Sustainable fonio value chain development in Ghana

<p><i>Factsheet 2 is dedicated to the sustainable fonio value chain development in Ghana. </i></p><p>Fonio has gained attention in recent years as a nutritious and sustainable crop that could help address food security and nutritional challenges in West Africa and beyond. It offers an alternative to more common cereals like sorghum, millet, wheat, rice, and maize and can grow on marginal lands. Despite the great benefits associated with the crop, fonio is under-exploited and is considered to be an underutilized crop species in Africa. A study by the EWA-BELT project funded by EU horizon 2020 (GA 862848) has analysed the fonio value chain in Ghana in order to identify what opportunities and barriers exist for more widespread uptake. </p><p>The introduction of cost-effective, labour-saving mechanisation at the production and processing stages of the value chain, along with access to the credit facility, improved seed, and enhanced knowledge on good agronomic practices, could significantly boost the value chain in Ghana. Marketing and promotion campaigns should be conducted to create awareness of the potential of the fonio value chain. Collective marketing and contract production could solve some of the marketing challenges of the fonio value chain. Capacity building amongst farmers and improved processing is needed. Increased funding for fonio research is recommended to develop new and improved varieties.</p&gt

Fonio VCA - Sustainable fonio value chain development in Ghana

<p><i>Policy Brief 2 is dedicated to the value chain development of Fonio in Ghana.</i></p><p>Fonio has gained attention in recent years as a nutritious and sustainable crop that could help address food security and nutritional challenges in West Africa and beyond. It offers an alternative to more common cereal grains like sorghum, millet, wheat, rice, and maize and can thrive well on marginal lands. Despite the great benefits associated with the crop it is under exploited and considered an underutilized crop species especially in Africa. A study by the EWA-BELT project funded by EU horizon 2020 has analysed the fonio value chain in Ghana and has made recommendations for the boosting of the value chain in Ghana which are presented in this policy brief. The key messages include;</p><ul><li>The factors limiting fonio value chain development include lack of modern farming equipment's, inadequate farming and market information, and less interaction among the chain actors.</li><li>Birds attach is one major limiting factor of fonio production.</li><li>Processing of fonio is labour intensive</li><li>Poor product quality has been observed in fonio VC.</li><li>All nodes of the fonio VC are profitable.</li><li>The introduction of cost-effective, labour-friendly mechanisation services at the various stages of the value chain, along with access to the credit facility, improved seed, and enhanced knowledge on good agronomic practices, will significantly boost the chain.</li></ul><p>It is recommended that marketing and promotion campaigns must be carried out to create awareness of the potential of the fonio value chain. Collective marketing and contract production is recommended as a remedy to the marketing challenges of the fonio value chain at the aggregation and trading nodes. Capacity building at the production and processing nodes is strongly recommended. Increase funding to fonio research is highly recommended for the development of new and improved varieties and new recipes.</p&gt

Maize ISFM - Economic and environmental viability of organic fertilisation for sustainable maize production in Africa

<p><i>Policy Brief 1 on Integrated Soil Fertility Management Practices is dedicated to maize.</i></p><p>There is the need for sustainable crop (maize) production in Africa due to growing food demand and the declining soil fertility nexus. This policy brief is aimed at publishing the findings of a research that evaluated the economic and environmental viability of organic fertilizer in maize production. Maize being the most important cereal in sub-Sahara Africa. Three fertilization options (organic, organic + inorganic and inorganic) were tested in east and west Africa to assess their economic and environment feasibility. The major findings include:</p><ul><li>Maize yields increases under all three fertilizer options in both the short to long term, however the yields grows faster under full organic fertilizer than the others producing the highest yields in the long term with better soil health contribution.</li><li>All fertilizer options are profitable in both short to long term, but organic amendment generates the highest benefits in both short and long term.</li><li>Proportional increased in output price and input cost results in increase farm profit similar to the effect of inflation.</li><li>The main limiting factor to organic fertilizer use is the unavailability of organic fertilizer</li></ul><p>Organic fertilizer and intergrated options are recommended for sustainable maize production in east and west Africa regions. Strategies to increase organic fertilizer production should be pursued by governments.</p&gt

Assessing fertiliser options for sustainable maize production in Africa

<p><i>Factsheet 1 is dedicated to the assessment of fertiliser options for sustainable maize production in Africa. </i></p><p>There is a need for sustainable maize production in Africa due to growing food demand and declining soil fertility. This factsheet suggests the promotion and upscaling of organic fertilizer and intergrated soil fertility management (ISFM) options for sustainable maize production in east and west Africa regions based on findings from research carried out in Ghana and Kenya under the EWA-BELT project (GA 862848). Strategies to increase organic fertilizer production should be pursued by governments and all stakeholders.</p&gt