Programme description

Title: Market Orientated Agriculture Programme
Client: Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ)
Country: Ghana
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA)
Overall term: July 2004 to June 2013

Context

Almost half of Ghana’s population lives in poverty. Agricultural producers suffer from inadequate market access, distorted market prices, and a bad infrastructure. Low productivity as well as low competitiveness at local and export markets characterise the agricultural sector. The potentials to increase incomes of the rural population remain virtually untapped.

Objective

The programme improves the competitiveness of agricultural producers, processors (frequently women) and increases the value addition generated particularly in rural areas. Thus, the programme contributes directly to poverty alleviation.

Approach

The programme consists of three components:

• Promotion of selected agricultural value chains
• Increasing efficiency of the public sector
• Strengthening of private sector institutions

These include measures of policy advice, institutional development as well as introduction of technical innovations.

In agreement with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture the following value chains are promoted: pineapple, citrus, mango, chillies pepper, grasscutter, guinea fowl, and aquaculture. The programme enables producers and processors to increase production volumes and to adjust the quality of primary and processed produce to suit market requirements. It furthermore advises the ministry on the implementation of decentralised organisational reforms, improvement of service delivery, and private sector support.

Agricultural organisations and associations are assisted to improve their institutional set up and the service delivery to their members. Strengthening of public private sector cooperation is another focal point.

Results achieved so far

In collaboration with local export associations and other donors the programme supported the presentation of Ghanaian exporters at the International Fruit Fair “Fruit Logistica” in Berlin. This resulted in the signing of contracts with an expected turn-over of  US-$ 3-5 million.

An orange juice producer has been successfully assisted in improving the sanitary and ecological production, allowing it to use the produce of 1,000 certified outgrowers. This enables the company to export 3,000 tons p.a. of ecologically certified orange juice worth  US-$ 1.5 million. Additionally the company will be able to sell 1,000 tons of juice (approximate value  US-$ 200–300,000) to local markets. At the same time the programme intervention leads to the creation of 150–200 seasonal jobs, especially for women.