Below are some current developments on agriculture in Africa:
Agricultural Issues
Ghana Wins FAO Award for Reducing Hunger
Ghana has received an award from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for reducing the number of undernourished people from more than seven million in the early 1990s to less than a million now. The country was also adjudged as one of 12 among 72 that have maintained their hunger rates below five per cent dating back to 1990. Alhaji Ahmed Yakubu Alhassan, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture received the award on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, on the sidelines of the 39th Session of the Conference of Member States of the FAO, held in Milan, Italy from June 3 to June 5. The award ceremony was to recognize and honor 72 countries that have made tremendous progress leading to the near achievement of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target to halve the proportion of hungry people by the 2015 deadline, or bring to below the five per cent threshold.
Take Advantage of Cocoa Tree Replacement Exercise - President Mahama Urges Farmers
President John Dramani Mahama has encouraged cocoa farmers to take full advantage of the national cocoa trees replacement exercise to increase their yield and eventually improve Ghana's overall output. The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) is supplying 50 million hybrid seedlings that have high yields and are resistant to diseases freely to farmers to replace aged cocoa trees on their farms. The President was speaking at a sod-cutting ceremony at Subin Camp, a major cocoa growing area in the Adansi South District, yesterday for work to begin on cocoa roads reconstruction in the Ashanti Region. He said the cocoa replacement exercise was important and must be taken seriously because of the inherent benefits. He assured cocoa farmers that no effort would be spared by the government to support them to improve on their yields. He said although Ghana was the world's second highest producer of cocoa, it refreshingly maintained its position as the producer of the highest quality cocoa beans globally.
Veggie Farmers and Researchers meet to Discuss Higher Crop Yields
Ghana Veg, a nongovernmental organization, has held a forum for vegetable farmers and researchers to discuss ways in bridging research gaps and using research to improve vegetable production. The forum held in Accra on the theme: “Demand-driven Research for a Private Sector-led Growth in Ghana’s Vegetable Sector”, was organized in collaboration with the Institute of Applied Science and Technology of the University of Ghana. It was to provide the platform to analyze key challenges facing the vegetable sector as well as to share available research solutions and initiatives with the private sector. Current trends in the production of vegetable crops for both domestic and export market show certain challenges, especially with regards to European Union standards. Mr. Hanson Arthur, Fund Manager of GhanaVeg, said the forum was being held to bring research to the doorstep of the private sector so…
Aduna to Create Global Market for Ghanaian Baobab Fruit
Aduna, the Africa-inspired health food brand & social business, is seeking to create a global market for the Ghanaian baobab fruit, mainly grown in the Northern and Upper East regions. The company’s mission is to create demand for natural products from small-scale producers in Africa – starting with baobab. To this end, the company has beaten 2,500 companies to reach the Final 10 of Virgin’s “Pitch to Rich” competition, and needs Ghanaians’ votes to win a GH¢1.5m marketing campaign, which they will use to Make Baobab Famous and create sustainable livelihoods for 800,000 households in Northern Ghana. The link to vote is: http://www.virginmediabusiness.co.uk/pitch-to rich/grow/aduna/. Baobab is a nutrient-dense fruit that grows in Ghana’s severely deprived Upper East Region and throughout Northern Ghana. Baobab trees are entirely community-owned & wild-harvested. There are 8,000 communities in Northern Ghana alone that can supply baobab fruit from a crop that is so abundant, it goes mainly to waste.
Ghana Export Promotion Authority Develops Groundnuts Training Manual
The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), has developed a “Groundnut Training Manual” to build the capacity of export-oriented companies. The manual would be used to educate operators in the groundnut value chain to meet food safety standard requirements in the European markets. The manual has been structured into three main training components targeting producers, processors, exporters and other stakeholders in the value chain processes. The Trade Related Assistance and Quality Enabling Programme (TRAQUE) sponsored the development of the manual, to enable operators to meet food safety standards requirements of the EU market. The optimum application of the manual would eventually strengthen aflatoxin controls along the groundnut value chain as well as compliance challenges related to the infestation. The GEPA said from 2009 to 2013, analytical results from EU control laboratories reported that aflatoxin levels exceeded European Union limits for groundnut and peanut butter from Ghana.
Commodity Exchange Takes off in June 2016
Trading on the proposed Ghana Commodity Exchange (GCX), which is aimed at providing ready market for grains and cereal producers is set to commence in June 2016, the Project Coordinator, Mr. Robert Dowuona Owoo, has said. Mr. Owoo, speaking in an interview with the GRAPHIC BUSINESS in Accra on June 10, said the project would be launched later this month with the commencement of the design face of the project. He said the project office had been working behind the scenes for the past two years, setting the grounds for the implementation of the project and had put in place structures to ensure its successful completion. “We have been able to source for funds for its implementation from investors and spoken to various actors along the value chain of the agricultural sector to get their inputs into the design model,” he stated. The working group had also held discussions with policy makers on various policy issues and working on the legislative instrument that would govern the commodity exchange and its supporting warehouse receipt system.
Food Prices see Marginal Gain in 2nd week 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 seven percentage increase was by groundnut and maize with tomatoes recording the least of negative four per cent. According Esoko which did the checks across the various markets in Ghana, tomato gained 13 per cent in Accra to close the week at GH¢16.09 per medium size tomato tin. It also gained 14 per cent in Techiman to close at GH¢9.00, Kumasi closed at GH¢8.10 gaining seven per cent. Takoradi and Dambai however lost four per cent to close the week at GH¢14.99 and GH¢7.74 respectively. Maize was sold at GHC 4.5 per ‘olunka’ in Accra gaining 6 percent. It also gained 14 percent in Tamale to close the week at GH¢4.00 per bowl. A 100kg bag of maize continued its rise in two markets this week. In Accra, it gained 10 percent to close the week at GH¢170 from a previous price of GH¢155. Tamale also gained 15 per cent to close the week at GH¢156. On the retail market a kilo of the commodity was sold for GH¢1.80 representing an increase of six per cent….
EPA Combats Desertification
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is calling for multifaceted approach to combat desertification especially in the three regions of the north of Ghana. Despite government’s attempt to stop charcoal burning by freely distributing Liquefied Petroleum Gas cylinders in some rural communities, desertification is on the rise in Northern Ghana. It is against this backdrop the EPA is deepening its collaboration with other major stakeholders to combat the danger. Ahead of the 2015 World Day to Combat Desertification, the EPA in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation organized a day’s stakeholder’s forum on desertification in Tamale. Christened as the sixth National Desertification Forum, it was on the theme, “Invest in sustainable land and water management and your food security is assured.” The event brought together technocrats from various departments, lecturers, farmers and civil society groups to brainstorm and proffer solutions to combat desertification.
Africa: Environment - 'Policy Implementation Is Key for Africa's Development'
Commitment to the implementation of natural resources management policies in Africa would help in enhancing the contribution of natural resources to the continent's development. This was one of the key messages in the closing remarks of the Director of the United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA), Dr. Elias T. Ayuk, at a book launching event organized by the Institute in Accra. Dr Ayuk observed that there is a continuum of six I's (ideas, innovation, incentives, institutions, infrastructure and implementation), which needed to be addressed to promote development in Africa. Citing the agricultural sector as an example, he emphasized the need for innovative ideas and technologies in processing food crops for domestic consumption and exports…
Ghana Keen to Open Honorary Consulate in Dhaka, Uganda Seeks Agricultural Investment
Newly appointed high commissioners of Ghana and Uganda to Bangladesh have called on foreign minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali separately and discussed issues of bilateral interest Both of them are non-resident and based in New Delhi. They showed interest for wider economic cooperation while appreciating Bangladesh’s socio-economic development, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday after the meetings. High Commissioner of Ghana Samuel Panyin Yalley proposed to open an Honorary Consulate in Dhaka. He also showed interest to import jute bags from Bangladesh. The minister welcomed his proposal and called for necessary action. High Commissioner of Uganda Elizabeth Paula Napeyok welcomed Bangladesh investment in agriculture….
Cocoa Farmers Educated on Swollen Shoot Virus
Nana Appiah Bediako, Krontihene of Dome near Kuano in the Suhum Municipality, has called on his fellow traditional authorities to help educate cocoa farmers, to allow cocoa trees infested by swollen shoot to be cut down and replanted. The Krontihene stated that the affected farmers would be adequately compensated by the government. Nana Appiah Bediako, a cocoa farmer in the area, was speaking in an interview at Dome in the Eastern Region, on the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD) with Ghana News Agency. He expressed the need for government to help rehabilitate cocoa farms, bring CSSVD under control, improve upon the sale and application of fertilizer and check child labour on cocoa farms. Nana Appiah Bediako said if CSSVD infected trees are not cut down, the disease could infest other farms, which would reduce the national yield of the cash crop.
Aflatoxins Contamination Needs to be Tackled – Stakeholders
The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) on Wednesday held a meeting to chart the way forward to mitigate Aflatoxin, not only in maize, but in all grains. The meeting, which is stakeholder driven, aims at facilitating a collective action around the promotion of innovations in Africa’s agriculture; strengthening capacity to enhance the functionality of agricultural innovation systems in Africa and offer intellectual leadership for Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D) in Africa. Aflatoxins are naturally occurring harmful toxins produced by the fungi Aspergillus Flavus Link ex Fries and Aspergillus Parasiticus Speare, which are highly toxic to humans and animals. The toxins are known to cause a number of human and animal health problems, such as immune-suppression, kwashiorkor, impairment of liver function, and reduced growth rate or stunting. They are also potent liver carcinogens. Aflatoxin-producing moulds affect grain and other food crops – maize and groundnuts in particular.
EU Holds Climate Information Session
The European Union in Ghana has organized a Climate Info Session to discuss the impact of climate change on Ghana, and to also prepare the country for the upcoming Paris Global Agreement. Over 50 climate stakeholders in Ghana attended the session to exchange views on the state of international climate negotiations and Ghana’s preparation to Paris. The French Ambassador, Frederic Clavier, said the objective of a global agreement in Paris at the Conference to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was to contain the rise in average global temperature to a maximum two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. He said the “Paris Climate Alliance” is an agreement to build together and give a clear signal to the citizens throughout the world. “…our communities and our businesses that we are determined to initiate a transition to low carbon economies, while ensuring equitable access to sustainable development.
Bad Nutrition is Biggest Challenge in the North – USAID
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has observed that nutrition is one of the biggest challenges confronting people in the Northern, Upper East, and Upper West Regions. To help address this, USAID is investing $ 50 million out of a total of $ 150 million spent annually countrywide to improve agriculture and nutrition in the three regions. USAID has therefore through its Feed the Future (FTF) Agriculture Technology Transfer (ATT) project has introduced a technology known as the ‘Soy-cow’ technology capable of processing soya beans into very nutritious milk drink. Inspecting one of such technology in Wa during a working visit, Mr. Andy Karas, USAID Acting Ghana Mission Director said the FTF ATT project is committed to find the best technology to support women farmers to increase agriculture production and improve household incomes and nutritional values.
Research Scientists Undergo Mentorship Programme
Twenty-six research scientists are undergoing a mentorship programme to equip them to accelerate and strengthen their research and leadership skills under the African Women in Research and Development programme (AWARD). The AWARD is a career-development programme, through which tailored fellowships are used to equip top women agricultural scientists across sub-Saharan Africa, to accelerate agricultural gains by strengthening their research and leadership skills. The AWARD Fellows benefit from two-year fellowships, focused on fostering mentoring partnerships, building science skills and developing leadership capacity. The programme, currently operating in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia, is being funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, together with USAID, Apropolis Foundation and AGRA.
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Call for Resource Mobilization to Fund Agric
Civil society organizations (CSOs) in the agriculture sector have called for improved resource mobilization to support agricultural production especially smallholders farmers in the Northern Region. Mr. Lazarus Jambadu, Project Officer of Community Aid for Rural Development (CARD), said the development of village savings and loans schemes to mobilize local resources would be an option to fund agriculture. Mr. Jambadu said there is the need to tap into local resources like converting animal waste into compost for agricultural activities as an alternative to reduce high cost of fertilizer. He made the call in an interview with Ghana News Agency on the side-lines of the 2015 Joint Sector Review of the Agriculture Sector, to assess the extent of implementation of work programmes and ascertain progress towards the achievement of expected outputs and outcomes.
Reports/Articles
Financial Costs and Benefits of Investing in the Production of Allanblackia spp. as a Tree Crop
IS EGYIR, SYC ESSAH, GTM KWADZO
Allanblackia spp. (AB) has been identified as an alternative source of income for cocoa farmers in Ghana. The integration of this tree crop into cocoa farming systems has, therefore, been initiated. Currently, farmers collect the nuts from wild trees scattered in and around cocoa farms. The domestication of AB is being championed by foreign investors [Unilever Research & Development (R&D), Netherlands) in collaboration with the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana. Feasibility studies suggest that the integration of AB into cocoa farming systems is viable for farmers if the financial support from foreign investors is implemented. It is important to assess the viability of domesticating this tree crop without foreign support, so that local entrepreneurs who want to go into the production of AB would understand the real cost and return issues. This paper presents the results of a financial cost-benefit appraisal of AB in the forest region of Ghana, using alternate viability measures [Net Present Value (NPV), Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR)]. Results of this study indicate that…
Variabilities in Rainfall Onset, Cessation and Length of Rainy Season for the Various Agro-Ecological Zones of Ghana
LK Amekudzi, EI Yamba, K Preko, EO Asare, J Aryee… - Climate, 2015
This paper examines the onset and cessation dates of the rainy season over Ghana using rain gauge data from the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) over the period of 1970–2012. The onset and cessation dates were determined from cumulative curves using the number of rainy days and rainfall amount. In addition, the inter-annual variability of the onset and cessation dates for each climatic zone was assessed using wavelet analysis. A clear distinction between the rainfall characteristics and the length of the rainy season in the various climatic zones is discussed. The forest and coastal zones in the south had their rainfall onset from the second and third dekads of March. The onset dates of the transition zone were from the second dekad of March to the third dekad of April. Late onset, which starts from the second dekad of April to the first dekad of May, was associated with the savannah zone….
Enhancing Food Security In Ghana Through Women Empowerment: The Role Of NGOs
KT Banyen, D Bagah, EM Kotin
The study was conducted to find out how NGOs help empower women in Ghana through enhanced agricultural activities, and how this affects food production in the country. It was conducted, using basically primary data from a field survey of 220 respondents, including women who have been part of NGO women empowerment programmes, women who have never been part of such programmes, and some NGO workers in the Nadowli District of the Upper West Region of Ghana. The study found that women who have participated in the NGO women empowerment programmes are more likely to go into commercial farming, own their own farms and hire labour for farming than those who have never participated in such programmes. The study also found that empowered women are more likely to increase their food production on farms they work on, whether it belongs to them or not, and that women empowerment indeed, leads to higher food production in the country …
Getting to Zero: Tackling Extreme Poverty through Private Sector Development Policy Guide
C Mariotti, A Shepherd - 2015
The most direct way to help the chronically poor exit poverty through private sector development is by providing them secure, decent wage employment. This is particularly true for the most vulnerable categories, such as the poorest women and young or disabled people. However, most developing countries are not creating sufficient wage employment, or fast enough, to provide a secure job to all the poor in the near future, and the poorest people may not easily take them up. The proportion of decent jobs among all jobs created by growth has increased since 1990, but still over half of all new jobs created are insecure. Some of these jobs have created opportunities for the working poor, but many others have not enabled the poor to escape poverty. This justifies the focus of this policy guide on the identification of interventions to best promote entrepreneurship among the poor in a way that puts them on trajectories …
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