The Fisheries Enforcement Unit of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development has warned to fisherfolk to strictly adhere to the closed fishing season exercise.
According to the National Coordinator of the unit, Commodore Francis Ayiteyvi Nyarko, his team has deployed enough personnel to monitor the coast to ensure that no fisherman goes on a fishing expedition during this period.
The government has implemented the 2024 closed fishing season for both artisanal fishermen and industrial trawlers, which began on July 1.
Speaking to the media, Commodore Ayiteyvi Nyarko stated that the marine police, navy, and other security agencies are on board to ensure the exercise is conducted effectively.
He warned that the law would be applied against anyone found breaking the arrangements of the closed season.
“Anybody that we arrest, we will hand them over to the police for the appropriate action to be taken against them. The enforcement team comprises the Marine Police, the Navy, MCS personnel and then any other security personnel that may be available.
“Now we are doing this in close collaboration with the Navy in particular. The police are strongly behind us. So it is teamwork. For them to accept that this closed season has come to stay, it is a law that we are enforcing, so we don’t expect them to do the things we don’t want them to do.”
Aishetu Fusheini, a 65-year-old farmer, stares blankly at a bag of groundnuts, her last yield from her two-acre farm. She had expected a higher yield, but drought and heat have conspired to rob her harvest.
She ended up with four bags, which could have been twice that or more. Three and a half bags were sold to feed her household, and the reserve is seed for the new planting season.
Northern Ghana, considered one of the country’s food baskets, experiences only one rainy season, resulting in prolonged flooding, and then drought. This climatic difference impacts food production and worsens poverty and food insecurity.
Aishetu, a single mother, is worried that the food she has for her household of 10 adults and five children below 13 years, will not last long.
Food insecurity is a daily headache for Aishetu, despite vast stretches of land surrounding her house. As a farmer who intercrops groundnut and okro, she recognises that food is very important for survival and it is painful to deny her children or herself food because she does not have the means to provide it.
Malia Mohammed, another farmer, shares a similar story. She walks three miles to her two-acre land to plant groundnuts and soya beans on an empty stomach. She hopes to sell part of the groundnuts and keep the rest and the soya for consumption.
Her household of 15, comprising nine men and six women with eight children between four months and eight years, is concerned about the food shortage situation, which has been getting worse over the past two years.
Mahama Ziblim, a 33-year-old farmer living with a disability, cultivates soya beans, groundnuts and maize on his three-acre land for his household of 16 people. Part of the harvest is sold to cater for toiletries, but when the family runs out of food, he is compelled to work for an aggregator who engages people to bag soya beans.
Vulnerability analysis
Experts attribute food insecurity in the region to factors such as inconsistent rainfall patterns, climate change, pest- infestation, poor road infrastructure, lack of access to finance, inadequate market, post-harvest losses and unsustainable farming systems.
In recent times, COVID-19 and the Russian-Ukraine war have also disrupted the global agricultural supply chain, leading to food insecurity.
Household food security is an issue that affects populations around the world, with food insecurity remaining a serious challenge for many households in Ghana, particularly among smallholder farmers.
The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) have implemented the Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis (CFSVA) to measure food insecurity among the population.
The CFSVA has revealed that households that depend mainly on agriculture as their source of household income, unskilled labour, household heads who are less educated, and remittances-dependent households are more likely to be food insecure.
The study also found that the Northern Region has the highest level of food insecurity, with 598,706 people experiencing food insecurity, followed by the Upper East Region with 634,293 people.
CFSVA Project Coordinator at the Ghana Statistical Service, Dr Peter Takyi Peprah, explained that the regions with the highest level of food insecurity are also the areas most prone to adverse weather conditions, such as floods and droughts.
He said those regions were disproportionately affected by food prices during their lean season and bumper season.
Worrying statistics
He pointed out that the districts in the country facing the highest rates of food insecurity were Kassena Nankana West District with about 78.8 per cent; Karaga, 75.9:per cent; Builsa South, 74.5 per cent; Tatale, 68.4 per cent; Bolgatanga East, 66.3 per cent; Kumbungu, 61.2 per cent; Jirapa, 61 per cent; Chereponi 60.3 per cent; Tempane 59.2 per cent; and Bongo, 57.3 per cent.
He was, however, quick to indicate that food insecurity was not only predominant in northern Ghana but there were also pockets of areas in Southern Ghana where the population were food insecure.
He said 71.4 per cent of the population in Tarkwa-Nsuaem district in the Western Region were food insecure while food insecurity was also prevalent in Ada West in the Greater Accra Region, where 35.9 per cent of the population were experiencing the phenomenon, with Sekyere Afram Plains, in the Ashanti Region, 34 per cent; Ayensuano in the Eastern Region, 31.7 per cent: and Asunafo South in the Ahafo Region, 31.4 per cent.
SOS
Organisations such as the USAID through the Feed The Future initiative and the World Food Programme are targeting food security interventions in districts in northern Ghana, where poverty and nutrition statistics are the poorest. However, Aishetu, Malia, and Mahama believe the government needs to do more in supporting peasant farmers with farm inputs, reducing the price of fertiliser, and making farming equipment available at reduced prices.
The government must put in interventions to address the food insecurity situation in the country, as everyone deserves to have access to food, which is a basic need.
Farmers in Karaga applaud the government for initiating the agricultural development project at Kasunya-Asutsuare in the Greater Accra Region aimed at promoting agricultural productivity and improving food security in the region.
They appeal to the government to implement similar projects with irrigation schemes, farm infrastructure, farmer training, funding and value addition which would contribute to the development of the agricultural sector, improve food security in the country by increasing the availability of fresh produce and reduce poverty in the country.
Enjoying a delicious summer treat shouldn’t come at the cost of your health.
However, with increasing demand, some marketers resort to injecting chemicals to ripen the fruits quickly and ensure a stable supply.
If you’re a mango lover seeking organic and naturally ripened mangoes, here are a few tips to help you identify them:
Colour
Pay close attention to the colour of the mango. If it has green spots, it has likely been ripened with chemicals. An overly shiny or yellow appearance can also indicate chemical treatment.
Shape
The shape of a mango can be a clue. Small mangoes that appear to be dripping juice are often chemically treated. Additionally, avoid mangoes with blue or white marks, as these are signs of chemical ripening.
The dip test
Place the mangoes in a bucket of water. Those that float have likely been treated with chemicals, while naturally ripened mangoes will sink to the bottom.
The press test
Lightly press the mango. If it feels soft in some places and hard in others, it may have been ripened with chemicals.
Check for spots
Naturally ripened mangoes have brown spots, while chemically ripened ones will have pale or white spots. This can be an effective way to differentiate between the two.
Consuming chemically ripened mangoes can cause irritation in the throat and a burning sensation in the stomach, leading to stomach aches.
Calcium carbide, commonly used in this process, releases acetylene gas when it comes into contact with moisture.
This can pose health risks such as skin irritation, respiratory issues, and gastrointestinal problems.
Enjoying a delicious summer treat shouldn’t come at the cost of your health. By following these tips, you can avoid consuming chemically ripened mangoes and enjoy the natural, sweet taste of organically ripened ones.
Stay vigilant and choose wisely to make the most of mango season!
The Coca-Cola Company is a multinational beverage corporation known for its iconic soft drink, Coca-Cola. With a presence in over 200 countries, the company offers a wide range of beverages including sodas, juices, teas, and energy drinks. As a global leader in the beverage industry, Coca-Cola is constantly seeking talented individuals to join its diverse workforce.
Open Vacancies at Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola frequently has job openings across various departments and locations worldwide. The company offers diverse career opportunities in areas such as marketing, sales, finance, supply chain management, research and development, human resources, and more. Positions range from entry-level roles to executive positions.
Coca-Cola’s recruitment process typically involves several stages to ensure that the best candidates are selected for the available positions. The company values diversity, innovation, and collaboration in its employees. Job openings at Coca-Cola can vary from entry-level positions to executive roles.
The Coca-Cola Company is a multinational beverage corporation known for its iconic soft drink, Coca-Cola. With a presence in over 200 countries, the company offers a wide range of beverages including sodas, juices, teas, and energy drinks. As a global leader in the beverage industry, Coca-Cola is constantly seeking talented individuals to join its diverse workforce.
Open Vacancies at Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola frequently has job openings across various departments and locations worldwide. The company offers diverse career opportunities in areas such as marketing, sales, finance, supply chain management, research and development, human resources, and more. Positions range from entry-level roles to executive positions.
Coca-Cola’s recruitment process typically involves several stages to ensure that the best candidates are selected for the available positions. The company values diversity, innovation, and collaboration in its employees. Job openings at Coca-Cola can vary from entry-level positions to executive roles.
To view current job openings at Coca-Cola, interested individuals can visit the official Coca-Cola Careers website. Here, they can search for available positions based on location, job function, or keywords. The website provides detailed job descriptions for each vacancy along with requirements and qualifications needed for the role.
How to Apply for a Job at Coca-Cola
Visit the Coca-Cola Careers Website: The primary way to apply for a job at Coca-Cola is through their official careers website. Visit the site to explore current job openings and learn more about the company culture.
Search for Open Positions: Use the search function on the careers page to look for job opportunities that match your skills and interests. You can filter by location, department, job type, and experience level.
Create an Account: To apply for a job, you will need to create an account on the Coca-Cola recruitment page . This account will allow you to track your applications and receive updates on new job postings.
Submit Your Application: Once you have found a suitable position, follow the instructions to submit your application online. Make sure to tailor your application to highlight relevant experience and qualifications.
Prepare for Interviews: If your application is successful, you may be contacted for an interview. Prepare by researching the company and practicing common interview questions related to your desired role.
An Agriculture Economist, Professor Irene Egyir, has called for a strategic reorganisation of Ghana’s farming practices to enhance productivity and reduce dependency on food imports.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Professor Egyir emphasised the importance of corporate farming and collaborative efforts among farmers to tackle the challenges facing the agricultural sector in Ghana.
“Elsewhere, it’s about a few people doing things well, not about many farmers not doing things well. Unfortunately, the latter is what we have here in Ghana,” she said on Tuesday.
She highlighted the need for a collective approach where neighbouring farmers coordinate their activities to manage diseases, optimise ploughing schedules, and adapt to climate change together.
“If my one acre is next to my neighbour and we are all thinking alike when diseases come, we all manage it; when we want to plough, we all plough; we all study our calendars well.
“If climate change is the issue, we all understand our concern and we take corporate decisions,” she explained to host, Raymond Acquah.
Professor Egyir pointed out that in countries with successful agricultural sectors, farms are often organised.
“No country I have visited that has good agriculture is doing it the way we are doing it here in Ghana,” she remarked.
She believed Burkina Faso has embraced corporate farming, resulting in improved agricultural outcomes.
The economist warned that without such reforms, Ghana would continue to rely heavily on imports for crops that can be cultivated locally.
You can apply for farm jobs in Canada even if you are not a Canadian resident. Many farm jobs offer free visa sponsorship, making it easier for foreigners to work in Canada. This guide will help you understand the types of farm jobs available, their benefits, and how to apply.
Farm jobs in Canada are open to people from all over the world. If you have farming skills, you can apply for these jobs under various visa programs offered by the Canadian government. Farming is a major part of Canada’s economy and offers many opportunities.
Benefits of Farm Jobs with Visa Sponsorship
Working on a farm in Canada with visa sponsorship offers several benefits:
Free visa sponsorship helps foreign workers enter Canada more easily. The process includes obtaining work permits and visas, which are necessary for legal residency and employment.
Quick Employment
The agriculture sector often needs workers urgently, especially during planting and harvesting seasons. This means you can start working and earning money quickly.
Competitive Salaries
Farm jobs offer competitive salaries. During busy times, such as harvest season, you can earn even more.
Benefits and Housing
Some farm employers provide housing, meals, healthcare, transportation, and access to recreational facilities. These benefits add to your overall compensation.
Practical Knowledge
Working on a farm gives you practical skills in planting, harvesting, livestock care, and crop maintenance.
Opportunities for Advancement
Starting with entry-level jobs, you can advance to higher positions in animal husbandry, crop production, farm management, and agricultural research.
Work-Life Balance
Farm jobs often allow you to live and work in beautiful rural areas, providing a good balance between work and personal life.
Contribution to Food Security
By working in agriculture, you help produce food for local and international markets, contributing to food security and sustainability.
Additional Benefits
Community Engagement
Working on a farm lets you participate in local markets, festivals, and agricultural activities, helping you build connections with other farmers and community members.
Environmental Stewardship
Many farms in Canada focus on sustainable practices, allowing you to contribute to environmental conservation and biodiversity.
How to Apply
To apply for farm jobs in Canada, you need a work permit with visa sponsorship from the employer. Here are three ways to work in agriculture in Canada with free visa sponsorship:
Express Entry with a Job Offer: Apply directly through the Express Entry program with a job offer.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): Get recognized at the provincial level for your skills and apply through PNP.
Job-Specific Work Permit: Apply for a work permit specific to your job offer.
Available Farm Jobs
Laughing Coyote Orchards
Position: Fruit Sorter Tasks: Sorting fruits like berries by size, color, and grade Requirements: Proficient in English, French is a plus Education: High school diploma Salary: $15.20 per hour Accommodation: $30.00 per week Additional Benefits: Relocation support, travel aid, health insurance for the first three months How to Apply: Send an email to laughingcoyoteorchards@gmail.com
Johal Berry Farms
Position: General Farmworker Tasks: Weed management, pesticide spraying, planting, fertilizing, growing, and irrigation of blueberries Requirements: No specific requirements Salary: $15.20 per hour How to Apply: Send your resume to johalberryfarmsjobs@gmail.com or mail to 14318 Neaves Road, Pitt Meadows, BC, Canada
Barasch Farms Ltd
Position: Farmer Tasks: Manage farming operations, oversee agricultural laborers, operate heavy machinery, perform physical labor Requirements: Prior farm experience, full-time, 8-hour workdays How to Apply: Send an email to hf.meyers@icloud.com
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I work on a farm in Canada?
You can find farm labor jobs without any formal training. However, if you want to advance, a diploma or degree in plant sciences, agricultural welding, tree pruning, pesticide application, or farm equipment mechanics is helpful.
This is a tale, not of how far the mighty have fallen, but indeed, of how high the fallen have risen. ‘Kofi Brokeman’, the popular Ghana street food ( snack) made of roasted plantain and groundnuts, has high standards now, at least when it comes to its cost. This has nothing to do with an upgrade in its apparel, demeanor, or taste but rather a change in its economic status.
It must be nice moving from the status of the go-to food for the ‘broke’ man, to living the ‘Ghanaian dream’ or rather the ‘Ghanaian nightmare’. Bread and butter issues have always been a concern, but now, the looming question of “Will it get better?” hangs over our head causing sleepless nights and headaches.
If the average Ghanaian spends about 15 cedis on breakfast only, and then proceeds to spend the same amount on lunch and supper, ultimately, that is a huge expense on just food in a day. Transport has not been included, other expenses have not come in. Even if you make the argument of ‘cook at home,’ there isn’t much difference you’re looking at.
Imagine craving for a snack, making your way to the ‘Kofi Brokeman’ vendor, only to be left shocked that a finger of roasted plantain costs 5 Ghana cedis. A finger! 10 cedis for two, 15 cedis for 3? Scandalous! If you grumble, the famous questions roll off the vendors lips as though they have been sitting there all day, waiting to be asked, “Have you been to the market lately?” or “Do you know the cost of plantain these days?’ All you can do in the moment is heave a sigh, grumble some more and shove your money back in your pocket or painfully add some more to what you initially expected to spend. After buying, you’re left with a bitter taste in your mouth, strong enough to make the meal repulsive because what on earth is this?
The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Administration and Control, Prof Moji Adeyeye, has urged Nigerians to refrain from storing cooked food in the refrigerator for more than three days.
Adeyeye warned that cooked food stored in the refrigerator for days is susceptible to contamination by disease-causing pathogens, key agents of foodborne diseases that can lead to death.
Adeyeye made this known in a statement on Tuesday signed by the agency’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola.
Adeyeye, who said this in commemoration of the 2024 World Food Safety Day with the theme, ‘Food Safety: Prepare for the Unexpected’, urged stakeholders in the food supply chain to take deliberate actions to institute a food safety culture in their operations to mitigate food hazards and risks that could compromise food safety.
The World Food Safety Day celebrated annually on June 7 was established by the United Nations General Assembly task force in 2018 to raise awareness and encourage efforts to prevent, detect and address public health risks linked to unsafe food.
The statement partly read, “She however, urged Nigerians to refrain from storing cooked food in the refrigerator for more than three days, warning that cooked food stored in the refrigerator for days is susceptible to contamination by disease-causing pathogens, key agents of foodborne diseases that can lead to death.”
Adeyeye remarked that food safety is not only important for public health but a sine qua non for economic development and food security.
She noted that food safety is a collective responsibility, adding that everyone from producers to consumers needs to play their part to ensure food safety.
According to her, the campaign aims to promote global food safety awareness to strengthen efforts of preventing, detecting, and managing foodborne risks globally by highlighting the importance of being prepared for food safety incidents.
“Let us all stay true to the statements ‘food safety is everyone’s business’ and ‘food safety is a shared responsibility’ as we celebrate this year’s World Food Safety Day. Working together, we will continue to strengthen our food safety system, ensuring its resilience, robustness, and preparedness for the unexpected,” she said.
According to the World Health Organisation, an estimated 600 million – almost one in 10 people in the world – fall ill after eating contaminated food, and 420,000 die every year, resulting in the loss of 33 million healthy life years.
WHO said $110bn is lost yearly in productivity and medical expenses resulting from unsafe food in low- and middle-income countries.
Also, the Director of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Mrs Eva Edwards, alerted that foodborne diseases are expensive, yet they are preventable.
Edwards emphasised the significance of food as a necessity for human life, stressing that it can also be a source of harm if not handled properly.
She stated that food safety emergency response must be anchored on a multisectoral, collaborative, integrated one-health approach across the health, agriculture, and environment sectors, the tiers of government including relevant external partners and non-governmental organisations.
‘’Let’s all play our part in promoting the culture of good hygiene practices in our homes, communities, and food establishments. Together we can ensure a safer and healthier food supply for everyone,” she noted.
The FAO Internship Programme for Africa aims to attract talented young women and men who are strongly motivated to share their new perspectives, innovative ideas, and latest academic experience in FAO’s domains. The Programme provides a learning opportunity to the participants to supplement their academic knowledge with a practical work assignment in a field related to the work of FAO.
Through the FAO internship programme for Africa experience, interns will contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and FAO’s Strategic Framework to support the 2030 Agenda through the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.
Reporting Lines
The intern will report to an assigned supervisor.
Technical Focus
The intern will be assigned to different fields of work according to his/her profile and to the needs of the Organization.
Tasks and responsibilities
The intern will perform the functions specified in the Terms of Reference (TOR) prepared by the hiring office.
Minimum Requirements
• Enrolled in an under-graduate, graduate degree programme in a “bona fide” educational institution at the time of application or recent graduate. Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/. • Candidates must specialize in a field relevant to the mission and work of FAO. • Working knowledge of at least one FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian or Spanish). Knowledge of a second FAO language will be considered an asset. • Be nationals of FAO Members. • Candidates should be aged between 21 and 30. • Candidates should be able to adapt to an international multicultural environment and have good communication skills.
Technical/Functional Skills
Relevant academic studies in one of the fields of the Organization
Additional Information
• FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing). • All applications will be reviewed, and only qualified applicants will be directly contacted for interviews by the hiring office and contacted again, if selected. • Candidates who have already undertaken an internship assignment at FAO will not be eligible for another internship. • Selected candidates should have appropriate residence or immigration status in the proposed country of assignment prior to joining the Organization. • Candidates with family members (defined as mother, father, sister, or brother) employed by FAO under any type of contractual arrangement are not eligible for the Internship Programme. • FAO provides a monthly stipend to interns if they are not sponsored by sending universities or other entities.
The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa works to improve agriculture in Africa. They help small farmers grow more food and improve their lives. AGRA offers job opportunities for people who want to make a difference in agriculture. In this guide, we will look at the open jobs at AGRA and how to apply.
Benefits of Working at AGRA
Working at this organization offers many advantages. One of the main benefits is the chance to make a real difference in the lives of smallholder farmers in Africa. You will be part of a team that is working to transform agriculture and improve food security on the continent. This can be very rewarding and fulfilling work.
Another benefit is the opportunity for professional growth. Employees have access to training programs and workshops that help them develop new skills and advance in their careers. The organization values continuous learning and provides resources for personal and professional development.
The work environment is also very supportive and collaborative. Colleagues often work together on projects, sharing ideas and expertise. This teamwork can lead to innovative solutions and successful outcomes. It’s a great place to learn from others and contribute your own knowledge.
Employees also enjoy competitive salaries and benefits packages. These include health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. The organization understands the importance of work-life balance and provides flexibility to help employees manage their personal and professional lives.
Lastly, working here means being part of a global network. You will have the chance to connect with experts and partners from around the world, expanding your professional network and gaining international experience.
Open Jobs at AGRA
AGRA has several job openings as of June 13, 2024. You can find these jobs on their official careers website.
Job Title
Location
Application Deadline
Job Description
Program Officer
Nairobi, Kenya
June 30, 2024
Work on agricultural projects, support small farmers, and ensure successful project implementation.
Communications Manager
Accra, Ghana
July 5, 2024
Develop communication strategies, manage public relations, and oversee social media.
Financial Analyst
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
July 10, 2024
Analyze financial data, prepare reports, and assist with budgeting.
Agronomist
Kigali, Rwanda
July 15, 2024
Provide technical advice to farmers, conduct field trials, and promote sustainable farming practices.
IT Support Specialist
Lusaka, Zambia
July 20, 2024
Maintain IT systems, provide technical support, and ensure data securit
List of positions at AGRA at the various countries.
How to Apply for a Job at AGRA
Step 1: Research AGRA
Before you apply, learn about AGRA. Visit their website at www.agra.org. Understand their mission, values, and projects. This will help you align your application with their goals.
Go to the AGRA careers page. Look for the “opportunities” section. Here, you will find detailed job descriptions, requirements, and deadlines. Read everything carefully.
Step 3: Assess Your Qualifications
Look at the job requirements. See if your skills and experience match what AGRA needs. Highlight your relevant experience, education, and any certifications. This will show AGRA that you are a good fit for the job.
Step 4: Prepare Your Application
Prepare your resume and cover letter. Your resume should have your contact information, work history, education, and relevant achievements. The cover letter should explain why you want to work at AGRA and how your skills match their needs. Be specific and concise.
Step 5: Submit Your Application
Follow the instructions in the job posting. Usually, you will need to email your resume and cover letter to recruit@agra.org. Make sure you send your application before the deadline.
Tips for a Successful Application
Tailor Your Resume and Cover Letter: Customize your documents for each job. Show how your experience and skills are perfect for the position.
Be Clear and Concise: Use simple language and short sentences. Make it easy for the hiring team to understand your qualifications.
Show Your Passion: Explain why you are excited about the job and AGRA’s mission. Your enthusiasm can make a difference.
Check for Errors: Proofread your application. Make sure there are no typos or grammatical mistakes.
