As part of its efforts to help address climate change and problems of biodiversity in Ghana, Conservation Alliance International in partnership with A Rocha Ghana, CSIR-Plant Genetics Resources Research Institute (PGRRI), Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) with funding from JRS Biodiversity Foundation through the GBIF Biodiversity Information for Development (BID) Programme have organized a four-day workshop to discuss pathways towards successful completion of the BID-AF2020-029-USE project.
The winners of the 2022/2023 Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) AgriTech Challenge Pro were announced in a final pitch competition held in Accra on Friday March 24, 2023. This comes after months of extensive training on entrepreneurship and business development, with coaching from a team of experts drawn from academia, business, industry, civil society, and government.
The KIC AgriTech Challenge Pro competition provides a platform for young entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative ideas and businesses and compete for funding support while receiving skills that help them develop their business modules and strategies. Participants are drawn from the AgriTech Challenge Classic program and from a pool of existing start-ups who are ready to nurture their business for investor readiness.
The teams were coached and mentored by the following universities: University of Cape Coast, the University of Ghana, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the University for Development Studies and the SD Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies.
Among those present at the event were KIC Board Chair Mr. Joe Mensah, members of the KIC Board, representatives from Kosmos Energy, Mastercard Foundation Country Director Rosy Fynn, as well as other stakeholder organizations across the innovation and agribusiness ecosystem in Ghana.
This year’s edition of the AgriTech Challenge Pro forms part of the implementation of a multi-year partnership agreement with the Mastercard Foundation to train the next generation of young leaders and entrepreneurs in Ghana’s agriculture sector.
Twenty start-ups competed for a total prize pool of US$350,000. At the end of the pitch competition, Kodu Technology (University for Development Studies) and Agro Empire (University of Ghana) each won US$50,000. AgroCold Ghana (University of Cape Coast) won US$40,000.
DorthNoch, Awunpara, and Wobil Technologies (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology) each received US$20,000. JAASGrow (University of Cape Coast), Sagrisalma (University for Development Studies), King Tractor and KigoAgro (SD Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies), and AquaMet (University of Ghana) won US$30,000 each.
In addition to funding support, the winners will continue to receive mentorship and coaching from the Kosmos Innovation Center team and its experts and will collaborate with the business incubation and innovation hubs from the campuses from the programme’s partner university campuses.
Speaking at the event, KIC Executive Director, Benjamin Gyan-Kesse reiterated the Center’s commitment to creating opportunities for young people in Ghana to thrive within the agribusiness sector by leveraging sustainable, viable, and market-ready business ideas within the value chain and congratulated this year’s competition winners.
“At KIC, we are proud to be supporting young entrepreneurs to take their business ideas to the next level. The future of AgriTech in Ghana is promising, we will continue to support young people to create economic and social impact.
KIC believes in the potential and power of young people to be changemakers and active drivers of their development,” he said.
Rosy Fynn, Country Director of the Mastercard Foundation in Ghana emphasized that the Foundation’s commitment to impacting the lives of young people in tech and agriculture, in line with its Young Africa Works strategy.
“The Mastercard Foundation is committed to its target of providing three million dignifying jobs for young people in Ghana by 2030. We are convinced that the agricultural sector provides great opportunities for the youth to create transformational change, by applying AgricTech innovations and solutions to foster sustainable value chains,” she said.
Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) is committed to empowering young people to find innovative and entrepreneurship opportunities within the agricultural value chain.
Since its inception in 2016, KIC has pioneered the KIC AgriTech Challenge Pro, an accelerator program aiming to support young entrepreneurs to launch and grow commercially viable, scalable solutions to key problems in the agricultural sector.
The program aims to drive technology and innovation as a catalyst to enhancing productivity, improving yields, and creating more jobs within Ghana’s agricultural sector.
Some past winners of the competition include Trotro Tractor, Agro Innova, Complete Farmer, TechShelta, Nvoicia, Soil Solutions, AiScarecrow, Prosect Feed, OASAL Group, FruitFlour, Agrimercarb, Farm Asyst, Farm Estate, Asa Nwura, BOOD, Maku Foods, Demi Pearl, and Delsoy. These businesses have gone on to expand their operations, impact livelihoods, and improve local communities.
As part of the efforts to make agribusiness more attractive, and increase production for higher income to the youth in Ghana and across Africa, Maphlix Trust Ghana Limited is organizing a training program on Greenhouse production.
The training scheduled on May 2023 would be held at Akumadan and Bawjiase in the Ashanti and Central Region respectively.
This comprehensive four-month hands-on certificate program will equip individuals with skills and knowledge needed for successful greenhouse farming, from planting to irrigation, harvesting, packaging, financing, and exporting.
Additionally, Maphlix is assuring the populace from Ghana and other neighboring countries to take part in the training as they will be receiving the best training ever.
As the effort to enhance capacity of the beneficiaries the company has prepared to offer lands, inputs, export opportunities and more to cushion them for success.
Possible applicants should apply via this link https://forms.gle/xz6Nyzz7QrgpAqUJ9.
About Maphlix Greenhouse. The Greenhouse is a modern farming control system where climatic changes and pest control are made easily for the farmer to tackle and so Maphlix adopted the system for pests control and for the sake of climate change. The Greenhouse farming system is a very expensive one of course but once any farmer is able to practice it well, it’s profitable in returns.
At Maphlix Greenhouse, the company grows vegetables like, Cherry tomatoes, Melons, Cucumber, Other tomato varieties and pepper of different varieties as well.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has signed a five-year partnership agreement with the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA). The deal renews and formalizes the two organizations’ long collaboration.
Working closely with each other for more than 20 years, FAO and FARA are now pursuing a more strategic and sustainable partnership to facilitate greater collaboration for improved food and agriculture production and productivity in Africa.
“I am proud of what we have achieved so far but we also recognize that there is still room for stronger cooperation,” FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa Abebe Haile-Gabriel said at today’s ceremony at the FAO Regional Office for Africa in Accra, Ghana.
“This Memorandum of Understanding will enable us to leverage each other’s strengths, align our actions with national and regional priorities, and deliver tangible results, creating greater impact on the ground,” he said.
“The complex challenges facing Africa’s food security and agriculture call for more effective partnerships and an holistic approach,” said FARA Executive Director Yemi Akinbamijo.
“This partnership will help us to jointly identify constraints and co-create solutions. Such a model will bring coherence in actions, enhance coordination and prevent duplication of efforts,” he said.
FAO and FARA have collaborated on various activities and initiatives since 2003. The new partnership is expected to facilitate greater collaboration, focusing on six areas, namely: capacity development for agricultural research and innovation systems, agriculture policy and advocacy, youth empowerment, response to crises, knowledge co-creation, exchange and data sharing, and joint resource mobilization and partnerships development.
The partnership aims to contribute to the 2063 Agenda of the African Union and specifically to achievement of the CAADP/Malabo Commitments on agricultural growth and transformation, by leveraging science and innovation This partnership will also contribute to achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals through the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.
Cocoa farming has and continues to be a pivotal economic activity in Ghana that contributes significantly to the country’s total foreign exchange earnings.
However, majority of cocoa farmers in Ghana have limited access to financial literacy programs that could transform their lives in their communities; Cocoa Abrabopa with funding from the Fondation Sucres et Denrées, the cooperate foundation of an international trading house engaged in soft commodity supply chains has introduced the Gender Inclusion and Financial literacy program for Cocoa Abrabopa Association farmers.
The project acknowledges that many of the cocoa farmers have not received any financial literacy training throughout their entire life and are therefore unable to contribute meaningfully to the formal financial system.
The beneficiary farmers groups were drawn from Subriso, Atawase, Ahankraso, Sekyere, and Bebeme communities in the Anyinam – Nkaawkaw Cocoa District all in the Eastern Region.
Target
The Gender Inclusion and Financial literacy program targeted 600 members and the overall vision is to equip farmers to adopt financial knowledge in order for to become financially independent. The program complements the already existing Cocoa Abrabopa Pension Scheme.
Presentations
Speaking at the training, Council Chairman of CAA, Ismaila Pomasi said most cocoa farmers in Ghana have limited access to financial institutions or financial literacy programs in their communities.
He explained that farmers in Ghana have a poor savings culture with majority of them not having bank accounts.
“Even those who have opened savings accounts sometimes have those accounts rendered inactive by the banks due to the limited number of transactions or usage.
“Farmers earn their incomes during two main cocoa seasons, but the majority of them do not save enough money to meet their future financial needs due to low incomes and poor financial management.
“During the period between farm management and harvesting, most of these farmers resort to borrowing to cover their expenses and then repay at exorbitant interest rates, which further exacerbates their poor financial situation.
“That is why CAA is equipping farmers to adopt financial knowledge in order to become financially independent; our pension scheme is duly licensed by the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA)” he explained.
The Operational Manager & Chief Finance Officer for CAA, Patrick John Van Brakel explained that there are two interrelated objectives of the program which include improving the farmers’ financial literacy and management skills as well as their level of contributions to the savings. “
Our pension scheme program is an opportunity for the farmers to save that will make a significant impact in their lives and their families.
“The program is unique to CAA and would be a very good success story to share one day with other farmers across the country” he said.
The Cocoa Abrabopa Pension Scheme Manager & Human Resource Officer at CAA, Sarah Evelyn Naa Du Abblew explained that the programme focuses on gender equality and how men and women can work together, as supportive and respectful partners, to promote a more successful and profitable household.
“We are providing them with piggy bank, the idea is to make room for households to save towards contributing to their CAPS in other to motivate women and their households to save” she added.
Mrs. Rebecca Ayisi Asiedu, the Council Member Cocoa Abrabopa Association and Regional Representative for Eastern Region said it is only collective efforts that can help us achieve this great initiative. “The standard of living of farmers in cocoa growing areas has over the years been dwindling at a faster rate” she said.
The Child Development Officer at CAA, Lawrance Nimako explained the S4F Project Mode introduced by Cocoa Abrabopa Association.
“The participants were taken through five items and these included: Respectful Relationship, Family Vision for the Future, Managing Your Money, Supporting Your Partners Work and Planning for the Future.
“They were also taught Personal Financial Management under these topics Budget Preparation, Savings, Insurance, Debt Management, and Retirement Planning” he mentioned.
Appreciation
The leaders of the farmer groups said that the Cocoa Abrabopa Pension Scheme project would help reduce poverty in their communities. They were grateful to CAA for introducing and teaching them about the need for savings and why financial literacy is important.
Present at the training program were Philip Wireko (Technical Coordinator), Noah Batsa (Collector CAA), Moses Lawer Awateng (Chairman Ahankraso), Daniel K,wabena Lartey (Chairman Subriso), Fredrick Kwasi Gyapong (Chairman Sekyere), Emmanuel Angortey Nartey (Chairman Bebeme) and Philip Kwame Amadza (Chairman Atawase) and some cocoa farmers from the various communities took part in the training.
Yields in Africa’s smallholder-based farming system have remained stubbornly below the global average for years. The continent is not producing enough of its own food and spends almost $50bn annually importing food, a figure which is predicted to double by 2030 if productivity gains cannot be achieved.
Food price hikes due to spiralling fertiliser and energy prices accompanying the Russia-Ukraine crisis have put this issue centre stage in the past year. A key part of the puzzle is smallholders’ relatively low use of quality seed and fertiliser.
The average consumption of inorganic fertilisers in Africa stands at around 16kg per hectare of nutrients. This compares starkly with an average of 10 times that in South Asia (160 kg per hectare) and over 20 times that in East Asia and the Pacific (331kg per hectare).
Seed and fertiliser subsidies
Subsidy regimes that aim to get cheaper seeds and fertiliser to the smallholder farming base have been a popular policy tool on the continent over recent years.
After falling out of favour in the 1970s and 1980s due to their perceived high-cost, at least eight sub-Saharan countries (Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique, Nigeria and Ghana) have reintroduced seed and fertiliser subsidy schemes over the last two decades.
Yet, the impact of seed and fertiliser subsidy models remains contentious, with marked disagreement among agricultural experts and economists around the success of fertiliser and seed subsidies in driving agricultural productivity growth. We need to broaden focus, complementing existing policies with additional measures that can achieve the agricultural yield growth that Africa urgently needs.
Alternative solutions
We need to put in place policies that:
Invest meaningfully in building smallholders’ knowledge base. This means reversing under-investment in agricultural research and building capacity to train farmers in order to get research into use, as Asia-Pacific has done.
Research and training will need to ensure seed and fertilisers are appropriate for the local agronomic zone, crop and soil system, are climate-smart (drought and pest-resilient) and are applied in optimum quantities.
Focus on increasing market links for smallholder farmers to demonstrate to farmers that the demand is there, and that cash rewards accompany an increased use of seed and fertiliser when yields are increased and quality standards for commercial markets met.
Alternatives to seed and fertiliser subsidies
Leverage private sector actors who can ensure seed and fertiliser sales are accompanied by other critical services, such as machine-leasing, aggregation and storage.
Explore government administration of tech systems to improve seed and fertiliser traceability. The extent of counterfeit seed on sale in some African countries makes a farmer’s decision to use their own seed produced in the previous season a rational choice. We know that 30% of the seed on the Ugandan market is identified as counterfeit. Blockchain and smart contracts offer excellent solutions here and are currently being trailed in Rwanda to demonstrate traceability in tantalum supply chains.
Explore seed and fertiliser loan models, such as those in use by the One Acre Fund in Kenya. For an advance of 10% of the value of the seed and fertiliser, farmers sign up for pre-financing of quality seed and fertiliser, coaching in good agricultural practices, and post-harvest advice.
Increase direct sales and tackle the ‘last mile’ problem: The private sector is often best positioned to build a sustainable network that can reach the most remote and underserved areas.
If we saw just a 20% yield increase in the four primary staple crops in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), this would mean an increase of over 670,000mt of food produced on the continent, which would significantly improve food security.
The opportunities are enormous. With high food price inflation triggering a crisis of affordability on the continent, we need to broaden our toolbox of responses to sustainably deliver the yield improvements that are so critical for the continent, and which will only become more so.
Government will invest an estimated US$108million to improve soybean production/best practices, as well as developing the grain’s value chain to curb post-harvest losses over the next five years.
The investment is in line with key resolutions of the recently held Dakar II Summit in Senegal, and is expected to expand certified seed production to 17,500 metric tonnes yearly – and also develop 50,000 hectares of new land for soybean production.
It is anticipated that soybean cultivation will increase from the current 218,000 tonnes per year to 400,000 metric tonnes annually, and contribute to a yield upsurge of 40 percent after the investment.
Chief Director at Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Robert Ankobia – who revealed this to the B&FT, said the move is to achieve self-sufficiency in soybean production for the domestic market by expanding cultivation and increasing competitiveness in the value chain.
MoFA says US$21million of the amount will be expended on research and development programmes to develop early-maturing, high-yielding soybean varieties; high pod clearance varieties for mechanisation; and maintenance-breeding of existing varieties.
US$63million will go into land development programmes for soybean production, with a special focus on new land for rain-fed soybean market-oriented production.
The remaining US$24million will augment investment in harvest and post-harvest programmes to increase soybean quality, increase processing and reduce physical losses. This will be a key part of government’s Agriculture Mechanisation Service Centres’ (AMSEC) strategy.
“The above plan to invest in the local soybean value chain is part of pathways and one of the country’s key compacts during the Dakar II Summit to attain self-sufficiency and agrifood transformation over the next five years,” Mr. Ankobia said.
Important features of the compact include prioritisation of key sub-sectors with the highest impact on food security, with key consideration for other commodities such as rice and poultry.
Overall, the compact focuses on production-expansion and loss-reduction in the country’s food value chain.
There appears to be an end in sight for the perennial problem of food wastage and its impact on food security, as the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) secretariat ramps up efforts to improve the storage and export of agricultural commodities across the continent.
AfCFTA’s Secretary-General, Wamkele Mene, said the move has assumed greater importance following excessive shocks the continent experienced following the emergence of COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
He stated that the secretariat has begun engagements with Zimbabwe, where more than US$200million worth of grain is lost annually due to lack of storage and processing options.
“We are working with the government of Zimbabwe and we have set a target… Zimbabwe must be a net exporter of grains by processing the excess capacity that already exists,” Mr. Mene said at the first-ever Africa Sustainable Supply Chain Summit held in Accra,“We have an interest in this as the secretariat, since we want to see more trade in agricultural produce across the African continent,” he added, hinting that nations such as Ghana are in line for similar engagements.
It is estimated that approximately one-third of the food produced worldwide is wasted, leading to economic losses of around US$1trillion annually. In sub-Saharan Africa, the estimated rate is marginally higher at approximately 37 percent.
One study published by the Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic (FLPC) and the Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) in 2022 suggests that, in Ghana, as much as 3.2 million tonnes of food is lost or wasted throughout the supply chain – resulting in a loss of roughly GH¢762.32billion.
Another estimate posits that annually two-thirds of fruit and vegetables, 40 percent of root crops, and 21 percent of grains are lost in the country. Meanwhile, half of the population experiences moderate to severe food insecurity.
The Secretary-General is optimistic that the emergence of a legal framework for trade on the continent, AfCFTA, and some of its principal pillars – the protocol on the transit of goods; harmonisation of Customs procedures; as well as the policy on trade facilitation – will give impetus to the efforts.
“Without these, the ability to establish supply chain networks on the continent that are sustainable will be limited,” he added.
Also, at the event themed ‘Sustainable supply chain for economic growth in Africa’, the Secretary-General of the International Chamber of Commerce, John W.H. Denton, expressed his belief that the secretariat’s initiative, along with others, will enhance supply chain processes among members and expedite achievement of the AfCFTA’s forecasted US$450billion annual contribution to Africa’s Gross Domestic Product by 2035.
“Over time, this will integrate Africa more into global value chains; not only for primary commodities but also for manufactured goods and services that will help keep value in Africa. We will receive innovative skills that are available to the rest of the world and provide the continent with a more robust system, which will enable it to better deal with shocks to supply chains,” he explained.
The Minister responsible for Trade and Industry, Kobina Tahir Hammond – who was represented by his Deputy, Michael Okyere Baafi, as well as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident representative in Ghana, Angela Lusigi, both pledged their support for strengthening sustainable supply chains.
The national revenue mobilization taskforce of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) travelled about 100km to disconnect the fish farm of Ghana’s 2020 National best Aquaculture farmer, Flosell farms, in the Ada district over GH₵180,000 debt.
The fish farm is located about 150 meters from the bank of the Volta Lake near Vume in the Volta region, which has over 40 ponds for rearing fingerlings. It also has a huge dugout pond used to stock fish. The farmer is mainly into tilapia production.
The farm relies on electricity-powered water pump machines connected to the lake to pump fresh water into the ponds.
The two ECG accounts are owed about GH₵180,000. The owner of the farm persistently called the taskforce to arrive at a resolution on the debt, but the taskforce was adamant and only insisted on collecting over 50% of the debt.
The two accounts were disconnected from the source pole. The ECG is not relenting to retrieve about GH₵5.7 billion debt target by April 20.
The power distributor is on a mission to recover monies owed by customers in order to redeem its indebtedness to independent power producers.
The exchange fluctuations have contributed hugely to debts as well as system losses. The Managing Director of the ECG, Samuel Dubik Mahama, has noted in an earlier interview with Citi News that any customer who fails to pay their debt will be disconnected.
The Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute (BNARI) of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) has launched the maiden edition of the Cassava Week Celebration.
This is to promote the value of cassava cultivation and utilisation in Ghana.
The week celebration, which is on the theme: “Cassava – Ghana’s Golden Root for Economic Transformation’’ is aimed at raising awareness amongst Ghanaians regarding the rich diversity and benefits of the cassava crop.
It is scheduled to take place from June 13 to 16, 2023 at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), Accra and the Innovation Village Foundation at Anormawobi in the Central Region.
In a speech read by the Director of the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute, Prof. Shiloh Osae, on behalf of the Director General of GAEC, Prof. Samuel Dampare, he emphasised that this programme was part of GAEC’s efforts to support government for the utilisation of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) to improve cassava varieties for national development.
“Whiles research works are endless, the rate of adoption and utilization of the technologies developed needs to be improved in Ghana”, he added.
In his keynote address, the Managing Director of Ayensu Starch Company Limited, Evans Kwame Ayim, noted that more than 70% of farmers in Ghana are involved in the production of cassava, making it a significant root crop in the country’s agricultural system.
He stated that cassava is a major source of carbohydrates for most people in Ghana, as well as a regular source of income for most rural dwellers.
According to Mr Ayim, although cassava is mostly thought of as a food crop, encouraging local processing and consumption of cassava-based products will generate income for households and create jobs for the Ghanaian economy.
“The potential of cassava as an industrial crop cannot be overemphasized. Ghana’s economy stands to benefit greatly if steps are taken to industrialize cassava. Cassava can be processed into starch, ethanol, high maltose syrup, etc”, he revealed.
He also added that Globally the starch industry is worth over $97 billion which the country can take advantage of.
Mr Ayim expressed appreciation for BNARI’s research initiatives which have yielded significant results in the development of high-yielding cassava varieties for farmers.
“BNARI in collaboration with the University of Cape Coast has released to farmers, five high-yielding cassava varieties namely ‘Nyonku agbeli’, ‘Kponu agbeli’, ‘Fufuhene bankye’, ‘Ampesihema bankye’ and ‘Tetteh bankye’.
“However, these varieties have not been adopted widely by farmers due to inadequate publicity and unavailability of planting materials. Hence, the expected socioeconomic impact on farmers has not been realised” he said.
He urged BNARI to form partnerships with industry players that will make their cassava varieties available and accessible to farmers, allowing them to produce enough raw materials for Ghana’s few cassava processing factories as well as the local market.
On his part, the Director of BNARI, Dr Michael Osae stated that Cassava has the potential to transform Ghana’s economy because it can be used in sectors like the pharmaceutical, beverage, and textile industries.
He stated that the Institute chose to emphasize cassava in honour of its 30th anniversary to highlight BNARI technologies and innovations in the cassava value chain.
“BNARI has developed technologies such as Mutation Breeding for breeding new varieties of cassava and other crops, soil moisture and nutrient management, crop and pest disease management which are technologies that can be applied to improve cassava production.
“We have also worked on fortifying gari with micronutrients and soybeans to develop a soybean-gari blend known as “proGari,” he added.
The Keynote speaker later launched the Cassava Week Celebration followed by an exhibition event to showcase the various BNARI products and technologies.
