Below are some current developments on agriculture in Africa:
Agricultural Issues
Government Bets on New Cocoa Price to Boost Output
Government has increased the price at which it buys a bag of cocoa from farmers by 21.74 percent for the current crop season spanning 2015/2016. This, it hopes, will be enough to motivate farmers of the crop to produce about 850,000 to 900,000 metric tonnes in the new crop season after the disappointing 2014/2015 crop purchases figures, which fell short of the 750,000 target. During the last crop season, for every 64kg bag of cocoa beans, farmers earned GH¢350; but the announcement by the Producer Price Review Committee (PPRC) will see farmers make GH¢425 per bag in the new season. Speaking at a news conference in Accra on Friday, Cassiel Ato Forson, Deputy Finance Minister, said the price of a tonne of cocoa has …
Government Dismisses Minority Concerns on Cocoa Pricing
The Ministry of Finance has dismissed what it describes as unjustifiable calls by the minority in Parliament for a 50 percent increase in the producer price of Cocoa. This comes after government sanctioned a more than 21% increase in the price of the cash crop from GH¢350 to GH¢420 per a 64-kilogram bag. According to government, the price represents about 74 percent of Free on Board Price (FOB), the highest over the years. A Deputy Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson in an interview with Citi Business News said the minority’s demands are baseless. He said the “mathematics behind the 50 percent increase won’t add up. I don’t know on which basis they are talking about because the 21.7 percent increase represent 74 …
40% of Ghana’s Cocoa Trees Unproductive
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr Stephen Opuni, has hinted that the latest information from the cocoa health extension unit of the board has revealed that 40 per cent of all cocoa trees in the country were unproductive. He explained that out of the 40 per cent, 23 per cent were cocoa trees which were between 30 and 70 years rendering them too old and unproductive while 17 per cent of the cocoa trees were infested with cocoa swollen shoot disease which also makes the trees unproductive. Dr Opuni dropped the hint in an address read for him by Dr Francis Kofi Oppong, a Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Agronomy and Quality Control at COCOBOD during the closing ceremony of a four-day annual…
5-year Cocoa Roads Project to Cost COCOBOD $750m
In the next 5 years, major cocoa roads would be constructed to solve the challenges associated with carting cocoa beans from the farm gates to buying centres and also to improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers. This was contained in a press release by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD). The statement stated thus: "Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) in collaboration with government of Ghana, has rolled out the Cocoa Roads Rehabilitation Programme to facilitate the transportation of cocoa beans to buying centres." This latest move is in fulfillment of a promise by President John Mahama to cocoa farmers during the 2014 Farmers’ Day celebration at Sefwi Wiawso; that his government was going to make roads linking cocoa growing …
Illegal Mining Affecting Cocoa Production
llegal mining, also known as galamsey, continues to pose a threat to the sustainability of Ghana's cocoa industry, which is the backbone of the country's economy. Three speakers, the Chief Executive Officer of the COCOBOD, Dr Stephen Kwabena Opuni; the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr. Antwi-Boasiako Sekyere, and the National Best Farmer, Alhaji Alhassan Bukari, all articulated the problem at the National Cocoa Festival held at Akim-Tafo in the Eastern Region last Thursday. The theme for this year's festival was, “Sustainable cocoa production-the role of the youth.” A Youth-in-Cocoa programme initiated by the COCOBOD has engaged more than 30,000 young men and women in cocoa farming. The speakers said there was the urgent…
AGRA launches Integrated Soil Fertility Management Project Phase II
The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has launched the second phase of its Integrated Soil Fertility Management Project at Jasikan in the Volta Region to provide intensive support for smallholder farmers drawn from six districts of the region. The project involves the setting-up of model farmlands that combine the use of improved seeds and fertilisers, effective application of organic matter coupled with best farm practices, as a case for land optimisation to ensure better farm-yields in the interest of food security. The first phase of the project created about 5,000 jobs for agro-agents and aggregators; helped smallholder farmers to diversify their portfolio; increased farm yields and also raised the income levels of
Farmers Introduced to New Technologies
The Centre for Agricultural Bioscience International (CABI) has introduced a new approach to farming in Ghana with the aim of increasing food security and improving farm yields. The initiative, called Plantwise, is being implemented by CABI together with the Plant Protection Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD) of the Ministry of Agriculture. The project has two major components under which it provide plant clinics and knowledge bank services to local rural farmers to enable them to prevent crop loses and increase production. Also, farmers would regularly attend plant clinics which would operate like a medical doctor’s consultancy to provide advice on demand, tailored to the farmer’s individual needs…
MOFA Launches Fish Festival
The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development has launched the Greater Accra Fish Festival to celebrate the efforts of fishermen and fish processors. Madam Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, who launched the festival, said the event would be held on October 20 at Prampram. The theme for the celebration is: "Promoting sustainable fisheries and aquaculture for national development." Madam Ayittey stated that the fish festival was government's way of recognising the role of the fisheries sector to national development. "Fishing is a very challenging endeavour and, therefore, the need to celebrate the work of fishers in the same way as other occupations is celebrated in Ghana," she noted.
EU Gives Local Fisheries Management 'Green Card'
The European Commission announced on Thursday its decision to lift the fisheries yellow card issued to Ghana in 2013 and Papua New Guinea in 2014 as a result of the constructive cooperation between these countries and the Commission, leading to significant structural reforms in national fisheries management system in order to fight illegal fishing. European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella, said: “Today's decisions demonstrate the extraordinary potential of the EU market to bring important players on board in the fight against IUU. Both Ghana and Papua New Guinea have taken ownership of their fisheries reforms and now have robust legal and policy frameworks in place to …
Major Boost for Shea Butter Producers
The Minister for Trade and Industry, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, says a German firm wants to recruit 30,000 women from the Northern Region in the shea butter industry to pick the seeds for processing. He has, therefore, called on the people and chiefs in the area to make land available to create shea plantation, adding that “it is not the best to leave your homes at dawn to the bush to pick the seeds in the wild.” The Minister said this when he visited Tiehisuma Sheabutter Processing Centre at Gurugu, a suburb of Tamale. Dr Spio-Garbrah said the shea industry is a vibrant enterprise as the products have many uses in the cosmetic industries throughout the world, apart from its local uses. The Minister said government has the responsibility to …
‘The Transformation of our Economy Depends on Agriculture’
Any nation that does not give priority to agriculture, food security and youth employment will remain in abject poverty. Agriculture is a vital source of food and needed agro-produce for essential economic and industrial gains. The well-being of citizens largely depends on the quality of nutrition the society and the people are exposed to. However, the total neglect of this very essential sector has relegated farming to the background in our country today. Those with white-colour jobs are demanding an increase in minimum wage while the Trades Union Congress (TUC) is proposing an increase in wages for its members in a bid to get them more motivated but the question remains: Who fights for the poor farmer in our country to have…
Smallholder Farmers Schooled on Fertilizer Application
Smallholder farmers in the Northern Region, have been trained to adopt the use of appropriate fertilizer protocols and applications mainly in the production of maize and other cereals for increased and better-quality output. The farmers had their skills polished on application of the fertilizer – YaraMilaActyva, introduced by Yara Ghana a leading fertilizer supplier in partnership with USAID funded by Agricultural Development and Value Chain Enhancement (ADVANCE). The farmers were also taken through some training process on best agronomic techniques, good agricultural practices, harvest and post-harvest handling to ensure proper application of quality fertilizer to increase food security…
Eat Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato to boost Vitamin A status
Ghanaians, especially children, must consume more of the Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) to improve their vitamin A status. Mr. Kwadwo Adofo, a sweet potato breeder of the Crop Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CRI-CSIR), who gave the advice, said the OFSP could play a significant role in controlling vitamin A deficiency in children, which has become a major health challenge for the nation to battle. “There are varieties of sweet potatoes but OFSP is highly rich in Beta-carotene and it is an excellent source of pro-vitamin A,” he explained. Mr. Adofo said this, when he made a presentation at the first “Orange Day”, a Farm Radio International and Editors Forum, Ghana collaboration…
Ho Polytechnic to Establish Research Center on Food Safety
The Ho Polytechnic is to establish a Research Centre into food safety and technology in its Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology, Professor Emmanuel Kodzo Sakyi, the Rector of the Polytechnic, has announced. He was speaking at the end of the first National Food Hygiene and Sanitation Conference in Ho. The two-day Conference was initiated by the Polytechnic’s Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management and the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology on the theme, “Food Hygiene, Sanitation and Safety in the Post-MDG Era.” The conference provided the platform for practitioners in the local food industry, academia, regulatory bodies and experts to deliberate on ways to arrest the mounting food safety, hygiene…
GSA Says No Cause for Alarm over Pesticides Content in Food
The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has given the assurance that there is no cause for alarm over the pesticides contents of locally produced vegetables and fruits. Mr. Samuel Kofi Frimpong, GSA Senior Standards Officer said research conducted by the authority indicates that the vegetables and fruits does not show an alarming proportions of pesticides in them and therefore, are safe for consumption. He said although some vegetables and fruits might contain varying levels of pesticides, Ghanaians are free to eat their vegetables and fruits. Mr. Frimpong who is also the GSA Ashanti Regional Head said pesticides have being designed to kill or control pests, but their applications on crops sometimes leaves traces on their…
Ghana Loses 30 per cent of Crop Yields to Pests, Diseases
The country losses 30 per cent of its annual crop yields to pests and disease infestation, the Director of the Plant Protection Regulatory Services (PPRSD), Mrs. Milly Kyofa-Boamah, has stated. The situation, she said, could be attributed to limited access to plant health services owing to inadequate extension officers. Currently, there is one extension officer to 1,500 farmers in the country, which is below the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) standard of one extension officer to 500 farmers. Mrs. Kyofa- Boamah made this known at a press briefing on an initiative to reduce crop losses and increase food security in Accra on Thursday.
Ghana Needs Scientific Food Safety Systems - Professor Takrama
Ghana needs modern food safety systems that are science-based to effectively cope with its food safety challenges, Professor Jemmy F. Takrama, Principal Research Scientist, Cocoa Research Institute, Ghana has recommended. “The complexities of food production systems and potential presence of new hazards in foods have increased the need for science - based advice to support Ghana’s food control systems,” he said. Professor Takrama made the recommendation in a keynote address at the First National Food Hygiene and Sanitation Conference organized by the Ho Polytechnic. The two-day event was on the theme, “Food Hygiene, Sanitation and Safety in the Post MDG Era.”…
CRI Releases Seven New Maize Varieties
The Crops Research Institute (CRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has released seven new maize varieties. They include "Crops-Afriyie", "Crops-Obotantim", "Crops-Dzifoo", "Crops-Ahoofe", "Crops-Emmre dane", "Crops-Ahoodzin" and "Crops-Nkunim". Dr. Stella Ama Ennin, Director of the CRI, speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the sidelines of a forum at Fumesua near Kumasi, said the Institute was focused on providing food security for the nation. This, she said, was achievable through research, technology transfer and adoption of improved farming practices. The forum, targeting the media, was designed to highlight some technological and research advances made by the Institute within the …
Ghana Predicts Nation’s Rice Production to Double by 2018
Dr Ahmed Yakubu Alhassan, Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture in-charge of Crops, has said current statistics indicated that the country was about 56 per cent self-sufficient in rice production. Dr Alhassan, who made the remarks at a day’s National Rice Development Strategy (NRSD) validation workshop which has the objective of doubling rice production by 2018, stated that with this development government’s efforts at improving local rice industry were gradually being realized. “We need to intensify our efforts to get 100 per cent; we have been there before in the 1970s, we should get there again,” he added…
Rice Traders Concealing Local Rice into Foreign Branded Sacks
Some traders are concealing locally produced rice in foreign branded sacks and selling to unsuspecting customers, that’s according to Agric minister Fiifi Kwetey . Kwetey who is worried about the development says the situation frustrates attempts to get Ghanaians to patronize locally grown rice. He wants Ghanaians to be on alert and always insist on buying locally grown rice which he says is of high quality. “... The quality is great and because some people are discriminating, some of them come in the pretense of being foreign rice and people consume it and they don’t even know,” he said. He believes this trend can be cured if Ghanaians believe in local farmers and patronize their produce. “We therefore need to consume it with confident…
Timely and Accurate Information Key in GMO Understanding
Professor Kwabena Mante Bossompem, Deputy Director of the Noguchi Memorial Institute, University of Ghana, has said that timely and accurate information was vital in ensuring decisions regarding the wider acceptance of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in Africa. He explained that there was a general perception that modern biotechnology was a sophisticated advanced science hidden from the public and effective communication was necessary to address some of these misconceptions. Biotechnology and GMOs have a role to play in sustainable socio-economic growth in Africa and effective communication is needed for public awareness, education and their participation”, he added…
Ghana Factors SDGs into Development Framework
Ghana has domesticated the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the overall national development plan of Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda (GSGDA II - 2014-2017) which is the first step towards localising the SDGs. Nana Oye Lithur, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, said at a Gender forum orgainsed alongside the United Nations Summit in New York on; “How to make the SDGs matter most for women and girls”…. It will be recalled that Ghana was selected as one of the 50 countries across the world to hold national consultations on the post-2015 agenda from 2012 to 2013. She said the issues raised in the consultations in Ghana covered employment inequalities, environmental sustainability, food security, strengthened governance, population dynamics, health, education and support systems for persons with disabilities…
Sesame Farmers Seek Partnerships …in Bid to Enhance Farmers’ Livelihoods
The Project Manager in charge of Sesame Value Chain Project of SNV, Issahaku Zakaria, has called for more partnerships to scale-up the Sesame Value Chain Project to enable more farmers benefit from the initiative. This, according to him, will enhance livelihoods for the farmers during the off-season period and allow them to generate more income to sustain their families as well as boost their businesses. So far, about 10,000 small household farmers from Saboba, Chereponi, East Mamprusi, West Mamprusi and Kasena Nankana West District in the Northern and Upper East Regions are benefitting from the project, which is due to end in December this year. Sesame is a broad-leaf oil-seed crop, which is cultivated as a second crop in the …
Reports/Articles
The Impact of Agricultural Practices on Environmental Sustainability in Ghana: A Review
T Adomako, B Ampadu - Journal of Sustainable Development, 2015
Agriculture continues to play its role as the backbone of the Ghanaian economy despite that its contribution to GDP has declined by seven-percentage points between 2007 and 2013. The relationship between agricultural practices and environmental sustainability poses serious challenges, yet it has attracted less attention in many developing countries particularly in Ghana. This paper presents a review of the impact of agricultural practices on environmental sustainability in Ghana. The findings of the study reveal that some of the country’s agricultural practices such as deforestation, slash-and-burn agriculture, negative soil nutrients balance, increased dependence on agro-chemicals for both crop and animal production - chemical …
Gender Mainstreaming Principles in Indonesia’s REDD+ Program
EJ Wornell, AR Tickamyer, S Kusujiarti - Journal of Sustainable Development, 2015
This paper analyzes publically available, published documents to conduct a systematic review of the inclusion of gender mainstreaming principles in documents related to one of the largest, most important international forest-preservation projects, Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+). Although more than 60 countries have adopted REDD+ initiatives, this document analysis focuses specifically on REDD+ in Indonesia, both because of its early adoption of REDD+ and as one of the most ecologically diverse and environmentally important countries in the world. Of the 383 documents reviewed, only 88 were found to include any mention of gender, and of those, very few included gender mainstreaming principles…
Food Safety and Consumer Perception to Irradiated Food Products in Ghana
KE Banson - 2015
Food production processes have a number of critical control points that influence the quality assurance in production processes. In Ghana, foodborne illnesses reported in hospitals is about 420,000 per year, with an annual death rate estimated at 65,000 costing $ 69 million to the Ghanaian economy. This research therefore assessed the knowledge level of food safety and consumer perception for irradiated food in the greater Accra region. The combination of data obtained from workshops and interviews gave overview of food safety and consumer perception to irradiated food products. Data were analysed with SPSS and to map the mental models of those involved in the workshop, a Vensim software program was used …
Relative Contribution of Child Labour to Household Farm and Non-Farm Income in Ghana: Simulation with Child\'s Education
I Koomson, S Asongu - 2015
Child labourers play an integral role in households income diversification process by contributing to farm and non-farm incomes but policies, including that of the ILO have focused largely on eliminating child labour from the agricultural sector through education. This study sought to ascertain the relative contribution of child labourers to farm and non-farm income using the GLSS6 data and employed a SUR estimation that simulated, empirically, with child’s education. Findings showed that as a child labourer spends more time in school, every Gh₵1.00 contributed to farm income is accompanied by a Gh₵2.12 contribution towards non-farm income. By implication, child education policy removes child labourers from the farm…
Pesticide Misuse in Rural-Urban Agriculture: A Case Study of Vegetable Production in Tano South of Ghana
EY Wandaat, JX Kugbe - Asian Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences, 2015
Urban Agriculture is crucial to the supply of food especially fresh vegetables in many urban areas across Sub Saharan Africa. It serves as a source of employment and income for many urban dwellers. In the Tano South District of Ghana, most urban farmers resort to the use of chemical pesticides in controlling insect pests that they face. This study assessed attitudes of urban farmers towards the use of pesticide, assess the threats they face by using pesticide and together with them, identify alternative ways of pest controlling. By employing convenience and purposive sampling techniques, 132 farmers and 5 other stakeholders were selected for data collection through participant observation, interviews and focus group discussions…
* The GSSP News Digest just summarizes news that is reported in the press. Any errors of fact or omission are not IFPRI’s responsibility*