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Pineapple farms & dried pineapples
Pineapple is a crop that grows almost in all the agro ecological zones of Ghana. Major commercial production is located in the southern regions of the country, close to the ports for the export markets. At the coast, the production of pineapple is concentrated in the Accra Plains, Awutu areas and at the Aburi-Nsawam axis. The export sector of pineapples is the most developed non-traditional horticultural crops in the country. The most common varieties are the Smooth Cayenne, the Sugar Loaf, Queen and MD2. Especially the last variety, MD2, has become widely cultivated and has gained popularity in the European markets. In 2019 Ghana exported an amount of pineapples worth US$ 31.6 million. But even though the demand is high, the production of pineapple is still very minimal in the existing areas. That is why the Ghanaian Government wants to partner with investors to establish new pineapple farms on the 50,000ha of land at Bui, in the Accra Plains, Awutu areas and at the Aburi-Nsawam axis. Not only is the place suitable for growing fruits, but also for factories where fresh pineapples can be processed into juice concentrates. Plus, there are also plans to build pack houses furnished with drying technics and packaging equipment to dry the fruit for export to Europe and the US. These techniques would minimise losses after the harvest.
OBJECTIVES
• Contributing to the modernisation of the agriculture sector in Ghana
• Contributing to the structurally transformation of the economy
• Enhancing food security and reducing poverty
• Creating employment opportunities
Cotton & Textile
In the Northern Savannah Ecological Zone (NSEZ) there are major plans to lease a 50,000ha land to grow cotton in commercial quantities and to build factories and a Textiles Training Institute. The area is highly suitable for this crop. In the past, cotton cultivation used to be the livelihoods of thousands of small farmers in Northern Ghana. Its relative success led to public investments in ginneries, but after the collapse of the cotton sector in the 80s, the production remained idle. This project in the NSEZ could actually revive the cotton sector beyond its strength in the past. The plan is to work together with local farmers to process the cotton across the entire value chain. An anchor farmer will produce a certain minimum quantity to feed the ginneries and factories. At the same time the project supports small farmers to grow cotton. At the Textiles Training Institute local workforce will learn skills to operate the high-tech equipment in the factories. In the next eight to ten years the place could produce up to 500,000ha cotton of high quality standard for the export market.
Expert revenues could exceed US$ 600 million already in the next four years. This is a project from the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) in partnership with the China National Textiles and Apparel Council (CNTAC) and CAMC Engineering and Elmwood Finance Ltd.
OBJECTIVES
• Developing the cotton value chain
• Setting up a Cotton and Textiles Training Institute
• Increasing Ghana’s export value of cotton products to over US$ 150 million
• Creating 30,000 jobs in cotton production and processing
• Reducing migration labour to the southern part of Ghana.
Maize Production
Maize is one of the most popular food crops in the Ghanaian markets and it is grown in all the ecological zones of the country. It is the basis of several local food preparations and the main feedstuff for poultry and other livestock. However, because of limited rainfall the yield is low. Therefore the construction of irrigation systems can result in higher yield, increased productivity and lower prices of the crops. The maize production and cultivation has many investment oppor tunities for the domestic markets.
Producing & Processing Cocoa
Cocoa plays an important role in the economy of Ghana since it exports about 800,000 tonnes of cocoa per year. The sectors employs about 800,000 farmer families spread over six regions in the country. The crop generates about US$ 2 billion annually and is therefore a major contributor to the Government’s revenue and GDP. Cocoa can be produced in all the forests of the country, particularly in Eastern, Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Volta, Central and Western Regions. Cocoa pods mature and ripe throughout the year. It is harvested by cutting the ripe pods from the trees, breaking them open and extracting the beans. The beans are fermented for six days with three turnings before drying for another seven days in the sun. The beans are then bagged, graded and sealed for local processors and export. Investment opportunities are in the production of the crop and processing it into products like chocolate, pebbles and cocoa powder. The Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) has also come out with other products that can be produced from the cocoa beans and the cocoa pod. These products include cocoa brandy, cocoa wine, cocoa jam, cocoa gin, cocoa butter soap, cocoa butter moisturizing soap, vinegar and cocoa biscuit.
OBJECTIVES
• Establishing modern cocoa farms
• Processing plants
• Achieving a 50 percent processed cocoa as a proportion of the exported
Producing & Processing Soybeans
The demand for soybeans and its derivatives, such as oil and cake, are very high. At the moment soybeans are imported for the extraction of oil and the cake is processed into poultry and fish feeds. The quantity of soybeans grown locally is very low, one metric tonnes per hectare. In the Brong Ahafo Region (northern part of Ghana) the growth of soybeans can thrive. What is needed is advanced technology that can mechanise the production process and also using the methods of irrigation. This could improve the yield to about six megaton per hectare. The soya will be processed into milk, oil, poultry and fish feeds.
Banana Plantation
The banana plantation in South Tongu (Ada area) is a project from Moonlight Fresco Ltd (private sector) for the production of premium quality bananas. The aim is to distribute more than 2 million 18 kg palletised boxes of bananas by the end of 2022. This project will generate direct employment for more than 3000 people and indirect employment for more than 7500 people. The boxes are for export markets in the EU, UK and the Mediterranean countries. Moonlight Fresco Ltd expects revenues up to US$ 36 million per year.
Poultry Farms & Hatcheries
Eggs and poultry meat are important components of the Ghanaian diet, because of its protein. The poultry industry also provides employment for a significant number of people. Poultry farms can be found in almost every part of the country with meat production estimated at 290,563 metric tonnes in 2018. Rural poultry constitutes about 80 percent of Ghana’s poultry population. But even though a lot of poultry farms exist in the country, the broiler industry is in decline. Small, medium and large-scale producers constitute respectively about 60 percent, 30 percent and 10 percent of poultry farmers in the country. The small farmers use little or no technologies in their production. Whilst the large producers used advanced technologies such hatcheries, veterinary services and they often have better marketing arrangements.
OBJECTIVES
• Establishing modern hatcheries and poultry farms
• Constructing of new irrigation systems for maize production
• Cultivating of maize on existing irrigation schemes for human and animal consumption
• Increasing the scale of production of poultry products
• Reducing the import of chicken parts from Europe, Brazil and the United States
Processing Facilities for Poultry
The poultry industry in Ghana is largely characterised by imports of poultry meat. In 2019, imports of poultry products amounted to US$374 million, which is 300,000 metric tonnes of chicken per year. Processing chicken locally is minimal. All the chicken parts are imported in high volumes, for Ghana and many other economies in West Africa. A strategic approach includes processing of poultry products for domestic and export markets. Importers and wholesalers of chicken and chicken parts could be brought on board for their distribution networks. The production and processing facilities for poultry and its related products can be placed in Eastern, Volta, Western, Brong Ahafo, Central, Ashanti and Greater Accra Regions.
Wa Industrial Park
The Wa Industrial Park is a construction plan of 100-150ha for the cluster of agro processing industries in the capital of the Upper West Region. The economic growth in the region is very much driven by agriculture and mining sectors. The industrial park is meant for the process of food and agro products. An infrastructure of this size can forge synergies among the industries, while managing the environment of the place at the same time. The Government is about to secure land for the park that will easily be accessible from the main road.
OBJECTIVES
• Clustering agro-processing industries
• Clustering industry services
• Building warehouses and other supporting facilities
• Setting up a special authority from the Government to develop and manage the park
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