Below are some current developments on agriculture in Africa:
Agricultural Issues
Cocoa Prices off to a Bad Start in 2016 ... Brokers Say Selling is Driven by Algorithmic Traders
Cocoa, one of a few bright spots in the commodities world in 2015, is having a bad start to this year. The bean behind chocolate joined this week’s global market selloff as algorithmic traders jumped on a shift in the supply outlook, brokers say. In 2015, cocoa was one of only two commodities tracked by S&P to trade higher, posting a 13% gain in London trading as dry conditions hit the harvest. This year cocoa is trading 4% lower after dropping as much as 7% earlier in the week, a decline first triggered by expectations of increased supply. But the size of the moves has surprised brokers, who say buying and selling is being driven by the computerized traders that are increasingly dominating this market. “There are a lot more system funds involved in cocoa than there ever have been before,” said Jonathan Parkman, head of agricultural brokerage at Marex Spectron. “There’s been a power shift.”…
Synergising Crop Nutrition and Mechanisation for Food Security
Global population growth during the second half of the twentieth century, its attendant urbanisation and industrialisation in Asia and to some extent in Africa, has led to greatly increased demands for mechanised farming and sustained bumper harvests, necessitating the application of high-yielding fertiliser as a boost to efforts at global food security. Consequently, rice, for instance, is becoming a staple cash crop, with its production systems becoming increasingly specialised and market-oriented … Agricultural mechanisation is a crucial input to enhanced crop production. It is frequently very capital intensive compared to other (usually annual) inputs, and it has repercussions on the efficiency of all other inputs used in crop production; including seeds, fertiliser, water and time/labour. It is also much more complex in its application, requiring not only correct use but also a service infrastructure for maintenance and repair…
SADA Plans Massive Agriculture Transformation
Chief Executive Officer of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) Charles Abugre is hopeful that its ‘Commercial Agriculture Investment Guide: The Northern Savannah Ecological Zone of Ghana’ will unlock the massive agriculture potential of the northern regions. The essence of the Investment Guide, Mr. Abugre explained, is to highlight the various agricultural potential held by the Savannah Ecological Zone -- comprised of the three Northern regions, parts of the northern Volta and Brong Ahafo Regions -- by providing relevant information such as land suitability, business environment indicators, inventory of natural resources for large-scale agriculture among others. “The SADA zone holds major agricultural promise that when harnessed will not only make the country highly secure and less dependent on imports, but more importantly transform the lives of the zone’s inhabitants quite significantly -- the zone currently records lower performances in all major …
Empower Rice Farmers to Boost Production- Volta Region Agric Director
The Volta Regional Director of Agriculture, Kofi Larbi, has called for the need to empower local rice farmers in other to boost production to meet growing demands. “The national quest to make rice production more competitive on both the domestic and foreign markets will largely depend on empowering smallholder farmers and actors engaged in the value chain,” he said. He made the call when the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) donated some working tools to Prairie Volta Rice Limited (PVL), at Aveyime-Battor in the Volta Region. FAO is providing technical assistance to Government of Ghana under the project “Enhancing Rice Production and Youth Employment in Ghana Using the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Approach”…
Minister Calls for Long-term Financing for Agriculture
Dr Ahmed Yakubu Alhassan, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, has called for long-term financing for agriculture by financial institutions to improve food production and sustainability. This, he said, would help expand agriculture production from subsistence farming into commercial venture as well as create employment and ensure food security. Mr. Alhassan noted that appropriate financing was needed to enhance the economic fortunes of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) and that financial institutions must provide solutions tailored to both small scale and large scale commercial agriculture. Dr Alhassan made the call on Thursday in Accra at the launch of a commercial agriculture investment guide for the northern savannah ecological zone of the country.
Fishermen Urged to Use Premix Fuel Proceeds Profitably
The fishermen complained about unfairness, irregular allocation of premix fuel and non-involvement of relevant members in the Landing Beach Committees. Mr. Eric Cobbina, Shama District Chief Executive (DCE), has members of the Premix Fuel Landing Beach Committees (PFLBC) managing the distribution of the premix fuel, to use the product judiciously for the benefit of all. He said the government, knowing the major role played by fishermen to promote the economy, introduced the PFLBC in the fishing industry with the aim of bringing sanity and equitable distribution of the subsidized premix fuel for productivity. Mr. Cobbina noted that previously proceeds from the sale of the premix fuel went to individual pockets and therefore to avoid the selfish practice, relevant members were involved …
Consolidating Agricultural Productivity through Efficient Innovation Platforms
Ghana has developed over 30 agricultural technologies since the West African Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP) was initiated in 2007. WAAPP’s development objective is to generate and disseminate improved technologies in the country’s top priority commodities in root and tuber crops, specifically, cassava, yam, sweet potato and cocoyam. WAAPP Ghana has the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) as its implementing agency. Under the implementation of the first phase of the Programme, researchers at the CSIR-Crops Research Institute in Kumasi – the designated National Centre of Specialization – have developed diverse crop varieties and agricultural technologies. However, the rate of transfer and adaptation of these technologies remains low along the …
Out-grower Support Scheme to boost fishing communities
Government, through the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, has earmarked 25 fishing communities along the Volta Lake for benefit from a Fisheries Nucleus Outgrower Input Support Scheme sometime this year. The move, according to the ministry, will be a collaboration with relevant stakeholders including the private sector in order to roll-out the scheme. According to the ministry, it has set a target of increasing aquaculture fish production from 46,250mt to 85,000mt for this year. A report from the committee on food, agriculture and cocoa affairs stated that the country was able to make a net saving of US$38.79million due to a reduction in fish imports from 145,910.3mt in 2014 to 102,874.95mt in 2015. Already, the ministry has initiated a programme to encourage aquaculture in the Volta Lake -- with 65% of the Volta Lake’s zonation completed. In addition, 50 fish-farmers have been trained in Hatchery management, and over 3,000 fish-farmers have also …
Government to Establish Commodity Exchange for Farmers
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Ekow Spio-Gabrah, has hinted that government will establish commodity exchange for farmers to be abreast with the prices of their produce in the market for realistic prices. He was speaking at the launch of a commercial agriculture investment guide for the northern savannah ecological zone of the country in Accra. He said the Ministry of Trade and Industry had initiated programmes geared towards expanding small scale farming, stressing that government plans to establish Export Development Bank to mobilize additional revenue for the domestic and export products. The Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Ahmed Yakubu Alhassan, on his part called for long term financing to expand agriculture production…
Poultry Importation Reducing- Minister
Importation of poultry products into the country has drastically reduced since government took a policy decision to cut down on poultry imports, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Hanna Louisa Abissiw has said. The minister in an interview with TV3 news said the directive to cut poultry imports was positively impacting on local industry. "What we have done is to cut the importation by 30%. Every study shows that importation has gone down drastically and not many people are bringing in chicken these days. People are bringing in more of pig feats or cow legs," she said. Local bird patronage is now pegged at 100,000 per month since the decision, the minister revealed. Dr Abissiw also said her ministry had received proposals from people who mostly import poultry products, expressing interest in local production…
Government Releases GHC11million to Combat Bird flu
Government has released GHC11million to tighten the fight against the avian influenza also known as bird flu in the country. It has through the Ministry of Agriculture supplied 22 vehicles and 120 motorbikes to bring the disease under control. This was revealed by the by Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Dr Hannah Bissiw at a forum which was aimed at outlining measures put in place by government to arrest the further spread of the influenza. She said government has compensated twenty-five poultry farmers whose farms were affected by bird flu. Dr Bissiw added that the compensation has so far motivated poultry farmers to report cases of suspected disease on their farms. “The government of Ghana through the Ministry of Agriculture has supplied 22 vehicles and …
Kofi Annan Endorses Reforestation of Africa
The replanting of forests can play a major role in achieving the climate objectives that were agreed in Paris. It is now time for investors to make a move and the 'Forests for the Future, New Forests for Africa' initiative has received the support of H.E. Mr. Kofi Annan. Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1997-2006, Mr. Annan will be the principal guest at the official launch of the Initiative on 16 and 17 March in the Ghanaian capital, Accra. “While the priority must remain on preserving our natural forests, the revival of denuded areas through reforestation helps not only Ghana but also the global fight against climate change,” said Kofi Annan, who works through the Kofi Annan Foundation to achieve a fairer, more peaceful world. Paul Hol, Director of the forestry company Form International added: "Each year, the Southern Hemisphere loses 15 million hectares of forest. Replanting is of vital importance. That must be done in a sustainable manner. And if you want to get …
AMA Adopts New Plan to Promote Agriculture
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has outlined strategies to promote backyard gardening, poultry and rabbit production in the Accra Metropolis. The strategy would rejuvenate the spirit of farming on lands around Korle Bu, Dzorwulu, and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) areas in Accra. Dr. Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, the Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) announced this at the ordinary meeting of the first session of the Assembly. He said the AMA would assist 400 households to produce selected vegetables such as pepper, tomatoes and garden-eggs; and another 200 households to go into backyard yard plantain production. Dr Oko Vanderpuije said the AMA would provide 300 plastic pots and 50 wooden boxes to 150 households for vegetable production, adding that “seedlings and 600 plantlets would be provided to selected households in the metropolis. “He said training in basic crop management practices would also be carried out for farmers in ….
Climate change, a real threat to Africa’s development - Prof. Omotosho
Governments across Africa have been asked not to underestimate the enormous threat posed to the continent’s development by climate change. Professor Jerome Omotosho of the Department of Meteorology and Climate Science School, Federal University of Technology, Nigeria, said they needed to act with some urgency and commitment, to implement the various international protocols signed. The inaction and lukewarm attitude would have to stop, he stated at a day’s workshop on climate change held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi. It brought together environmentalists, agricultural research scientists, technocrats and graduate students. “Climate data availability for climate change impact research”, “Overview of climate change dynamics in West Africa” and “Climate change activities in Ghana” were among topics treated. Prof Omotosho called for substantial increase in budgetary allocations to tackle activities that were …
Reports/Articles
Farm Transition and Indigenous Growth
Houssou, Nazaire; Chapoto, Anthony; and Asante-Addo, Collins
This paper characterizes the transition from small-scale farming and the drivers of farm size growth among medium- and large-scale farmers in Ghana. The research was designed to better understand the dynamics of change in Ghana’s farm structure and contribute to the debate on whether Africa should pursue a smallholder-based or large-scale oriented agricultural development strategy. The results suggest a rising number of medium-scale farmers and a declining number of smallholder farmers in the country, a pattern that is consistent with a changing farm structure in the country’s agricultural sector. More important, findings show that the rise to medium- and large-scale farming is significantly associated with successful transition of small-scale farmers rather than entry of medium or large farms into agriculture, reflecting small-scale farmers successfully breaking through the barriers of subsistence agriculture into more commercialized production systems…
Inclusion and Implementation of Socio-Economic Considerations in GMO Regulations: Needs and Recommendations
R Binimelis, AI Myhr - Sustainability, 2016
Socio-economic considerations are included in the regulatory frameworks on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) of many countries. This is a reflection of an increasing interest in and recognition of the necessity to consider a broader range of issues when conducting a GMO risk assessment. At the same time, there are discussions about how socio-economic considerations can be identified and how their assessment can be carried out. To provide an understanding of the advances achieved so far, we describe the state of the art of existing biosafety institutional frameworks, legislation and policies with provisions on socio-economic considerations. We analyse the scope of the socio-economic considerations that have been included, the methodological options taken and the role of participatory…
Ghana: Recent Fiscal Challenges and Risks: What Should We Expect in 2016?
NK Kusi - 2015
Ghana’s medium-term development prospects look bright after nearly one decade of strong and broadly inclusive economic growth. However, large fiscal and external imbalances and macroeconomic instability have led to a slowdown of economic growth in the past two years. To address these imbalances and safeguard the bright medium-term prospects of the economy, the government embarked on its homegrown economic and financial program, but policy slippages, exogenous shocks, rising interest costs, and acute electricity shortages undermined the effort. Recognizing the need for strong reforms to achieve fiscal consolidation and debt sustainability, the government approached the IMF for support, which was granted in April 2015. The Fund’s program aims at achieving fiscal consolidation and restoring macroeconomic stability to prepare the stage for the resumption of high and sustainable growth. After the first review of the implementation of the program,…
Factors Influencing Adoption and Use of Clean Certified Seed Potato Tubers among Small-scale Potato Farmers: Evidence from Koibatek Sub County, Baringo, Kenya.
WK KIPLAGAT, X Xianli, F Mchomvu, AZ Baloch… - African Journalof Agriculture …, 2016
Many studies on potato production in Kenya and sub-Sahara Africa have established that main factor that contributes to the existing yield gap is inadequate clean/certified seed. This study empirically examined the factors influencing the adoption and use of clean certified seed potato tubers among smallholder Irish potato farmers in Koibatek sub County of Baringo County in Kenya using data from 261 small-scale potato farmers, the data was collected for the long rains farming period spanning between April, 2015 and July, 2015. Binary logistic regression model was used in Eviews 8 software to establish the real factors influencing it. The study established that farmer education level, frequency of access to agricultural extension services, years of experience in potato farming, …
Bringing Agriculture and Nutrition Together using a Gender Lens2
N Verhart, A van den Wijngaart, M Dhamankar…
The feminization of agriculture is well recognized: women are acknowledged as the main food producers in mainstream development policy and practice. However, women are disproportionally affected by hunger and malnourishment. A growing body of literature focuses on how to contribute to improved nutrition through agricultural interventions. ‘Women’s empowerment’ is often cited as a promising strategy for improved nutrition. Yet, there are multiple meanings of women’s empowerment and a lack of evidence on the linkages between women’s empowerment and food and nutrition security. As a result, proposed and emerging responses do not provide the evidence of what works and why; neither do they result in sustainable food and nutrition security. This paper contributes to literature on the linkages between food and nutrition security using a gender lens; through which we can consider specific power relations between men and women. The paper argues that …
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