Lack of policy, research and development have been identified as some of the factors militating against Nigeria’s inability to harness the $200bn global cocoa market.
Director-General, Nigeria Export and Import Bank, NEXIM, Abba Bello stated that Nigeria has not tapped into the wealth cocoa can produce, saying the industry is worth $200bn annually.
He stated this during a press conference held in Lagos to herald the International Cocoa and Chocolate (ICCF) 2024 NIGERIA with the theme: “Adding Value to Cocoa in Producing Regions.”
The MD represented by NEXIM’S General Manager, Head of Strategies, Tayo Omidiji said, “It is instructive to note that the cocoa industry (including beans, cake, chocolate, etc) is worth $200bn annually, out of which the entire West African producing region (made up of Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Cameron and Nigeria), which account for about 70 -75% of the global output earns only $10bn.
“To further drive home the point, I would like to make reference to the report by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in 2021. According to the report, Nigeria produced 208 MT of cocoa beans in 2021, but generated a total income of $628m. However, Germany, which did not produce cocoa earned a whopping $57.3bn from export of cocoa products,” he said.
The founder, International Cocoa Diplomacy, Oloni of Eti-Oni, Osun State, Oba Dokun Thompson Gureje IV said, “The most important aspect of value addition is not even physical and very soft – policy, research, innovation and the rest comes after that.”
He expressed worry over the non-inclusion of Nigeria as one of the countries of International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO).
“We are working on research with the Applied Sciences University in Zurich and Tside University in the UK. It is about getting the right quantitative analysis of the cocoa flavour on our cocoa based on agricultural practices.
“In the past, it used to be based on residual value. What that means when you take cocoa, they will tell you, ‘you used pesticides on it, so it is useless’. So, if that is the case, what about what is inside of it, nobody has ever done that and nobody has done that on Nigeria cocoa,” he added.
The National House of Chiefs has asked traditional leaders across the country to play key roles in addressing the long-standing issue of illegal mining as it continues to pose threats to water bodies and forest reserves.
Following the recent arrest of individuals over illegal mining, the National House of Chiefs has tasked traditional leaders to show active involvement in the fight against the menace.
Speaking at a National House of Chiefs meeting in Kumasi, its President, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II stressed that without the active involvement of chiefs, the government will not be able to address the illegal mining menace.
He has thus called on the government to collaborate with traditional authorities to help fight the canker. The National House of Chiefs wants the government to draw up a comprehensive plan on how to address the pressing issue by dedicating adequate resources to help address the issue.
“Nananom, there is enough evidence to suggest that the Government approach in dealing with galamsey without the active participation of traditional authorities will not succeed. If the government does not involve Nananom, this fight will not succeed”
“The government should collaborate with the traditional authorities to draw up a detailed plan and provide adequate resources to help fight Galamsey and the menace associated with it, then we can plan follow-up actions to address the negative effects on our environment.”
Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II further noted that the canker if not urgently mitigated will adversely affect the quality of crops such as cocoa. According to him, some cocoa farmers are being harassed and threatened to sell their lands due to illegal mining. He stated that the country might start importing both water and cocoa if care is taken.
“There are also fears that the soil poisoned by galamseyers can affect not only the production of cocoa but also the quality of cocoa that we produce”.
Food systems are increasingly impacted by climate variability and change. At the same time, Agriculture through unsustainable practices contributes a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, loss of agricultural biodiversity, environmental pollution, land degradation, and water scarcity resources.
KIC and Mastercard Foundation have announced winners of the 2023 AgriTech Challenge Classic Finals at a pitch event which took place from the 18th to 19th December, 2023 in Accra. A total of 50 teams from across 10 regions of the country participated in this year’s pitch competition.
Present at the event were Mr. Benjamin Gyan-Kesse, Executive Director, Kosmos Innovation Center; Mr. Joe Mensah, KIC Board Chair; Mr. Gottfried Odamtten-Sowah, Program Lead- Agribusiness at Mastercard Foundation; members of the Ideation Team; Faculty Advisors from participating universities, as well as other stakeholder organisations.
After five months of training under the AgriTech Challenge Classic, 20 teams have been selected to progress on to the AgriTech Challenge Pro. Under KIC’s partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, which started in 2022, KIC has been able to scale up the AgriTech Challenge program bringing on board 10 partnering universities this year, from a total of 5 universities last year.
The 10 participating universities include University of Ghana (UG), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Cape Coast (UCC), Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU), Takoradi Technical University (TTU), Ho Technical University (HTU), Koforidua Technical University (KTU), University of Development Studies (UDS), SD Dombo University of Business & Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS), and University of Energy and Natural Resource (UENR).
The program involves training and capacity building workshops, market research tours to meet with industry actors, entrepreneurship coaching and mentoring from the Faculty Advisors and Technical teams. The AgriTech teams receive constructive feedback from a panel of experts, that are referred to as Ideation Team members, who help to shape their ideas. Teams that progress onto the AgriTech Challenge Pro will be given USD2,000 to grow their Market Viable Product (MVP).
Speaking about the impact of the program, Benjamin Gyan-Kesse, Executive Director of KIC explained that KIC is committed to providing transformational change journey for young people, to create job opportunities for them within the agricultural sector through entrepreneurship. “The future of Africa’s prosperity is in Tech and in Agribusiness. This will create economic empowerment for young people, and at KIC we are collaborating with partners to provide this personalized training program for young people. Our program portfolio not only addresses mindset change about agriculture, but provides practical training, tools, network and resources for entrepreneurial development”, he added.
In his remarks. Gottfried Odamtten-Sowah, Program Lead- Agribusiness for Mastercard Foundation, highlighted the Foundation’s commitment to empowering young people to access dignified and fulfilling jobs.
“Through our partnership with KIC, the AgriTech Challenge Classic program, is providing employment opportunities for young people within the agribusiness sector’, he added.
The 20 winning teams from the AgriTech Challenge Classic to make it to the Pro include: Agricems (UDS), Agriquinns (TTU), Bunnybites (KNUST), Cas-Tech Glue (TTU), DeliMush (UDS), Ecofibre Solutions (UG), FEEP Fibertech (UENR), Greenhusk Innovation (UDS), Greenwood (UG), Harvest Ease Innovators (UENR), Healthy Farmer (UDS), Hullsnovation (UDS), Husk Pack Ghana (HTU), NAYAD Foods (HTU), PaCo Paper (KTU), Rabbitton (UCC), Sunify Solardry Technology (UDS), SunRay (UBIDS), Tekcycle (KNUST), and Zoyapel (BTU).
These 20 teams will join the 20 start-ups accepted into the 2024 AgriTech Pro team through applications received. These include: 3Farmate Robotics; Aretha Forson; Bolstaar; Earl K Foods; Ebapreneur Solutions: Farmercy Technologies; FarmWallet; FeatheryCare; FemFarmLife; Fertiltech; FreshLine PHS; GreenHeart Se; GreenMatics; Grenopak; GuineaGenesis; HyfeBee; McHan Organic; MeSADA PCL; OrgaFert and Rijona BBC.
KIC is committed to creating opportunities for young people to thrive and make social and economic impact.
Ghana’s cocoa marketing board has signed an $800 million syndicated loan with banks and expects to draw down the first $600 million as soon as this week, its deputy chief executive officer said on Tuesday.
Ghana, the world’s second-largest cocoa producer behind neighbouring Ivory Coast, uses an annual syndicated loan to finance bean purchases from farmers.
Usually agreed at the start of the season in September, this year’s loan has faced delays as the West African country grapples with its worst economic crisis in a generation and tries to restructure its bilateral and commercial debts.
“I joined COCOBOD in 2018 and this is the hardest transaction we have had,” COCOBOD Deputy CEO Ray Ankrah told Reuters.
“It’s been signed and we are working on the drawdown. We’re drawing down $600 million by the end of this week and we expect to draw down the $200 (million) in the middle to the end of January,” he said, adding that the terms of the loan had not changed from those presented to parliament last month.
In November, Ghana’s parliament gave a green light to the transaction, allowing the COCOBOD board to finalise paperwork with participating banks.
Under the terms presented to lawmakers, COCOBOD will pay interest of nearly 8%, which includes the one-month Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) currently around 5.3% and a margin of 2.65%.
A central bank official who asked not to be named told Reuters that a drawdown this week should boost the country’s reserves.
Professor Agyapomaa Gyeke-Dako, an economist at the University of Ghana, said the loan could support the local cedi currency by cooling dollar demand spurred by slow progress in restructuring the country’s bilateral debt.
Ghana and Ivory Coast are expecting their smallest cocoa crops in years due mainly to poor weather.
COCOBOD has officially forecast production of about 800,000 tons for the 2023/24 season, but industry sources have told Reuters they estimate Ghana’s harvest will be closer to 600,000 tons.
The $800 million loan is among the lowest in a decade.
Ankrah previously told Reuters that COCOBOD planned to capitalise on record-high global cocoa prices by selling part of the country’s crop on the spot market.
Guzakuza, the pioneering organisation committed to providing women in agribusiness across Africa and the diaspora with tools and resources, proudly announces the successful graduation of 105 accomplished women from the 7th cohort of its flagship program, Ignite 2023.
Ignite, also known as the African Women in Agribusiness Fellowship, is a transformative and intensive program designed to propel female founders and leaders to the next phase of their agribusiness journeys. Over the past seven years, this initiative has proven to be a catalyst for positive change in the agribusiness landscape, offering expert-led modules, virtual workshops, coaching, networking, and engaging online activities and in-person activities.
The Ignite 2023 application process witnessed an overwhelming response, with 1,283 applications pouring in from 49 countries across Africa and the Diaspora. This remarkable interest underscores the critical need for platforms like Ignite, dedicated to nurturing and uplifting women in agribusiness.
Out of the multitude of applicants, 128 exceptional women were selected for the program. The fellows embarked on a transformative journey comprising four distinct online training phases and a ten-day in-person session in Accra, Ghana. The phases – Ignite Within, Ignite a Sis, Reach to Ignite, and Ignited to Ignite – culminated in the post-program extended phase, “Ready to Ignite,” each lasting a minimum of four weeks.
Structured into Field Groups, Business Stage Groups, Country Groups, and Tribes, the Ignite 2023 Training fostered collaborative learning, enabling fellows to explore diverse agribusiness models and techniques essential for building resilient ventures in Africa and beyond.
The 7th cohort proudly announces the graduation of 105 accomplished women from 15 countries out of the 128 who commenced the program, representing 21 African countries. Guzakuza, reflecting on seven years of inspiring women agripreneurs, reiterates its commitment to driving positive change in the agribusiness landscape.
This year’s cohort received significant support from GIZ Ghana, along with contributions from the Roddenberry Foundation, GIZ Malawi, LevelUp USA, London Academy of Professional Training, and Enterprise Risk Management Institute.
Are you a woman in Agribusiness? Stay tuned for the 8th application call soon onwww.igniteafrika.org
Ignite 2023 Program Highlights
1,283 applications from 49 countries
600 candidates progressed through initial interviews
128 exceptional women selected for Ignite 2023
Ten days in-person session in Accra, Ghana
105 graduates from 15 countries out of the 128 who commenced the program
The Board Chairman of Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC), Mr. Joe Mensah has indicated that agriculture is not just a mere industry but a vital sector that connects all, and it is the very fabric that societies use to provide sustenance, livelihoods, and a foundation for growth.
He made this assertion at the AgriTech challenge classic final pitch competition, held at the University of Professional Studies, Accra.
Mr. Joe Mensah mentioned that KIC has the vision to see young people thrive and build entrepreneurial skills to create lasting change in society as they mark the month of preparation, dedication, innovation, and hard work from the young people who have participated in the AgriTech challenge classic competition.
According to the Board Chairman, there has been a convergence of talent, creativity, and a shared vision for a sustainable future in the heart of the AgriTech challenge classic.
He told the participants not only to evaluate the technical aspects and commercial viability of the projects but also to appreciate the potential they hold to make a lasting impact on the agricultural landscape.
“Innovation in agriculture is a necessity”. He indicated that the growing global population, the change in climate patterns, and evolving consumer demand can be addressed by collective commitment and innovation within the agricultural sector.
He highlighted that the commitment to driving innovation in agriculture is not only commendable but also vital for the future of the communities in the world.
He urges the participants not to end what they are doing regardless of the outcome because they are the torchbearers of change. “The seeds you plant today have the power to shape a more sustainable and resilient tomorrow”. Mr. Mensah added.
The deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of operations and finance for the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Samuel Dentu has assured the promotion of made in Ghana products and services of Small and Medium enterprises (SMEs). He emphasized GEPA’s commitment to driving continuous development of Made in Ghana products and services, as well as enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises.
The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Finance (GEPA) made this revelation when he was addressing the opening ceremony of the three-day Trade Show at the premises of National Theatre Accra, on Thursday, December 14, 2023.
Mr. Samuel Dentu highlighted that GEPA has established a Ghana trade house in Kenya that will help to promote Ghanaian products and facilities in active operation. He encouraged SMEs who had not heard of the Ghana Trade House in Kenya to contact GEPA for the necessary support.
He mentioned that GEPA has organized several capacity-building programs this year through the Ghana export school and will still intensify the training next year for the benefit of more SMEs.
“Indeed, we have also organized our flagship program called Women Icon Regional Exhibition (WIRE)”. WIRE event was organized in all regions in Ghana to showcase products of women-led companies as a way of encouraging more women to go into production and services with the ultimate objective of becoming successful.
He commended the European Union for funding GEPA and successfully implementing the three-year WACOMP project that ended in August this year. He took the opportunity to welcome all guests, exhibitors, and patriots to the three-day trade show.
Globally, food systems are unsustainable: 80% of the production of food is powered by fossil fuels. The food system is responsible for over one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. It is the primary driver of biodiversity loss.
The COP28 climate change conference has issued a declaration on sustainable agriculture and resilient food systems. An expert on food systems, Florian Kroll, sets out why the COP28 commitments are inadequate.What was your assessment of what’s needed?
The African Food Systems Transformation Collective launched a declaration on the commitments that government leaders at COP28 needed to make to transform African food systems. The collective is a network of over 200 leading African academics and civil society representatives.
The collective wants world leaders to protect traditional food and seed systems. It has urged global leaders to respect custodianship of nature and shared food as expressions of sacred African values of interdependence and care.
Research and learning must be informed by the wisdom of nature and indigenous knowledge. Locally led technological innovations can level the playing field and improve resource efficiency. These include enhanced traditional storage and processing and renewable energies.
Yet food systems transformations must also go beyond techno-fixes. They must make sure that everyone has fair access to good food.Supporting people’s agency – their ability to govern food systems – is central to transformation. Women, youth, children, elders and small food enterprises must be able to participate in planning and decision-making. Governance must prevent land-grabbing and promote land reform to right current and historical injustices. Water resources must be managed democratically, to protect and regenerate catchments, coastlines and oceans. Everyone should enjoy equitable access to safe water.
The collective believes food systems must be nourishing, biodiverse, carbon-negative, resilient and fair. States and philanthropies should spur locally led adaptation.
The call was for COP28 leaders to commit to separating food systems from the fossil fuels, antibiotics, preservatives, pesticides, herbicides and artificial fertilisers they are currently centred on. Governments should instead promote local food production with short value chains and strengthen fair trade between African countries.
This would mean a big change in regulations, and investment in new infrastructure and technology. Small and informal food enterprises should also be supported with climate-resilient infrastructure.
How the COP28 declaration fails
There is no commitment to de-carbonise food systems, divest from fossil fuel industries or transition to renewable energies. Measures to curb monopolies are not mentioned. COP28 talks about “more sustainable” food systems. Protecting biodiversity and reducing greenhouse emissions looks good at first glance. But unless the entire system of food production is changed, it will make little difference. Most African greenhouse gas emissions linked to food provision are caused by deforestation and on-farm emissions. Even if food is produced using more sustainable approaches, expanding conventional agriculture will accelerate environmental destruction and greenhouse gas emissions.
There’s also a problem for African countries in the recommendations on more sustainable production and consumption. This includes, for example, moving from food production that requires high green gas emissions. But, for African countries, the most pressing issue is in fact nutritional deficiencies.
The COP28 declaration avoids tackling the structural problems underpinning the food systems crisis. These include powerful fossil fuel, fertiliser and seed industry lobbies, ordinary people’s lack of access to land and resources, widespread inequality, and poverty and unemployment.
The COP28 declaration does not acknowledge the benefits the global north has derived from development that was driven by fossil fuels. Nor does it recognise that the global south will bear the brunt of climate change harm. It side-steps climate justice demands for reparations.
The COP28 statement is committed to public-private partnerships and the global World Trade Organisation regime. This is especially problematic. The World Trade Organisation is at the heart of the current neoliberal food regime. It pushes developing countries to extract finite mineral resources and grow export crops for global trade. Cheap imports undermine local industry and livelihoods.
Public-private partnerships allow corporations to influence government policy to their benefit, at the expense of local industries, the poor and the unemployed. Commitment to “support vulnerable people” while protecting public-private partnerships and World Trade Organisation influence entrenches the global food regime.
What’s at stake
Given the risk, scale and pace of climate change, ecosystem degradation and nutritional transition, the COP28 declaration dismally fails Africa. Climate change will affect Africa more than other continents, with large increases in the average annual temperature and the number of high-temperature days.
African food systems urgently require decisive action to enable transformation. Inaction represents a massive risk to ecosystem health and to people’s wellbeing in Africa. The COP28 declaration represents a cynical attempt to disguise the patriarchal climate regime’s last-ditch defence of the current catastrophic food systems trajectory.
The 2021 “Best Fish Farmer” has still not received his two-bedroom house reward from the Ministry, the Minority Spokesperson of the Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku revealed.
According to him, the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture is now requesting funds to put up the building two years after the award ceremonies.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, he said, “ Unfortunately, during the celebration, the Best Fish Farmer is not given the award. In 2021, the Best Fish Farmer was to be given a two-bedroom house. The ceremony was attended by His Excellency, the President, and all the state apparatus.
“Mr Speaker, it was all over the country, that the Best Fish Farmer was going to be given a two-bedroom house. As we speak, the house has not been completed and the Ministry is now asking for GH₵500,000 to be able to complete the building and then hand it over to the best fish farmer.”
Mr Opoku stressed that this was wrong and should not be happening because it shows the country is not committed to rewarding the efforts of her hard-working citizens.
“Mr Speaker, this is something that must not be told anywhere. We don’t have to allow this to happen. Somebody had worked very hard to put food on our tables and as a nation, we want to recognise his contribution and we are saying that we are giving you this house; an award. We are now doing the 2024 budget and we are now looking for ₵500,000 to complete the facility and hand it over to the person.
Meanwhile, the Fisheries Minister, Hawa Koomson, said the delay in putting up the building was because the Ministry had to conduct investigations into the award winner since there were some allegations about the farmer.
“There was an issue with that award winner so we took almost eight months to one year to do investigations to make sure that the fisher had no problem before we allowed the construction to go on,” she said.
She stressed that the ministry requesting only GH₵500,000 implied that the major parts of the building had been completed but it was left with some finishing touches.
