The Chief Executive Officer of BEIT Farms Mr. Evans Larbi has urged farmers across the African continent to see farming as a serious business. He believes that agriculture plays a pivotal role when it comes to the economic development of this continent.
“The continent has the richest natural resources for agricultural production in the world, so why are we still importing junk foods into our continent” he quizzed.
Mr. Larbi made these remarks in an interview during the Africa Smallholder Farmers Summit 2020 with the theme; “Creating jobs for Africa Women and Youth through smallholder farming”.
Mr. Larbi pointed out that unlocking the country’s agricultural potential will create jobs as well as providing enough food for domestic supply, adding that the task was made more urgent by the vast sums spent on food imports, with Africa spending an annual total of about US$35bn on importation.
However, a strategy change will be necessary in order to achieve this goal. “Agriculture must cease being treated as a development programme; agriculture must henceforth be treated as a business to change the status quo”, he said.
The Chief Executive Officer of Okata Farms Mrs. Mabel Akoto Kwudzo, the 2017 second national best farmer believes that the need has come to comprehensively reposition agriculture as a business among the youth, including its presence in the various levels of education.
Mrs. Kwudzo said that along with creating a youth in agriculture policy which would address some of the long-standing issues that face the youth in agriculture such as access to land and funding for agriculture, marketing and information about the industry, the issue of how agriculture is taught in schools will also need to be addressed.
“There should be a rethink and bigger approach and that start in our education sector,” she said.
The 2020 Best Farmer, Youth in Agriculture for the Upper Manya Krobo District in the Eastern Region underscored the urgency for consistent advocacy on the challenges confronting smallholder farmers and entreated the media to mainstream the sector in the national agenda.
“Agriculture is not a secondary profession neither a fallback profession nor something you do when you don’t have anything else to do. We need to give agriculture a place in our education curriculum and not just to be taught to our students on the basis of primary agriculture,” she bemoaned said.
The Managing Campaigner for EcoCare Ghana Mr. Obed Owusu-Addai and his organization have thrown their support behind the ongoing “Securing Equitable Living Income for Cocoa Farmers Campaign” that’s seeking to eliminate extreme poverty among cocoa farmers in West Africa region.
Mr. Owusu-Addai says the struggle to eliminate extreme poverty among cocoa farmers in West Africa region is a duty of all and not just the Ghana Cocoa Board and Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA).
“We must clarify the regulatory frameworks governing cocoa production and trade, and engage relevant stakeholders to discuss and develop concrete workable strategies and roadmaps to address pricing challenges in the cocoa sector; with emphasis on guaranteeing sustainable cocoa production,” he noted.
The Managing Campaigner for EcoCare Ghana made these remarks at an International Cocoa conference with the theme; “Securing Equitable Living Income for Cocoa Farmers”.
The two days’ conference brought together participants from Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, and through the power of technology stakeholders in Europe through an online platform called zoom here in Accra.
Mr. Owusu-Addai pointed out that Cocoa is a very important agro-commodity in West Africa, contributing significantly to the socio-economic well-being of many households in the sub-region.
“ECOWAS member countries accounted for about 68% of global cocoa supply in 2019/2020 cocoa season, out of global production of 5 million tonnes in the 2019/2020 cocoa season of which 3.4 million tonnes were harvested from West Africa alone” he revealed.
He said that according to figures from the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO); Africa’s cocoa-producing countries capture just 3% of global chocolate industry revenue.
“Although Côte d’Ivoire produced 2.1 million tonnes of cocoa in 2017 (44% of global output), it brought in just $3.3bn from trade in an industry valued at $103.3bn in 2017” he indicated.
According to him, the recent cocoa barometer report, which depicts the distribution of the cocoa sector profits along its value chain, observed that unfair distribution of value and power in the cocoa value chain are part of the root causes of extreme poverty for cocoa farmers in West Africa.
He added that the cocoa supply chain is increasingly dominated by a select group of large corporations where mergers and takeovers have resulted in just a few companies dominating up to 80% of the whole value chain, while farmers lack a sufficiently organized voice to be strong actors.
“Almost all West African cocoa farmers live below globally defined poverty levels. In Côte d’Ivoire the world’s largest producer of cocoa, a farmer should earn four times his current income in order to reach the global poverty line of $2 a day. Despite all the efforts in cocoa at the moment, the core of the problem is still not being addressed; the extreme poverty of cocoa farmers, and their lack of a voice in the debate” he said.
The Secretary, National Board of Directors of WCFO Ghana Chapter, Moses Djan Asiedu, recommended more training on good agricultural practices and concerted extension services to support sustainable cocoa production and improves the farmer’s lot.
The Ghana Civil-Society Cocoa Platform (GCCP) Coordinator Sandra Sarkwah underscored the urgency for consistent advocacy on the challenges confronting cocoa growers and entreated the media to mainstream the cocoa sector in the national agenda.
“The cocoa advocacy initiative must be guided by the national interest to engender a holistic improvement at the various stages of the cocoa value chain for the benefit of players and the economy in general,” she said.
The conference was organized by EcoCare Ghana in collaboration with ClientEarth, TaylorCrabbe Initiative, Fern, and Ghana Civil-society Cocoa Platform (GCCP).
The conference is funded by the United Kingdom Department for International Development’s (DfID) Forest Governance, Markets and Climate (FGMC) Programme.
The Ada Songhor Salt Project is to soon take off following Parliament’s ratification of its mining lease.
The project, with a production capacity of between 130,000 tonnes to 200,000 tonnes, is expected to boost employment and economic activities within the Ada area of the Greater Accra Region.
The Mankralo of Ada, Nene Agudey Obichere who addressed a press conference on behalf of the chief of Ada, Nene Abram Kabu III, lauded President Nana Akufo-Addo for fast-tracking ratification of mining leases for the project.
He noted that his people had been deprived of access to the river for both fishing and salt-mining.
He said the absence of commercial salt mining in the area had deprived his people of employment, following the project’s demise.
He said the government canceled the lease agreement in 1985 after clashes with locals, and later set up the Songhor Salt Project to continue with the salt mining – but the project was deprived of resources.
“I am further delighted to say that Parliament, after going through its due process, has ratified these agreements in favour of Electrochem Ghana Limited (EGL) associated with our preferred investor,” he said.
The leases will last for a term period of 15 years, which may be renewed after the expiration of the term subject to the minerals and mining laws of Ghana.
To avoid a repeat of similar clashes, the chief said the project and EGL had agreed to engage engineers to demarcate and set aside specific areas for local mining, in consultation with stakeholders.
In addition, EGL is obliged to do large pans in the areas that would be identified, which upon mining would be sold back by his people at prevailing prices to EGL.
Local content. In terms of local content, EGL is obliged to source both skilled and unskilled labour forces from Ada first and give the Ada Traditional Authority representation on the board to oversee the smooth-running of the project.
He urged residents in and outside of Ada to have confidence in the project, and ensure that it benefits the entire area.
Ratification. It is to be recalled that three mining lease agreements granting mineral rights to an investor – Electrochem Ghana Limited – to dig for, mine, and produce salt at Ada Songor area in the Greater Accra Region, were approved by Ghana’s Parliament.
The mining lease agreements were in respect of the Ada Songor Salt Project (Ada West Lease Area [Ada Songor]); the Ada Songor Salt Project (Ada East Lease Area [Ada Songor ‘B’]); and the Ada Songor Salt Project (Ada East Lease Area [Ada Songor ‘C’]).
They were laid in Parliament for ratification on Wednesday, November 4, 2020, by the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, on behalf of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, pursuant to Article 268(1) of the Constitution and Section 5(4) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).
Mr. Danquah Addo-Yobo, West Africa Regional Director, Yara receiving the awards with his team.
Yara Ghana, the leading supplier of premium fertilizer products received two awards during the Ghana Cocoa Awards 2020 at Kempinski Hotel, Accra.
During 2020 Ghana Cocoa Awards night 42 awards (comprising 30 competitive and 12 Honorary awards) were presented to distinguished Stakeholders, who, regardless of the COVID-19 Pandemic, held the value chain uninterrupted.
Out of these 42 awards, Yara Ghana emerged as the Agro Input Brand of the Year 2020 and the Agro Input Company of the Year 2020 among its competitors.
Indubitably for the awards, Yara Ghana engages major stakeholders in the cocoa sector and supported the country’s goal of reaching 1 million metric tonnes. Possibly, with the introduction of the “Asaase Wura” cocoa fertilizer and YaraLiva Nitrabor, many farmers have improved their soil fertility and thus increased yield and income.
Its contribution to the cocoa sector by supplying high-quality products to farmers and placing farmers at the centre of a consistent knowledge-based approach to improve their yields and quality ushered the company as the winner of the awards category.
Yara Ghana’s technical support for farmers on its Yara Crop Nutrition Concept which focuses on knowledge, portfolio combination, and application competence has abetted farmers and elevated their profit in a sustainable manner.
Yara Ghana’s contribution to the cocoa sector could not be overlooked than to recognize the company with the deserving awards.
Stakeholders in Conservation Agriculture (CA) held discussions at a two-day summit in Accra, to develop a consolidated Manual for CA in Ghana. The engagement, funded by the European Union’s Resilience Against Climate Change (REACH) Project, aimed to review the myriad of existing CA manuals in Ghana to develop a standardized one that serves as a one-stop reference document for stakeholders.
Conservation Agriculture is a sustainable approach to agricultural production which aims to protect soil from erosion and degradation, improve its quality and biodiversity, and contribute to the preservation of natural resources, water, and air, whilst improving yields. CA is based on three core principles: minimum soil disturbance, maintenance of permanent soil cover, and use of crop rotations with a diversity of crop species.
The development of a consolidated CA manual is in line with component 2 of the REACH Project implemented by GIZ, which among other things would seek to ensure climate-smart livelihoods by promoting CA at the institutional, communal, and individual level.
The manual will then form the basis for the design of a curriculum for training agricultural extension workers at the Damongo Agricultural College. Such a course is foreseen to be replicated in other educational and training institutions in the country. This would strengthen the extension services for farmer training in conservation agriculture in the face of a changing and variable climate, particularly in the Northwest.
The CA discussion summit brought together stakeholders from Government Institutions, Development Partners, Non-Governmental Organizations, Research Institutions, and Academia to build consensus on the concept, structure, content, and chapters of the manual. This follows the formulation of a draft concept and chapters after collecting data on already existing manuals and documents on Conservation Agriculture.
In a welcoming speech, the Team Leader for the Project, Florian Winckler stated that “the EU-REACH project is happy to contribute to government’s efforts aimed at developing the agricultural sector especially in light of the looming climate change issues. The development of the consolidated CA manual for Ghana will be beneficial to all stakeholders, especially in the agricultural sector”.
“The REACH Project takes a keen interest in the improvement of the livelihoods of the rural people who largely depend on agriculture and most importantly through climate-smart practices…” Mr. Winckler added.
Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire have set their price tag for cocoa to counter unfair trade in the international market.
To overcome control by multinational foreign companies, the two countries partnered in 2019 and agreed on a new market price for cocoa at US$2,600 per tonne, with a living income differential of US$ 400 per tonne should price drop.
EcoCare Co-founder and Managing Campaigner in West Africa, Obed Owusu-Addai, said despite the countries contributing to the global market, cocoa farmers still live under the poverty line.
“The partnership of the two countries intends to protect and safeguard the welfare of cocoa farmers by guaranteeing them a fair price for their cocoa beans,” Owusu-Addai said at the ongoing Fourth African Conference of Science Journalists.
He said farmers get three percent of the cocoa and chocolate earnings. As a source of livelihood in West Africa, cocoa – a large bean-shaped fruit from the chocolate tree – has health benefits that include improved cholesterol and blood sugar level, and reduced inflammation.
It is also used as a chocolate flavor in foods. Owusu-Addai said processors, supermarkets, marketing companies, and manufacturers earn 73 percent of the revenue, leaving the farmers that grow the crop on two to five acres of land with almost nothing.
He said at a virtual conference that although the multibillion industry was benefiting from the trade, they were against paying extra amounts to avoid incurring additional costs.
The activist said through a lobby, the World Cocoa Foundation, and the international buyers sought to avoid the new prices through excuses of sustainability programmes.
He said the two countries threatened to cancel all sustainability programmes if the buyers refuse to pay the US $400 living income differential per tonne of cocoa beans.
Owusu-Addai said Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana are the current major exporters of raw cocoa to the European Union market, contributing to 74 percent of production in Africa.
The Ivoirians produce 54 percent and the Ghanaians 20 percent of the exports. “The major importers are the Netherlands, United States of America, Germany, and Belgium who consume cocoa from small-scale farmers and large-scale plantations,” he said.
In 2019, the cocoa market injected US$12.1 billion into the economies of Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, while the chocolate market generated over US$ 130.7 billion.
The farmers in Cote d’Ivoire benefited from a 21 percent increase in farm gate prices by the government.
“Before 2016, the farm gate prices dropped drastically due to international prices control,” said Owusu-Addai. In Ghana, the government had capped prices at GH515 per 64kg bag for a continuous four years in the same period. “But with the new partnership and agreement, the prices in Ghana rose to GH660 (USD113) per bag, that is a 28 percent increment,” said Owusu- Addai.
He said the countries’ initiative to regulate prices through a partnership can be replicated in other African countries that trade in commercial export crops such as coffee in the East African region. “For success to regulate prices in the European Union, mutual trade partnership is the proven way to go,” he said.
Story by: Bozo Jenje Bozo and Nana Yaw Reuben Jnr.
The 42 Award winners of the 2nd Ghana Cocoa Awards.
Cocoa is the chief agricultural export of Ghana and Ghana’s main cash crop. Ghana is the second-largest cocoa exporter in the world.
Ghana’s economy largely depends on agriculture which accounts for nearly 30 percent of GDP and about 60 percent of all employment of which cocoa contributes to about 10 percent of agricultural GDP. Of this immense contribution from the sector to the economy that the Cocoa Post has organized the 2nd maiden Ghana Cocoa Awards Night to honor the true heroes behind Ghana’s economic backbone.
Speaking at the prestigious event, Nana Ehunabobrim Prah Agyensaim IV, the King of Assin Owirenkyi Traditional Area, and the Chairman for the event welcomed the distinguished guests and called for patronizing and promoting cocoa by consuming a cocoa drink at the government institutions instead of tea and coffee.
Nana Ehunabobrim Prah Agyensaim IV urged Ghanaians to promote cocoa consumption to serves as an incentive to the pioneers in the cocoa sector. “To be a pioneer is paid for, and when we leave this event we should ensure that this God-giving product is actually promoted by us by ensuring consumption of cocoa products”, Nana said.
“We all know cocoa was born here and raised for the world but brazing this socialization process, are you part of the solution or part of the problem?”, he quizzed. He entreated all to support and form part of the solution to promote the cocoa sector.
Adding to the promotion and consumption of cocoa, the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Cocoa Board, Hon. Joseph Boahen Aidoo said Ghana produces cocoa beans but a lot of Ghanaians do not take cocoa products. “When you go for functions, I am sure a lot of you would have taken tea or coffee already, you don’t ask for cocoa. When there are functions, there are tea and coffee breaks but hardly do you see cocoa break”, Hon. Boahen Aidoo echoed.
He explained the nutritional benefits of cocoa beans and the need to engage cocoa in our daily meal, “cocoa is a very important crop that we know very little about, essentially, cocoa has anti-aging properties, thus antioxidants which prevent diabetes, cancer and protect the body from all manner of cardiovascular diseases”.
Hon. Boahen Aidoo assured that the current administration of the Ghana Cocoa Board in few years to come would make it possible for cocoa to be the main food on every Ghanaian child’s table. He counseled both the young individuals and the old to patronize the chocolate that has a high concentration of cocoa for its benefits.
With its financial benefits, Hon. decried of the copious amount of revenue in the industry, yet Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire that produce about 60 percent of cocoa beans for the world gain marginal income from it. “When you look at the cocoa value chain is worth more than $100 billion and Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire are producing around 60 percent of world cocoa beans, meanwhile, the two countries together earn less than 5 percent out of $100 billion”, he bemoaned.
The actual worth of cocoa is found not in the primary sector of production he said, but at the secondary and tertiary levels of production. He beseeched the sector players and the stakeholders to add value to the cocoa beans to amass the worth that the industry presents.
To harness the cocoa industry for economic resiliency, Mr. Yofi Grant, the CEO of Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) said the government has instituted a plan to protect the farmers by implementing certain policies including Cocoa Stabilization Plan Policy, and Free Fertilizer Distribution Policy. These policies are expected to improve the low income of farmers and eventually affect the farmers’ lives more positively than before.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Yofi Grant said Ghana would no longer become a mere producer and exporter of cocoa beans instead, there are policies geared towards the processing of cocoa would be championed. “The government would be engaged in finance and corporative system with a capital outfit as it has begun since cocoa was here, provision of support services to the cocoa sector, cocoa haulage, warehousing and partnership with the existing local processing companies for value addition to our cocoa beans”, he submitted.
According to him, the GIPC mandate is to market the cocoa products such as cocoa shower gel, shea butter, soaps as well as cocoa gin and brandy along the supply chain.
Mr. Kojo Hayford, founder of the Ghana Cocoa Awards thanked the invited guests for honoring the invitation to be part of the special occasion. He mentioned that the awards are basically in recognition of the individual as well as the collective roles played towards the sustenance of the cocoa sector in Ghana over the years.
“The Ghana Cocoa Awards was instituted as against the background that Ghana’s niche as the producer of premium quality cocoa would not have been possible without the critical roles of various stakeholders (like your good selves) play to keep the value chain unbroken”, he voiced.
He expressed his profound gratitude to the stakeholders who worked tirelessly to support the government’s effort amid the pandemic. “We appreciate the difficulties the global community has faced due to the ramifications of this Pandemic. However, amidst the far-reaching effects of COVID-19, you have not let the cocoa sector down. Some of you supported the government’s efforts at containing the disease and we are proud of you. A lot of you donated to support COCOBOD’s efforts at protecting our gallant cocoa farmers from contracting the virus”, he expressed.
The Ghana Cocoa Awards 2020 awarded 42 distinguished stakeholders (comprising 30 competitive and 12 honorary awards) who, regardless of the COVID-19 Pandemic, held the value chain uninterrupted at the Kempinski Hotel, Accra.
The advent of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) tends to produce wholesome foods which in turn might increase the price of foods. Thanks to the development of AFCTA Ghanaians are most likely to buy farm produce at exorbitant prices.
This was divulged during the Ghana Economic Forum 2020 with the theme: Resetting the Economy Beyond COVID-19; Building Economic Resilience and Self-sufficiency at Kempinski Hotel, Accra.
On the break-out session, experts from all walks of discipline namely academia, agribusiness, financial institution, and consultancy deliberated on the topic; building sustainable agro-economic models for Ghana’s self-sufficiency, Mr. Robert Dovlo, CEO of REEL consult said that Ghanaians must prepare to pay a higher price for food commodities.
According to Mr. Dovlo, to build a sustainable agro-economy, the advent of AFCFTA requires Ghanaians to protect the agribusiness sector since it is one of the models of paying relatively expensive prices for food commodities to enhance quality and to upscale production in order to compete with other African countries.
“AFCFTA is a good opportunity to revamp our economy but we must be prepared to pay higher prices for our food commodities because our producers would have to upscale production, and add value to their products to meet the competitive market. As such it would underline agribusiness’ growing reputation for resilience and once again demonstrates its effectiveness at the AFCFTA”, he underscored.
The CEO of the Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana, Mr. Anthony Morrison added that Ghanaians must be prepared to pay a higher amount of money to purchase food commodities to leverage on production with competitors in terms of quality goods.
He expounded the need for Ghana to mitigate selling its raw materials and do value addition to its raw products for higher income. “As a country, we cannot survive the AFCFTA with other African countries by continuing selling our raw materials, we need to do value addition to our products to meet continental standards”, he said.
Withal, he said Ghana imports about 70% of human resources to the sector which makes production costly. The high cost of agricultural experts from other countries he added drains farmers’ resources leaving them with nothing at the end of production. Therefore, to ensure sustainability and economic self-sufficient Ghanaians should prepare to pay high for food.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) of Shai Osudoku, Hon. Daniel Teye Akuffo has lamented the rate at which real estate developers are taking over greenbelt lands earmarked for agriculture purposes.
The issue, he said, needed policy intervention by the government with support from the chiefs and opinion leaders in the District to preserve the greenbelt for its intended purposes.
He said if care was not taken the future of agriculture would be bleak due to the practice.
Mr. Akuffo said this during the 36th National Farmers Day on the theme: “Ensuring Agribusiness Development under Covid-19: Challenges and Opportunities” at Kadjanya in the Osudoku District of the Greater Accra Region.
Mr. Akuffo said data from the Food and Agriculture Organisation indicated that over 78 percent of the world food needs were met by small scale farmers.
For this reason, he said, investing in agriculture is one of the most effective strategies for modeling a resilient economy by ensuring food security and employment.
He said lessons should be learned from the droughts from 1982 to 1983, coupled with the devastating effects of bushfires in 1984, which reduced agricultural yield drastically, resulting in famine.
“This is enough reason for us as a nation or district to refocus our energies on formulating better agricultural policies,” he said.
“It is, therefore, noteworthy to commend the visionary leadership and good policies of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo for launching a number of unprecedented agricultural sector support initiatives aimed at modernizing agriculture and creating gainful employment for the citizens.”
He said the strategic location of the District, which had the benefit of the Kpong Irrigation Scheme, had 3,136 hectares of land for banana and rice cultivation.
He said the Assembly, in collaboration with the people of Atrobinya in the Eastern Region, established 15 hectares of coconut plantation and another 15 hectares of Mahogany and Acacia at Kordiabe with a total of 126 farmers under the Ghana Productive Safety Net Project.
Mr. Jonathan Nartey, the Director of Agriculture, said the Department of Agriculture, in its drive to reach more farmers, intensified the strategy of developing farmer-based Organizations (FBOs) and had, therefore, instituted the best FBO special award.
Ghana has banned poultry imports from the Netherlands, Germany, Russia, and Denmark over bird flu.
The government has temporarily banned the importation of domestic birds as well as their products from the Netherlands, Germany, Russia, Denmark and the United Kingdom with immediate effect.
This came following the outbreak of highly pathogenic Avian Influenza subtype H5N8 from these European countries.
A Press Statement issued by the Acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Agric, Robert P. Ankobiah said: “Importers are to note that all importation permits that were issued for such consignment from the Netherlands, Germany, Russia, Denmark, and the United Kingdom have been rendered invalid with immediate effect.”
The ministry stressed that day-old chicks, hatching eggs, frozen chicken, poultry products, and poultry feeds have all been affected by the ban.
