openness improves each dimension of food security. Trade in food and agricultural products increases the availability of food by enabling products to flow from surplus to deficit areas…
* The GSSP News Digest just summarizes of what is reported in the press. Any errors of fact or omission is not IFPRI’s responsibility.*