As the country’s largest employer and contributor to foreign exchange, agriculture is a critical pillar of Kenya’s society and economy, and the sector has grown steadily in recent years, despite facing a host of challenges. Although staple crops and subsistence farming are critical to maintaining food security, Kenya is also the world’s largest exporter of black tea, and...
Interviews & Viewpoints | OBG talks to Anthony Pile, Founder and CEO, Blue Skies from The Report: Ghana 2014
How do Ghana’s fiscal and currency challenges impact the outlook for agricultural producers?
Articles & Analysis | The crop is a leading contributor to the national economy from The Report: Ghana 2014
As the world’s second-largest producer of cocoa – behind only its neighbour Côte d’Ivoire – Ghana’s agricultural output and overall economy are dependent on production of the crop, which represents 57% of the sector’s export earnings and over 20% of total export earnings, and employs more than 800,000 farmers.
Articles & Analysis | The region is returning to the fore as a palm oil producer from The Report: Ghana 2014
The palm oil industry is coming full circle in West Africa. The commodity was first produced in the region as early as the 16th century and commercial trade began in 1820. In the mid-19th century traders transported planting materials from Ghana to Asia, where the climate proved highly conducive for growth. The industry boomed in this new location, leaving Africa behind...
Articles & Analysis | Much-needed improvements in recordkeeping are on the way from The Report: Ghana 2014
While there is plenty of fertile land available for agriculture in Ghana – an estimated 6.1m ha of its 13.6m ha of agricultural land is not cultivated at present – land acquisition remains a challenging process.
Articles & Analysis | A state-backed modernisation drive has the potential to reinvigorate a key sector from The Report: Ghana 2014
As the foundation of Ghana’s economy, agriculture employs more than half of the population and is a key focus for the country’s inclusive economic development agenda. Yet as the industrial and services sectors have strengthened in recent years, agriculture’s contribution to overall GDP has steadily declined, falling from 32% in 2009 to 22% in 2013. The government’s...