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Top lessons from the Ghanaian agricultural boom
1. Connect through technology
Information technology is playing a key role in enhancing agricultural production in Ghana. Beyond vehicular machines, farmers have started using modern technologies to enhance productivity. One compelling example comes from the Yonko Pa Association, an out-grower scheme for maize farmers. Previously, their production was plagued by the fall armyworm disease, which required swift action. With the help of drone technology pesticides were sprayed onto the farms of about 50 farmers, which were all salvaged in a few hours. Afterward, farmers were educated on the use of the drone, the input application period and the application process. Other technology firms provide real-time agricultural information platform via mobile phones. Through these platforms, farmers have access to and can pay for weather forecasts and market prices. Weather forecasts help farmers plan, and knowing the current price of commodities empowers them to sell their produce at the right price. What’s particularly exciting is that all this is delivered via voice technology and in local languages. Mobile applications and social media are also being used to market farm produce. Online grocery shops are providing door-to-door delivery when customers order online.
2. Research, research, research
Research and development in the agricultural sector is a sine qua non in achieving food security. This is because a majority of Africa’s poor and malnourished population depends largely on farming. In this regard, research into improved agricultural practices that enhances productivity can be particularly effective in reducing poverty and hunger. In Ghana, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) remains the main research organization within the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) and has carried out cutting-edge research in various sectors. For example, to address food security in Ghana, CSIR introduced six (6) new varieties of cassava and millet in 2015 and 2017 respectively. According to MOFA’s Agricultural Sector Progress report 2017, an estimated 2,534 demonstrations were set up in 2017 to showcase various proven technologies to smallholder farmers as compared to 218 demonstrations established in 2016. The number of beneficiary farmers reached through the community field demonstrations were 127,848 of which 41.3% were women.
3. Add value to the value chain New, smart agribusinesses are enhancing agricultural value chains. Farmers are provided with marketing opportunities that help them link their products with potential customers. Other agribusiness entrepreneurs are adding value to raw materials and selling new products at appropriate prices. For example, chocolates are now designed in artistic Ghanaian local symbol designs. Other state institutions have created an online trading platform for farmers to trade their commodities at favorable prices or store them to receive warehouse receipts. The receipt system gives farmers the opportunity to deposit goods (mostly grains) in order to acquire a warehouse receipt; a financial instrument that shows deposit proof with the quantity and quality of the goods in question. Farmers can delay the sale of their commodities to a period when prices are more favorable. Warehouse receipt systems can therefore mobilize credit for the agricultural sector and improve agricultural trade.
4. Ensure government support
The government has also been instrumental in Ghana’s agricultural transformation. Under the National Service Scheme Farming Project, graduates are provided financial and agronomic support to venture into various agricultural endeavors. The Scheme has graduate farmers engage in crop production such as tomatoes, maize, green pepper and cucumber and a livestock farm at Nungua with more than 10,500 animals. The agricultural projects are ad-ons to the Scheme where graduates were offered “white collared” jobs; a system that contributed to the “choking of the public sector” as human resources were redundant. With the success of the Farming Project, the Scheme aimed at expanding more acreage of production.
Information technology is playing a key role in enhancing agricultural production in Ghana. Beyond vehicular machines, farmers have started using modern technologies to enhance productivity. One compelling example comes from the Yonko Pa Association, an out-grower scheme for maize farmers. Previously, their production was plagued by the fall armyworm disease, which required swift action. With the help of drone technology pesticides were sprayed onto the farms of about 50 farmers, which were all salvaged in a few hours. Afterward, farmers were educated on the use of the drone, the input application period and the application process. Other technology firms provide real-time agricultural information platform via mobile phones. Through these platforms, farmers have access to and can pay for weather forecasts and market prices. Weather forecasts help farmers plan, and knowing the current price of commodities empowers them to sell their produce at the right price. What’s particularly exciting is that all this is delivered via voice technology and in local languages. Mobile applications and social media are also being used to market farm produce. Online grocery shops are providing door-to-door delivery when customers order online.
2. Research, research, research
Research and development in the agricultural sector is a sine qua non in achieving food security. This is because a majority of Africa’s poor and malnourished population depends largely on farming. In this regard, research into improved agricultural practices that enhances productivity can be particularly effective in reducing poverty and hunger. In Ghana, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) remains the main research organization within the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) and has carried out cutting-edge research in various sectors. For example, to address food security in Ghana, CSIR introduced six (6) new varieties of cassava and millet in 2015 and 2017 respectively. According to MOFA’s Agricultural Sector Progress report 2017, an estimated 2,534 demonstrations were set up in 2017 to showcase various proven technologies to smallholder farmers as compared to 218 demonstrations established in 2016. The number of beneficiary farmers reached through the community field demonstrations were 127,848 of which 41.3% were women.
3. Add value to the value chain New, smart agribusinesses are enhancing agricultural value chains. Farmers are provided with marketing opportunities that help them link their products with potential customers. Other agribusiness entrepreneurs are adding value to raw materials and selling new products at appropriate prices. For example, chocolates are now designed in artistic Ghanaian local symbol designs. Other state institutions have created an online trading platform for farmers to trade their commodities at favorable prices or store them to receive warehouse receipts. The receipt system gives farmers the opportunity to deposit goods (mostly grains) in order to acquire a warehouse receipt; a financial instrument that shows deposit proof with the quantity and quality of the goods in question. Farmers can delay the sale of their commodities to a period when prices are more favorable. Warehouse receipt systems can therefore mobilize credit for the agricultural sector and improve agricultural trade.
4. Ensure government support
The government has also been instrumental in Ghana’s agricultural transformation. Under the National Service Scheme Farming Project, graduates are provided financial and agronomic support to venture into various agricultural endeavors. The Scheme has graduate farmers engage in crop production such as tomatoes, maize, green pepper and cucumber and a livestock farm at Nungua with more than 10,500 animals. The agricultural projects are ad-ons to the Scheme where graduates were offered “white collared” jobs; a system that contributed to the “choking of the public sector” as human resources were redundant. With the success of the Farming Project, the Scheme aimed at expanding more acreage of production.