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Profit-making idea: Providing grain storage space for Ghana’s maize farmers.

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Maize produced in Ghana.

In Ghana, maize farmers often release their full yields to the market immediately after harvest. Because of the mechanics of supply and demand, this is not always the best time to make the product available, as the prices drop when the market becomes saturated.

Herein lies an opportunity for an investor or entrepreneur, according to Ben Kemetse, co-founder of M&B Seeds and Agricultural Services. It is one he has considered pursuing himself.

“Our market structure is such that if the price falls so much, the farmer may not make any money at all,” he explains. Warehousing with appropriate technology and processes in place to maintain the integrity and quality of the grain would solve a problem for the farmers and provide a potentially lucrative opportunity for the player offering the storage space, Kemetse argues.

“If you ask me where there is a business opportunity, this is one that exists in the value chain where M&B operates,” he says.

A study found that while some of these storage solutions already exist in Ghana, there were various reasons why they were not effective. In some cases, monitoring insects and grain moisture at the farm- and warehouse-storage facilities were not effective or reliable. The study also mentions that farmers were not necessarily patronising warehouse storage systems. A third finding was a lack of shelling, drying, and storage facilities in close proximity to grain-producing communities.

According to Kemetse, the next step is to provide a warehouse for storage close to grain farms and offer the farmers a guaranteed price.

He believes the owners of storage facilities like these could even consider adding some value to the grains, e.g. milling small quantities to provide directly to stores.

Source: howwemadeitinafrica.com

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Salt Company compensates Adina, other communities for loss of livelihood.

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The Seven Seas Salt Mining Company (formerly Kensington Industries Ltd) operating at Adina in the Ketu South Municipality would on Tuesday, pay the community and other satellite communities affected by its operations.

Mr. Elliot Edem Agbenorwu, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Ketu South, who disclosed this said the compensation would go to the communities which make up the Company’s Adina Concession (currently developed) including; Adina, Amutinu, Salakakope, Agbevekope, and Kpedzakope.

He said it would also cover the Company’s yet-to-be-developed Agavedzi-Blekusu Concession comprising Agavedzi, Blekusu, Dogbekope, Sonuto, Taskcorner, and Tsavanya; and a new concession, White D’Or (formerly granted to White D’Or Company) comprising Hedzranawo, Adafienu, Tetekope, and Agorko.

In a meeting with key stakeholders, Mr. Agbenorwu said the assembly in a bid to finding a lasting solution to the impasse between the indigenes and the salt mining Company, engaged relevant players including; the Minerals Commission on a decision for the Company to pay the compensation and hoped “this will end the agitations.”

Indigenes of the salt mining concessions particularly, Adina, had embarked on demonstrations in 2015, 2016, and 2017, which led to one death, several injured, and destruction of property over activities of the Company. The residents of the fishing-dependent community claimed of been robbed of their livelihood and polluting freshwater sources.

Mr. Agbenorwu said the complaints of the residents were carefully looked at and a consultant was engaged to carry out the valuation of the lands for the right compensation to be disturbed to the affected areas.

“The compensation will be paid to each community based on the acres of land. We agreed on community compensation because it is difficult to identify individuals and households who fish and mine at these places. There would be one representative from the chiefs, assembly members, and women groups for the signatories to the account in every community”, he said.

“Usage of the compensation is a key to me and the Assembly. The money is for the loss of livelihood, therefore it is important to put good use of it to benefit the community. To control the account, it has been decided that the Assembly continues to write to the banks to authorise activities on the accounts”, he added.

“Provision of potable water to the affected community has long been resolved. In the agreement, the Company has developed local concessions of 300 meters at the edges to provide an alternative livelihood for the residents, while work is currently ongoing (about 60 percent complete) at Agorko to enable Seven Seas to draw water from the sea for their production,” the MCE assured.

Source: GNA

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Fuel hikes affect the price of maize in Odumasi.

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Odumasi is one of the leading producers of maize in the Bono Region.

A visit by GhanaWeb to the Odumasi Maize Markets reveals an upward increment in their prices from Gh? 150 per bag last year to Gh? 220 this year, an increment of Gh? 70 per bag.

The chairman of Odumasi Maize Market Association, Mr. John Obiri Anane attributes the sharp increase in prices to the cost of transporting the maize from the various farming communities to the market. He adds that the establishment of more poultry farms in and around the municipality and the demand for the maize by buyers from Niger and Burkina Faso contributed to the price hikes.

The chairman of the association has appealed to the government to come to their aid in providing them with storage facilities and shelves to keep their produce in a more hygienic condition. The chairman indicated that working on the maize in the rainy seasons are very difficult as members have no place to dry the maize and store them but to keep them on the pavement.

Members of the association expressed concern about poor sanitation at the markets and called for the construction of toilet facilities. Some of the members advocated for soft loans from the government to assist them in their businesses to create more employment opportunities for the youth

Sunyani West District with Odumasi as its capital was one of the new districts and municipalities created in 2007 by then-President J. A. Kufuor. The Executive Instrument (E.I) created 27 new districts, 4 municipalities and upgraded 26 existing districts and 2 existing municipalities.

Odumasi is largely a farming community that is known for its cultivation and marketing of maize on a large scale all year round. There are two designated markets solely for this maize business in Odumasi.

The residents of Odumasi and its environs take advantage of the ready market to engage in maize farming activities throughout the year. Odumasi is one of the leading producers of maize in the Bono Region.

The quality of the maize attracts maize buyers from other countries such as Niger and Burkina Faso as well as buyers from Accra and Kumasi.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

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LIFESTYLE: Take these foodstuffs to save your marriages and relationships.

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One of the most discouraging and worrisome things to men is the inability to marvel at one’s spouse in bed. This is a very disturbing issue among men today.

Aside from time, care, and other luxuries, your spouse needs you to make her feel like a slave in bed. She wants you to mishandle her and beat her imagination with your sexual dexterity; that makes her feel better and accrues reverence to you.

However, if all these are not met; put yourself in her shoes, obviously, it is worrisome and a big disappointment on her side and a big shame on your side.

People spend millions on medications to enhance their sexual performance. They use synthetic drugs that in the long run have residual effects on their health and at times their wards. What a life!

One clandestine truth about life is that; nature has provided solutions to all sorts of hindrances in a man’s life.

Medically, socially, economically anything you could think of, the solutions had been in existence far before the creation of man.

These are the three (3) highlighted natural foodstuffs for solving man’s problem.

• Ginger
• Onion
• Honey

These three (3) foodstuffs are good at enhancing a man’s performance in bed. They will equip man with the needed requirements to make his woman mourn in bed. They help to stimulate the sex hormone and energize a man.

How to Use Them to Enhance Your Sexual Performance.
It is very simple to prepare; ensure you get a matured ginger and onion as well as unadulterated honey, that is, pure honey.

Blend the ginger and onion together to form a juice. After successfully doing this, add honey and mix it all together. When you are about to answer nature’s call on your wife, sip up the juice and get to work.

At the end of the adventure, your spouse would ask you several questions, as a result of her new experience.

This tip is very cheap and has no detrimental effects both in the long run and short run; rather, a healthy and fulfilled sexual life.

Another fascinating feature about this is that it has no limitation or measurement, just ensure it is well concentrated and all the constituents are well matured and genuine.

Source: naijaloaded.com.ng

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Government cancels GMO seed trials.

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aadolph mkenda, minister of Agriculture, Tanzania.

Agriculture minister Prof Adolf Mkenda made the announcement on Tuesday afternoon at the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) Mikocheni centre in Dar es Salaam, saying the decision has been made to conserve genetic resources of the country and local seed varieties.

This implies that the drought-tolerant GMO maize trial that has been ongoing at the Makutupora Research Centre in Dodoma and another for cassava at TARI Mikocheni halt operations forthwith. The maize project sought to tackle a periodic infestation of fall armyworm while the cassava trial was meant to end diseases such as the brown streak virus.

The minister raised concerns over the negative impact of GMOs on farmers, saying that if the nation lets free entrance of foreign seeds, “there will be seed market dominance by a few agricultural companies with local farmers forced to buy from them every year hence creating seed dependence.”

He, therefore, directed that from today all imported seeds must undergo effective screening at molecular biology laboratory at TARI-Mikocheni, a lab that is mandated to carry out tests before such seeds enter the market, as it has a molecular biology lab, a diseases diagnostic lab and a tissue culture lab.

“As of now, this is the government position. We shall conduct other types of agriculture research activities to improve our seeds and increase yield and productivity through conventional methods but not GMO research,” he elaborated.

Underlining the government’s acute positioning on the issue, he pointedly tasked the media to spread the word, “as it is listening. We have big task to protect our seed sovereignty and so far we are doing well. If there are some imported seeds in the market that have not undergone testing, make sure that | get the report,” he directed the TARI leadership.

After assessing the centre’s capability, he said the process must start quickly to equip the centre with modern infrastructures and needed reagents so that it can efficiently conduct the screening exercise for good results.

“Today | have two samples of imported cotton and sunflower on my table. | want them to be tested to see whether they are GMO or not but the centre has no capacity to do this. We can’t go on this way. Make sure you improve the performance of the centre by building capacity,” the minister intoned.

He also stressed the need for TARI-Mikocheni to network with similar testing institutions and labs in the testing and screening exercise on samples of imported seeds.

“| also direct you to go around and assess the capacity of molecular biology laboratories in other institutions and see if they have the capacity to test imported seeds,’ he pursued, noting that transformation of

Agriculture will be brought about by science, technology, and innovation..read more on

https://epaper.ippmedia.com

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5th edition of Ghana Beverages Award Launched and Nominations open.

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Photo credit: Ghanataxstamp

Marketing and Communications industry leader, Global Media Alliance, has launched the 5th edition of the annual Ghana Beverages Awards (GBA).

The launch, which came off in Accra also paved way for the opening of nominations in a lead up to the main event.

Being organised under the theme “Inspiring Excellence in Ghana’s Beverage Industry”, the award scheme seeks to promote both local and foreign beverages as well as the participation of small-scale beverage enterprises in Ghana.

The Award scheme also serves as an avenue to bring together different industry stakeholders to deliberate on current happenings, the future of the Ghanaian beverage industry, and discuss progress paths.

Speaking after the launch, Chief Director for Global Media Alliance, Emma Wenani, said “Over the years GBA has seen growth starting with the number of categories and entrants and continues to promise more excitement to its patrons.

“Last year, for instance, saw the institution of a beverage industry tour to enable the GBA Board to familiarise with the work and practices of the nominated companies. That initiative was of the new activities, which were introduced in the build-up to the 2019 Awards Night. ”

“This year, GBA has classified Cocoa/Chocolate Product of the Year and Dairy Product of the Year as two separate categories unlike before. This is in acknowledgment to feedback from stakeholders, especially consumers,” she added.

Ms. Wenani expressed her appreciation to all stakeholders who have in diverse ways contributed to the successes of the award scheme and encouraged Ghanaians to contribute to national development through the patronage of locally manufactured goods including local beverages.

“I would like to sincerely thank all our industry players for their participation and support for Ghana Beverage Awards so far. By virtue of your support, GBA remains the reference point for identifying beverage companies who are in touch with their markets and contributing significantly to the Ghanaian economy,” she said.

The immediate past edition of GBA saw Club Beer emerge as the winner of the ultimate award, Product of the Year with Manufacturer of the Year Award going to the Twellium Industrial Company Limited, among others.

Ghana Beverages Awards is organised in partnership with Perception Management International, Food Research Institute (FRI) under CSIR, Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Consumer Protection Agency (CPA), and the Food and Beverage Association of Ghana (FABAG).

Source: myjoyonline.com

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FDA outlines programmes for 2021 amidst COVID-19.

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The CEO of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Delese Mimi Darko, has reassured members of the general public of the efficacy of the face masks, hand sanitizers, and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) the authority has approved for use by the public.

She cautioned suppliers to ensure strict adherence to the approved standards for these products and added that random inspections will be carried out by the staff of the authority as part of its post-market surveillance activities to ensure compliance.

Mrs. Darko also urged the general public to observe the COVID-19 protocols of regular hand washing and social distancing in the fight against the pandemic.

As the regulator of food and medicinal products in Ghana, the FDA has since April 2020, approved more than 10 different brands of the face and nose masks for use by the general public. The authority has also certified 45 companies to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) to combat the pandemic.

Outlining key activities for this year, Mrs. Darko indicated that the authority is working on the approval of a COVID-19 vaccine. Once a vaccine is approved for use in Ghana, the Ministry of Health will issue a national policy on the use of the COVID-19 vaccine.

While the FDA has begun the year with a resolve to ensure the protection of public health and safety, it seeks to enhance public confidence through its activities and programmes in 2021, underpinned by its core values of integrity, accountability, and teamwork. To this end, the CEO, Mrs. Darko has urged staff of the FDA to discharge their duties with professionalism and integrity.

The authority as part of its activities for 2021 has introduced a customer survey platform, to obtain feedback from consumers and clients in order to improve its services to the general public. The survey is to enable consumers to share their service experience, make suggestions and recommendations on the registration of products and facilities, as well as report suspicious products and activities to the FDA.

The authority has drawn the attention of the general public to sections 99 and 118 of the Public Health Act, Act 851 of 2012, which prohibits the importation of unregistered food, drugs, cosmetics, household chemical substances, medical devices, tobacco and substances of abuse.

In consideration of the reduction by the Authority of registration fees by 80-90 percent since the beginning of last year, the CEO has urged the business community to endeavour to comply with the registration requirements. In relation to enforcement, the FDA is collaborating with GRA Customs and the Ghana Integrated Customs Management Systems (ICUMS) to provide protection for importers whose registration numbers might be used by other importers to process permits for approval.

The authority’s Progressive Licensing Scheme (PLS) certification initiative which focused on the food industry last year, and targeted 500 enterprises, 56 have so far received certification. The authority indicates that in 2021, the PLS certification mechanism will be extended to the local cosmetics industry.

The FDA seeks to collaborate with consumers as well as importers and manufacturers in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and the overall achievement of its set goals and objectives. Indeed, the Authority is focused on facilitating the receipt of feedback, comments, and recommendations from all stakeholders in order to build mutual confidence and deliver on its mandate

Source: thebftonline.com

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LIFESTYLE: Do you have a liver problem and a weak immune system? Do this every morning.

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We have all heard it somewhere or the other that drinking warm water with the juice of one lemon is beneficial for health. Here is delving into the reasons…

Helps your digestive system.
Warm lemon water on an empty stomach early in the morning helps stimulate the gastrointestinal tract. Digestion improves, heartburn is reduced and it helps in the process of elimination.

Detoxifies liver.
Lemon juice has citric acid, which helps the enzymes to function better. It also stimulates the liver and aids in detoxification.

Work on your pH level.
The acidity in our body can be harmful and lemon water can help reduce this. Though lemon has citric acid, the nutrients and minerals in it are alkaline in nature. Citric acid is not a strong acid and so, is easily removed from our bodies by elimination processes like perspiration. Lemon, however, stimulates the formation of calcium carbonate that neutralises other strong acids in the body. This is helpful, especially if your diet is heavy in proteins like meat and cheese. Experts say lemon can help change the pH balance of the blood and can also help in dealing with urinary tract infections.

Strengthens your immune system.
All citrus foods are a storehouse of vitamin C. This vitamin is known to fight colds and is good for your immune system. Lemons also have potassium, which stimulates brain and nerve function and controls blood pressure.

Clears and freshens your skin.
Experts say that vitamin C is great for youthful skin because it helps in the production of collagen. Its antioxidants revive dull skin and keep it healthy. Warm lemon water removes toxins from the bloodstream. Also, diluted lemon juice, when applied to blemishes, can actually help lighten them.

Battles bad breath.
Lemon juice battles bad breath by keeping bacteria away. Lemon juice battles bad breath by keeping bacteria away.

Aids in weight loss.
Lemon juice in the morning fights food cravings. Also, it has been found earlier that people who maintain an alkaline diet tend to lose weight more quickly than others.

Do not overdo the lemon bit.
Do not overdo the lemon. Just because one lemon helped you lose two kilos, squeezing four in your juice will not help you lose eight! Lemon has corrosive properties too and your tooth enamel may suffer.

Note to remember:Adding a little honey to your lemon juice makes it more palatable and also battles phlegm and helps rid your body of mucous.

Never:Use bottled lemon juice. Only the natural lemon is beneficial.

Always: Rinse your mouth with plain water after you drink lemon juice.

Source: m.timesofindia.com

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Commodity exchange considers trading cocoa.

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As part of the medium-term plan for the trade of commodities in Ghana, the Ghana Commodity Exchange (GCX) is considering listing on its trading floor the light cocoa bean, which is mostly consumed by domestic processors.

Currently, the exchange does not trade cash crop contracts but plans to introduce a number of them in the coming years.

“In the medium-term period, we’re looking at bringing commodities such as the cash crops onto the trading floor of the exchange. We’re looking at also the possibility of trading the domestic cocoa here in Ghana—that is, the cocoa traded and used by processors here in Ghana,” Robert Dowuona Owoo, Chief Operating Officer of the GCX, said in an interview with Business24.

He noted that the plan is currently at the discussion stage, which will involve all stakeholders, such as the cocoa marketing company, in deciding the standards and protocols to be adopted for the trading of the commodity.

According to Cocobod, the industry regulator, about a third of Ghana’s annual cocoa beans output is processed domestically, with a target to boost this share to 50 percent.

Domestic processors will be able to buy their beans from the exchange when the crop is listed, said Mr. Owoo.

“The good thing is that it’s going to help determine the price on the international market,” he added.

Industry watchers say the introduction of cocoa would be a boost to the fast-expanding exchange, given the huge impact of cocoa on the Ghanaian economy.

“Listing of cocoa will expand the market volume of the exchange,” said vice president of the Ghana Commodity Brokers Association, Jeffery Ntorinkansah.

He added that the introduction of cocoa and other cash crops will attract investment to the GCX, especially as the government—which is presently the sole shareholder—intends to divest its interest in the exchange.

“When cocoa is listed, the international interested parties will see a premium in investing. Fortunately, the government’s willingness to offload its shares in the exchange will make it even more attractive for international investors,” the commodity expert said.

Mr. Owoo, of the GCX, said the exchange is also in the preparation and approval process to allow trading of cashew contracts.

Source: Business 24

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LIFESTYLE: Consume raw garlic with warm water every morning for these health benefits.

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Consuming raw garlic and water every morning on an empty stomach is very beneficial for your overall health.

Minuscule changes in your daily morning routine can have many advantages and have a positive effect on your health. You all know the benefits of drinking water in the morning. But do you know having warm water with the right ingredient, first thing in the morning can have some amazing health benefits? Eating raw garlic with a glass of water every day in the morning can be really beneficial for your overall well being.

Do you know garlic has some amazing health benefits too? The combination of garlic and water is great for your overall health. Read on to know why you should have garlic with a glass of water every morning.

Better Digestion.
Having garlic in the morning helps you have better digestion. Better digestion will keep all the digestive disorders at bay. It is further very helpful in making you lose weight.

Detoxifies Body.
This combination of having raw garlic and water helps you detoxify your body. Garlic is a great alternative to detoxify your body. It clears your body of all the harmful toxins and prevents diseases like diabetes, depression, and different types of cancers too.

Prevents Diabetes.
Consuming raw garlic helps you reduce the blood glucose levels of the body. It keeps a check on your sugar levels and prevents the risk of diabetes.

Helpful In TB.
Garlic is also believed to be really helpful in tuberculosis. If you have been diagnosed with TB then you should consume garlic every day.

Treats Cold, Cough.
Garlic has been a common remedy for treating problems like cold, cough, and asthma. Having garlic with water every day helps you prevent the risk of such common problems.

Prevents Heart Diseases.
By lowering the bad cholesterol in the body, garlic protects your heart by preventing cardiovascular diseases.

Improves Eye Health.
Because of its anti-microbial properties, garlic works great for your eyes. Consuming garlic regularly helps you improve your eye health. Don’t Miss Improve Your Eyesight Naturally With These 6 Magic Foods

Prevents UTI and Kidney Infections.
UTI and kidney infections are a common problem among women these days. One of the best remedies to treat them is having garlic. Garlic prevents UTI and kidney infections.

Increases Longevity.
Garlic helps in improving the functioning of your important body organs and this further increases your longevity.

Instead Of Tossing Garlic Skin Away Use It in the Following Ways.
Make sure that the garlic you consume every morning is fresh. Don’t eat too much of it as it can be negative for your body. People who are allergic to garlic should never eat it eat raw. If eating raw garlic leads to headaches or fever then please stop consuming it right away. Pregnant women and people suffering from stomach ulcers should avoid consuming raw garlic every day.

Source: HerZindagi.com

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