Supply Response of Rice in Ghana: A Co-integration Analysis

This study presents an analysis of the responsiveness of rice production in Ghana over the period 1970-2008. Annual time series data of aggregate output, total land area cultivated, yield, real prices of rice and maize, and rainfall were used for the analysis. The Augmented-Dickey Fuller test was used to test the stationarity of the individual series, and Johansen maximum likelihood criterion was used to estimate the short-run and long-run elasticities. The land area cultivated of rice was significantly dependent on output, rainfall, real price of maize and real price of rice. The elasticity of lagged output (12.8) in the short run was significant at 1%, but the long run elasticity (4.6) was not significant. Rainfall had an elasticity of 0.004 and significant at 10%. Real price of maize had negative coefficient of -0.011 and significant at 10% significance level. This is consistent with theory since a rise in maize price will pull resources away from rice production into maize production. The real price of rice had an elasticity of 2.01 and significant at 5% in the short run and an elasticity of 3.11 in the long run. The error correction term had the expected negative coefficient of -0.434 which is significant at 1%. It was found that in the long run only real prices of maize and rice were significant with elasticities of -0.46 and 3.11 respectively. The empirical results also revealed that the aggregate output of rice in the short run was found to be dependent on the acreage cultivated, the real prices of rice, rainfall and previous output with elasticities of 0.018, 0.01, 0.003 and 0.52 respectively. Real price of rice and area cultivated are significant 10% level of significance while rainfall and lagged output are significant 5%. In the long run aggregate output was found to be dependent on acreage cultivated, real price of rice, and real price maize with elasticities of 0.218, 0.242 and -0.01 respectively at the 1% significance level. The analysis showed that short-run responses in rice production are lower than long-run response as indicated by the higher long-run elasticities. These results have Agricultural policy implications for Ghana. Key Words: Supply response, Rice, Error Correction Model, Co-integration Analysis, Ghan

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

The Ostrich Industry in Ghana: Prospects and Performance

The number of ostrich farms in Ghana has increased lately as a result of the high and faster financial returns these farms are accruing. This study assesses the performance of MacBaron Ostrich Farm by examining the trends in its output, operating performance, profitability, market structure, and future projections of income. Generally, there have been decreasing trends in meat output, value of hide exports, and sales at monthly rates of 0.58 percent, 0.25 percent, and 0.22 percent, respectively. Despite these low and declining trends, the profit level over the years has been increasing at 19.6 percent annually. The structure of the ostrich market mimics an oligopolistic market. Income projections using the three-year moving average revealed that the business will still be profitable over the next five years. The study recommends that MacBaron diversify its output by exploring other markets for ostrich products, such as processing the feathers and eggshells, and by increasing the bird slaughter rate since profit is a function of output. Water and electricity costs should be reduced by the use of energy saving bulbs and the maintenance of all thermostats in electrical systems in the brooder house. High-pressure, low-volume cleaning systems and nozzles on all water sprays should be employed The study further recommends that proper records be kept to ensure good management and planning of inventory

Exports of Palm Oil from Ghana: A Demand Analysis

Studies have shown that the economy of Ghana cannot afford to rely solely on cocoa exports. It is imperative to diversify the export base of the Ghanaian economy. In this respect, the palm oil sub-sector of the agricultural sector, which until the early part of the 20th century was the major agricultural export commodity of Ghana, needs to be considered for promotion. Currently the palm oil industry faces the challenge of bleak export potential. This study examines trends in the quantity exported of Ghana's palm oil and quantifies the effects and magnitudes of the determinants of export demand. Empirical analysis of Ghana's palm oil exports from 1987 to 2006 reveals a general upward growth over the study period at an annual growth rate of 23.2 percent.This result can be attributed to the privatization of state-owned oil palm plantations in the 1980s and 1990s.The effects and magnitudes of the determinants of the demand for Ghana palm oil were achieved with ordinary least squares regression. The study identifies the following significant determinants of the demand for Ghana's palm oil: real export price and real domestic price of Ghana's palm oil, real export price of Malaysia's palm oil (a competitor with Ghana's palm oil exports), and real exchange rate in Ghana.A one-percent fall in the real domestic price of Ghana's palm oil will bring about an 11.9-percent increase in the quantity exported (demanded) of Ghana's palm oil by her trading partners; a one-percent increase in the export price of Malaysia's palm oil will increase the demand for Ghana's palm oil by 2.1 percent; quantity demanded of Ghana's palm oil increases by 0.4 percent for every one-percent decrease in the export price of Ghana's palm oil; and a one-percent depreciation of the Ghana cedi against the U.S. dollar will bring about an 11.1-percent increase in the demand for Ghana's palm oil by her trading partners, all other things being equal. This study recommends that a price support system (i.e., maximum­ price legislation) be instituted in the domestic palm oil market to minimize domestic price increases. Policymakers and stakeholders in the palm oil industry should consider the export price of Malaysia's palm oil when pricing Ghana's palm oil in the international market. Exchange-rate stabilization policies should be strengthened in order to promote mutually beneficial trade between Ghana and palm oil-importing countries

Agroecological transformation for sustainable food systems : Insight on France-CGIAR research

This 26th dossier d’Agropolis is devoted to research and partnerships in agroecology. The French Commission for International Agricultural Research (CRAI) and Agropolis International, on behalf of CIRAD, INRAE and IRD and in partnership with CGIAR, has produced this new issue in the ‘Les dossiers d’Agropolis international’ series devoted to agroecology. This publication has been produced within the framework of the Action Plan signed by CGIAR and the French government on February 4th 2021 to strengthen French collaboration with CGIAR, where agroecology is highlighted as one of the three key priorities (alongside climate change, nutrition and food systems)