Below are some current developments on agriculture in Africa:
Agricultural Issues
MOFA Urges Maize Farmers to Opt for Poultry Manure
Dr John Ayisi Jatango, the Tano North District Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), has advised maize farmers to apply poultry manure to increase production and quality yields. He emphasized that it had been scientifically proven that the use of organic or poultry manure was very economical and a good farm practice for increased crop production than organic fertilizer application. Dr Jatango gave the advice when speaking at a farmer’s field day, organized by the United Nations Agency for International Development (USAID), at Kobedi in the Sunyani West District of the Brong-Ahafo Region. The day formed part of a partnership programme being implemented by the USAID and the Dupont-Pioneer, an international maize dealing company in the country. Aimed at increasing the productivity and profitability of smallholder maize farmers in the country, the four-year project is estimated to cost four million US dollars. Dr Jatango explained that poultry manure, aside its affordability, conserved moisture, increased nutritional value in crops, indicating that because it is slightly acidic it improved soil fertility.
Agric Ministry Confirms Bird Flu Presence in Ghana
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has confirmed that some birds in the Greater Accra Region have been infected by avian influenza, also known as bird flu. This follows test carried out on some poultry products by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Reference Laboratories in Italy, which revealed that the disease had affected four poultry farms in Accra and Tema. Speaking at a press conference Wednesday, in Accra, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, explained that birds in four farms in the Greater Accra Region had been confirmed to be infected with bird flu. Prior to the FAO test, the Accra Veterinary Laboratory and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research tested some samples from farms in Achimota and Tema which proved positive.
10 Farmers under Observation over Bird flu Scare
Ten farmers at Kpone in Tema who had contact with birds infected with the deadly flu are under observation after they were screened by the public health department. Thirty thousand birds were destroyed in two farms at Kpone. Government has asked the public to be on high alert for cases of the disease after the World Organization for Animal Health confirmed the presence of the disease in the country. Last month, the Nogouchi Memorial Institute disclosed samples taken from poultry farms at Achimota and Tema tested positive for the disease. Deputy Minister of Agriculture Dr Hannah Bissiw then asked farmers to activate their bio security on their farms. She cautioned farmers to be proactive when they see changes in their birds.
Encroachment on Farmlands; Threat to Food security
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Bomarts Farms Limited, a food production and export company, Mr. Anthony Botchway, has expressed concern about the indiscriminate encroachment of farmlands by estate developers. The practice, he said, posed a serious threat to food security in the country. “If measures are not put in place, it would affect the agricultural business and the economy at large, “Mr. Botchway indicated. He expressed the concern when the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Franklin Fiifi Kwetey, visited the company’s farm last Monday to acquaint himself with some of the challenges of agro-business in the country. The minister, who was also accompanied by the Head of Agri-business Support Unit, Mr. Nicholas Neequaye, also visited HPW Free and Dry Limited, an export company at Adeiso in the Eastern Region.
Nuts 'Protect against Early Death'
Eating half a handful of nuts every day could substantially lower the risk of early death, a Dutch study suggests. Previous studies had already indicated a link with cardiovascular health, but this is the first to look at specific nuts and diseases. Maastricht University researchers found a 23% lower chance of death during the 10-year study in people eating at least 10g (0.3oz) of nuts or peanuts a day. There was no benefit for peanut butter, which is high in salt and trans fats…More than 120,000 Dutch 55-to-69-year-old men and women provided dietary and lifestyle information in 1986, and then their mortality rate was looked at 10 years later. The premature mortality risk due to cancer, diabetes, respiratory and neurodegenerative diseases was lower among the nut consumers…
ADRA Trains 400 Extension Volunteers
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Ghana has trained 27 new Volunteer Extension Workers (VEWs) in the Northern Region to assist farmers with new agricultural technologies as part of efforts to ensure improved yields and food security. This brings to 400 the number of people who have volunteered and trained to assist the Agriculture Extension Agency (AEA) in their various districts to educate about 10,000 farmers on the right application of fertilizer, as well as cost-effective and scalable models for the cultivation of maize, soya beans and rice. The volunteer extension workers were selected from Mion, Central Gonja, West Gonja, Bole, Sawla-Tuna-Kalba, East Gonja, Yendi, Zabzugu, Tatale as well as West Gonja, and were taken through topics such as: volunteerism techniques; importance of agriculture extension delivery; adult education methodologies; soil fertility improvement and crop production techniques.
Statistical Service Inaugurates Teams for Agricultural Census
The Asante Akim South District Management Team (DMT), tasked to see to the implementation of the Ghana Census of Agriculture (GCA) project has been inaugurated at Juaso. The project would provide a central database with current information on the rural agricultural structure in Ghana. It would also establish a solid system for regular production and dissemination of reliable annual agricultural statistics through surveys to affect policy directives. It is a collaboration between the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Mrs. Phyllis Mends, the Deputy Director of Statistics, Research and Information Directorate of MoFA, who inaugurated the team, said similar teams headed by the District Coordinating Directors, with District Directors of MoFA and District Statisticians as members, would be inducted across the country.
The World will Attain Better Climate Change Agreement soon
Germany and France has expressed optimism that the international community could adopt an ambitious and durable climate agreement at the end of the year. Their bet on the issue is that the political will to deliver such an agreement is greater than ever before. At the close of the 6th Petersberg Climate Dialogue, in Berlin, Germany’s Federal Environment Minister, Dr Barbara Hendricks and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said they see the outcome of the world commitment towards adopting a climate agreement as positive. Some countries have already committed themselves into contributing 100 billion dollars annually to help finance climate change impact in the world. Germany has pledged to contribute 10 billion dollars to the fund, while the US and China has agreed to reduce their emissions as soon as possible. Meanwhile, in December there would be a UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP21) in Paris to deliberate on finding a better climate agreement that would be binding on all countries to take specific actions towards reducing greenhouse emissions to the two degree Celsius benchmark.
Ghana Participates in 2015 World Debate on Climate Change
The 2015 world-wide national consultation and stakeholder debate on climate change and energy has been held in Ghana to collect divergent views on how to mitigate climate change impact and adaptation. The debate was held to collect views from a number of citizens on the causes of climate change and how the negative effects could be reduced. Mr. Joseph Senyo Kwashie, the Executive Director of Community AID Foundation, co-organizers of the event in Ghana, said 150 people were selected nationwide to represent the 10 regions. The event, which was held in Accra, saw 150 people selected from different backgrounds, including traders, students, farmers, traditional leaders, politicians, teachers and health workers. The theme for the debate was: “Contributing to the national effort by reaching out to community people in Ghana on climate change and energy.” Mr. Kwashie said the theme was very appropriate and timely, since it would help educate the public, especially at a time when the country had suffered severe floods and disastrous moments.
Garu-Tempane Farmers Schooled on Climate Change
Farmers in the Garu-Tempane district of the Upper East Region have been educated on climatic and weather conditions to enable them make informed decisions relevant for crops, livestock and livelihood options. The education was at a workshop, facilitated by the Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture project (PICSA) under the Presbyterian Agricultural Station (PAS) in Garu. They discussed climatic conditions that pertain in the area long before the farming season, just before, during and after the season, so as to enable the farmers make subjective decisions on which crop to produce at a particular season. The project is targeting 200 farmers, and designed to provide a structure to assist farmers carry out resource allocation, season calendar, historical records, weather forecast, livelihoods options, decision making, and participatory crop budgeting.
FAGRO launches first Agricultural Summit
The National Food and Agric Show (FAGRO) has launched its maiden National Agricultural summit to extensively discuss how the industry could be improved to meet current agricultural trends. The Summit, to be held on Wednesday, July 8, in Accra, would bring together key stakeholders and experts in the sector under a common umbrella to discuss the way forward for the sector. The summit, which would be on the theme: “Further Unlocking the Ghanaian Agricultural Sector: the role of the youth and women”, would also provide a platform for participants to discuss critical issues concerning the sector, especially those in relation to the youth and women. Ms. Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, the General Manager of FAGRO, at the media launch in Accra, said the Summit would also provide a unique opportunity for policy makers, farmers, researchers, government agencies and corporate entities, and funders to network, exchange knowledge and gain insights into the context of youth and women involvement in agriculture.
Food Prices see Marginal Gain in week 2 of June
The general performance of the various commodities on the market this week was positive with most of them making marginal gains. The highest change of 7 percentage increase was by groundnut and maize with tomatoes recording the least of negative 4 percent. According Esoko which did the checks across the various markets in Ghana, tomato gained 13 percent in Accra to close the week at GHS 16.09 per medium size tomato tin. It also gained 14 percent in Techiman to close at GHS 9.00, Kumasi closed at GHS 8.10 gaining 7 percent. Takoradi and Dambai however lost 4 percent to close the week at GHS 14.99 and GHS 7.74 respectively. Maize was sold at GHS 4.5 per “olunka” in Accra gaining 6 percent. It also gained 14 percent in Tamale to close the week at 4.00 per bowl.
Few Women can Access Formal Sector Loans for Agriculture – Prof. Alhassan
Professor Amin Alhassan, Dean of Faculty of Agribusiness and Communication Science at the University for Development Studies (UDS) has stated that only six per cent of women has access to formal sector loans for agricultural purposes. He also said the level of input utilization is very low among rural women-farmers, especially in the Northern Region. Professor Alhassan stated these at a day’s policy dialogue, which focused on special needs and interests of women-farmers in agricultural development organized by the Rural Media Network (RUMNET), a non-governmental organization in Tamale. The workshop was to peek into excerpts of the research outcomes and clarify problems faced by rural women-farmers, look at policy options and strategies, and discuss how to incorporate them into subsequent policies.
Reports/Articles
Factors Influencing Smallholder Farmers’ Access to Agricultural Microcredit in Northern Ghana
BT Anang, T Sipilainen, S Backman, J Kola - African Journal of Agricultural Research, 2015
This paper explores access to agricultural microcredit in Ghana using household survey data collected for the 2013/2014 farming season. The study approaches the access to microcredit from two angles pertaining to the factors influencing access to loan and when accessed, the determinants of loan size. Since these two choices are related, the Heckman selection model was chosen as the analytical tool for addressing the possible presence of sample selectivity bias in the loan size regression. A multi-stage stratified random sampling technique was used to select 300 smallholder rice farmers from three irrigation schemes in Northern Ghana who were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The study revealed that the following factors influence access to agricultural microcredit in Northern Ghana: gender, household income, farm capital, improved technology adoption, contact with extension, the location of the farm, and awareness s of lending institutions in the area. Gender, household size, farm capital, cattle ownership and improved technology adoption were the significant factors determining loan size.
Survey of Diversity and Production of yams in Four Communities in Southern Ghana
LM Aboagye, D Nyadanu, MO Opoku-Agyeman… - 2015
A survey was conducted in four yam growing communities in southern Ghana, with the objectives of analyzing the diversity of yam species being cultivated, extent of production, yams preferred and identification of challenges confronting yam production. A total of 264 farmers were involved in the survey, 200 men and 64 women. Six yam species were encountered and 136 varieties were characterized according to the number of households cultivating the varieties, area under cultivation, frequency of harvesting and the preferred yams. Invariably in the four communities, most of the varieties were cultivated in small areas by few households, depicting serious genetic erosion of yams in the communities. Preference of yams cultivated depended mostly on the maturity period, ability to withstand biotic and abiotic stresses and multiple utilization as food sources. Eleven constraints were enumerated which needs to be addressed to ensure sustainable yam production. The inter-relations of the species with respect to the characteristics surveyed are presented.
Ghana: Poverty Reduction over Thirty Years
A McKay, J Pirttilä, F Tarp - 2015
Ghana is relatively rare among Sub-Saharan African countries in having had sustained positive growth every year since the mid-1980s. This paper analyses the nature of the growth and then presents an analysis of the evolution of both consumption poverty and non-monetary poverty outcomes over this period, showing improvements in almost all indicators over this period. At the same time, inequality has risen over the past 20 years and spatial inequality, in both monetary and non-monetary outcomes, remains an important concern. This increase in inequality is one reason why growth has not led to faster poverty reduction.
Learners’ Views about Science and Technology: Indications from the ROSE Study in Zimbabwe
F Mavhunga, I Kibirige - Contemporary Issues in Education, 2015
The paper explores learners’ views about formal school science and technology education vis–à–vis out-of-school science and technology experiences in Zimbabwe. Twenty one secondary schools were surveyed (N=735) using the Relevance of Science Educations (ROSE) questionnaire. Three sections of the questionnaire focused on learners’ views on: science lessons; science and technology; and what they would do if they were scientists. The survey showed that 16 year old learners have mature and balanced views about science, scientists and technology. Girls were found to be less enthusiastic about science and technology. However all earners were very sensitive to HIV/AIDS and chose to research on health issues, deducing that science can solve this fundamental human right. Learners also showed characteristics of scepticism, curiosity, knowledge seeking, awareness of the relevance of science and technology to society.
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