REPORT ON FERTILIZER CONSUMPTION AND FERTILIZER USE …€¦ ·  · 2017-05-09CHALLENGES IN...

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CHALLENGES IN ASSESSING FERTILIZER CONSUMPTION AND FERTILIZER USE BY CROP IN GHANA NOVEMBER, 2014

Transcript of REPORT ON FERTILIZER CONSUMPTION AND FERTILIZER USE …€¦ ·  · 2017-05-09CHALLENGES IN...

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CHALLENGES IN ASSESSING FERTILIZER CONSUMPTION AND FERTILIZER USE BY

CROP IN GHANA

NOVEMBER, 2014

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Preface and Acknowledgement

This study was Commissioned and Funded by the North and West Africa Division of the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC NWAFD). The consultant is grateful for the opportunity that was offered him, which has enhanced his knowledge and experience on issues related to the fertilizer industry in Ghana and also afforded him the opportunity to contribute to the discussions on Fertilizer Use by Crop (FUBC) in the country.

The consultant owes a lot of gratitude to colleagues in the public and civil service of Ghana, who have contributed in various ways to the preparation of this report. Special thanks go to the following colleagues:

1. Daniel Wawo of the Statistics, Research and Information Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture;

2. Michael Owusu of the Directorate of Crop Services of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture;

3. Francis Dzah of the Ghana Statistical Service;

4. Samuel Mortey of the Ghana Statistical Service;

5. Sandra Asimenu of the Ghana Statistical Service; and

6. Felix Brakatu of the Ghana Input Dealers Association.

The consultant also benefitted from quite a number of previous publications, which he prefers to cite as references to acknowledge their contributions to this work.

The consultant would also like to acknowledge with many thanks for the support received from the supervisor of the study, Mr. Patrice Annequin, the AfricaFertilizer.org Coordinator at the IFDC office in Accra, Ghana and his staff, Japhet Lartey and Antonina Bawuah. We are greatly indebted to them for their guidance.

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Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgement .................................................................................................... ii 

List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. v 

List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ v 

Abbreviations and Acronyms ..................................................................................................... vi 

Abstract ........................................................................................................................................ vii 

Chapter One: Background to the Study .................................................................................... 1 1.1  Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.2  Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.3  Rationale ........................................................................................................................... 2 1.4  Methodology .................................................................................................................... 2 1.5  Expected outputs .............................................................................................................. 3 

Chapter Two: Economy, Climate and Relief ............................................................................ 4 2.1  Agriculture ....................................................................................................................... 4 2.2  Agro-ecological zones ...................................................................................................... 4 2.3  Climate ............................................................................................................................. 6 2.4  Soils and topography ........................................................................................................ 7 

Chapter Three: Agricultural Crop Production ........................................................................ 8 3.1  Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 8 3.2  Production of Food Crops ................................................................................................ 8 

3.2.1 Production of Cereals ................................................................................................ 9 3.2.2 Production of industrial crops ................................................................................. 10 3.2.3 Production of Fruits ................................................................................................ 11 3.2.4 Production of Legumes ........................................................................................... 11 3.2.5 Production of Vegetables ........................................................................................ 12 3.2.6 Production of roots, tubers and plantain ................................................................. 13 3.2.7 Production of other crops produced by district ....................................................... 13

Chapter Four: Fertilizer Market in Ghana ............................................................................. 16 4.0  Introduction .................................................................................................................... 16 4.1  Fertilizer Importation ..................................................................................................... 16 4.2  Fertilizer Exportation ..................................................................................................... 18 4.3  Fertilizer Consumption (2011 – 2013) ........................................................................... 21 

Chapter Five: SWOT Analysis of Data Sources, Methodologies, Tools and Data 

Availability.......................................................................................................... 23 5.1  Data sources, methodologies, tools and data availability to calculate real consumption ...   of fertilizers and fertilizer use by crops in Ghana .......................................................... 23 5.2  SWOT Analysis .............................................................................................................. 23 

5.2.1 Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority .................................................... 23

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5.2.2 Ghana Statistical Service ............................................................................................. 24 5.2.3 Ministry of Food and Agriculture ........................................................................... 25

5.3  Conclusions on SWOT analysis ..................................................................................... 25 

Chapter Six: The Fertilizer Subsidy Programme in Ghana .................................................. 26 6.1  Introduction .................................................................................................................... 26 6.2  Fertilizer use comparison of Ghana and other parts of the world .................................. 26 6.3  Policy direction .............................................................................................................. 26 6.4  Quantity distributed and cost to government ................................................................. 26 6.4  Implementation modalities ............................................................................................. 27 6.5  Selection of companies and allocation of quotas ........................................................... 27 6.6  Subsidy targeting and policy governing the programme ............................................... 28 6.7  Challenges ...................................................................................................................... 28 6.8  Impact on food production ............................................................................................. 28 

Chapter Seven: Dealing with Missing Gaps in Data............................................................... 30 7.1  Verification method ........................................................................................................ 30 7.2  Surrogate technique ........................................................................................................ 30 7.3  Trend analysis – Interpolation and extrapolating ........................................................... 32 

Chapter Eight: Cost-effective ways for collecting real consumption and Fertilizer Use by 

Crop data in the context of Ghana .................................................................. 34 8.1  Introduction .................................................................................................................... 34 8.2  Cost effective way of collecting FUBC data .................................................................. 34 8.3  Report of survey on fertilizer use by crop in Ghana (2011-2013) ................................. 35 

8.3.1 Background ............................................................................................................. 35 8.3.2 Objective of study ................................................................................................... 35 8.3.3 Methodology ........................................................................................................... 35 8.3.4 Expected output ...................................................................................................... 36 8.3.5 Trends of fertilizer consumption ............................................................................. 36 8.3.6 Limitations to the study .......................................................................................... 38 8.3.7 Recommendations for future data collection on fertilizer use ................................ 38

References .................................................................................................................................... 40 

Appendices ................................................................................................................................... 41 Appendix I: Fertilizer Used by Crop Survey (2011-2013) ..................................................... 41 Appendix II: List of MoFA Staff contacted for the FUBC Survey ......................................... 42 Appendix III: List of Respondents (Farmers) that willingly gave their Names ....................... 43 Appendix IV: Annual Area Planted to Selected Food Crops, (‘000Ha) ................................... 44 Appendix V: List of Registered Fertilizer Products ............................................................... 45 

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List of Tables Table 2.1: Agro-ecological zones ................................................................................................. 5 Table 3.1: Crop Groups................................................................................................................. 9 Table 3.2: Cereal production and area cultivated ......................................................................... 9 Table 3.3: Production of Industrial Crops................................................................................... 10 Table 3.4: Production of fruits .................................................................................................... 11 Table 3.5: Production of Legumes .............................................................................................. 12 Table 3.6: Production of Vegetables ........................................................................................... 12 Table 3.7: Production of Roots, Tubers and Plantain ................................................................. 13 Table 3.8: Area, yield and production of watermelon by district, 2011-2012 ............................ 13 Table 3.9: Area, yield and production of pineapple by district 2011-2012 ................................ 14 Table 3.10: Area, yield and production of onion by district, 2011-2012 ...................................... 15 Table 3.11: Area, yield and production of okro by district, 2011-2012 ....................................... 15 Table 4.1: Fertilizer Import for Agricultural Use (tons) ............................................................. 17 Table 4.2: Fertilizer Import By Origin ........................................................................................ 18 Table 4.3: Fertilizer Export for Agricultural Use (tons) ............................................................. 19 Table 4.4: Major fertilizer export by destination ........................................................................ 20 Table 4.5: Non-fertilizers used for agricultural purposes (tons) ................................................. 20 Table 4.6: Apparent consumption (tons - product) ..................................................................... 21 Table 6.1: Total Fertilizer Subsidized and Total Cost to Government 2008 to 2013 ................. 27 Table 7.1: Step 1: Known data for target variable ...................................................................... 31 Table 7.2: Step 2: Known surrogate variable.............................................................................. 31 Table 7.3: Step 3: Ratio of two series ......................................................................................... 31 Table 7.4: Step 4: Ratio of two series ......................................................................................... 31 Table 7.5: Step 5: Gap filled time series for target variable (surrogate*ratio) ........................... 32 Table 7.6: Fertilizer imports data ................................................................................................ 32 Table 8.1: Areas sampled for FUBC data collection .................................................................. 36 Table 8.2: Amount of fertilizer used by type of crop ................................................................. 37 

List of Figures

Figure 2.1: ....................................................................................................................................... 6 

Figure 4.1: Fertilizer imports, 2011-2013 ..................................................................................... 16 

Figure 4.2: Total fertilizer exports, 2011-2013 ............................................................................. 19 

Figure 6.1: Impact on food production ......................................................................................... 29 

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Abbreviations and Acronyms

AFAP African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership

AFO Africa Fertilizer Organization

FTWG Fertilizer Technical Working Group

FUBC Fertilizer Use by Crop

GCNet Ghana Community Network Service

GDP Gross Domestic Product

GRA Ghana Revenue Authority

GSS Ghana Statistical Service

IFA International Fertilizer Industry Association

IFDC International Fertilizer Development Center

MDGs Millennium Development Goals

METASIP Medium Term Agriculture Sector Investment Plan

MoFA Ministry of Food and Agriculture

PHC Population and Housing Census

SRID Statistics Research and Information Directorate

SWOT Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats

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Abstract

Agriculture for many decades has been the backbone of the Ghanaian economy contributing more than half to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This contribution has however, declined to about one-fifth in recent years. The sector also employs about 45 (%) percent of the working population. Ghana has extensive areas of arable land suitable for agriculture. Some of the soils are however, infertile and can be made productive only through proper land management processes. Agriculture is predominantly on a smallholder basis with cocoa being the main export crop. Large farms and plantations are for rubber, oil palm and coconut, but to a lesser extent, rice, maize and pineapples. The sector is faced with many constraints including access to agricultural inputs, mainly fertilizers and improved seeds.

Ghana imports all the fertilizers used in the agricultural sector. A fertilizer subsidy programme was introduced by government to make fertilizers readily available to farmers at a reduced cost. A review of the policy in 2013 allowed a farmer to purchase fertilizer enough to cover only 2 hectares of farm land. The programme has been fraught with challenges and in 2014 for example, the programme could not run due to unavailability of funds. Inspite of the challenges, the fertilizer subsidy programme has led to an increase in the average rate of application from 8kg/ha in 2008 to 12kg/ha in 2013.

Maize and rice (rain-fed or irrigated) respond positively to fertilizer application leading to high productivity. Yam, cocoyam, plantain, groundnuts, potatoes and cowpea are also important agricultural crops. The production of rice has seen a steady increase between 2011 (464,000 MT) and 2013 (569,000 MT) while maize increased between 2011 (1,684,000 MT) and 2012 (1,949,900 MT) but declined from 2012 to 2013 (1,764,500 MT). Cocoa production also exceeded one million metric tonnes in 2010/2011 but declined to 879,348 metric tonnes in 2011/2012 and further to 825,375 metric tonnes in 2012/2013.

Ghana imports various types of compound fertilizers but the common ones are NPK, Ammonium nitrate and Superphosphate. More than 250,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer was imported in 2011, rising to over 470,000 metric tonnes in 2012 but declining to 370,000 metric tonnes in 2013.

There are four (4) major companies that import the bulk of fertilizers into the country. These companies are also involved in blending fertilizers for use on different types of crops. To be able to estimate Fertilizer Use By Crop, it was envisaged that information from these companies would provide very goods estimates of fertilizer use in the country as they account for about 85% of fertilizer imports into Ghana. Attempts to collect information from these companies on the types of fertilizers they import, the blends and the crops to which they are applied failed as they were reluctant to provide the needed information even though the team had indicated that no individual information would be published and that all published information would be aggregated.

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A small sample survey was conducted by the research team on the following crops: rice (both rain-fed and irrigated), maize, tomatoes, okro, pepper, onion, garden eggs, pineapple, cocoa, oil palm and pawpaw. The survey, however, had a number of limitations due to the sample size and the areas covered, which are not representative of the entire population of farmers. Another limitation is the difficulty in obtaining reliable data from the farmers on estimated areas cultivated for the various crops. The results cannot, therefore, be used to make any generalizations on fertilizer use by crop in the country.

Due to the challenges enumerated above, it is proposed that the Statistics, Research and Information Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture is well resourced to include questions to also collect information on fertilizer use by crop as part of the Multi-Round Annual Crop and Livestock Survey. If this process is well organized and managed, it should be possible to obtain some credible estimates of Fertilizer Use by Crop in the country. There is also the need to strengthen the relationship between the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the importing companies to ensure the adequate documentation of fertilizer imports and blends to make available the needed information for policy.

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Chapter One

Background to the Study

1.1 Introduction

This report presents the 2011-2013 update of discussions on Fertilizer Use by Crops (FUBC) in Ghana. The lead consultant and other contributors have investigated the status of fertilizer application to various crops in the country in view of the continuous reduction in soil fertility.

In the past five or more decades, the decrease in soil fertility has impacted negatively on crop yields, and this has been a concern to African leaders, as the situation threatens food security on the continent. In response to this concern, African leaders in 2006 converged in Abuja for the famous Africa Fertilizer Summit to discuss and prescribe some solutions to remedy the situation. At this meeting, it was noted that the region has the lowest rate of fertilizer application. The continent has a fertilizer application rate of about 9 kilograms per hectare, which is far below the global average of 50 kilograms per hectare. A 12-point resolution was therefore, developed at the end of the summit that was aimed at achieving the global average of fertilizer use by 2015. The resolution, which was dubbed the Abuja Declaration on Fertilizer for an African Green Revolution spells out measures and actions that must be taken to accelerate the accessibility, availability and affordability of fertilizers in the region.

Since 2009, the AfricaFertilizer.org initiative has been facilitating exchange of information about soil fertility, fertilizers and good agricultural practices in Africa with the support of the International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC), International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA), African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Africa Union Commission and its NEPAD Agency.

The first component of the AfricaFertilizer.org (AFO) program aims at improving access and availability of essential fertilizer statistics in Africa, such as production, trade, consumption, production capacities and fertilizer use per crop, with a special emphasis on real consumption (as opposed to apparent consumption) and fertilizer use by crop.

1.2 Objectives

This study, which is one of the series on FUBC in Ghana, aims at examining the status of implementation in the past three years (2011-2013), of the action plans towards achieving the target of 50 kilograms of fertilizer application per hectare in Ghana by 2015. The study is to provide best estimates of current (national) consumption and FUBC statistics, and also assist in designing a cost-effective framework for estimating consumption and FUBC.

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1.3 Rationale

Creating a database on fertilizer use requires putting together available data and collecting missing data from various sources. It is therefore important to design a methodology to gather this data. The approach and methodology will depend on the sources of data, the structure of the value chain (market), and the status of agricultural databases. Some data can be collected from available reports or libraries while other data need a nuanced collection system combining personal interviews and structured questionnaires and instruments.

In Ghana, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and its Directorates and Divisions, and the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) are the major sources of primary and secondary data and information.

1.4 Methodology

This study has used both “hard” and “soft” methods for its analysis. The “hard” consist of quantitative data collected on variables such as production, consumption, prices, subsidies and import and export volumes of fertilizers. The “soft” data on the other hand is a mixture of both quantitative and qualitative data that are collected on policy and market development variables such as policies and regulations on taxes, quality control, and fertilizer subsidies. The two types of data are used for the estimation of the FUBC and the various nutrients, domestic availability and non-fertilizer use, among others.

The collection of the two types of data was sourced from both primary sources (interviews with managers of key players in the fertilizer industry) and secondary sources (which include information from administrative and management systems of key players, publications from surveys on fertilizers, crop production, prices of agricultural products and cost of production of various crops).

Ideally, data collection on fertilizer consumption should relate to the quantities actually used by farmers on crops. This concept is difficult to apply as it requires costly surveys which cannot be done for this study. Similarly, farmers apply the fertilizers during the year of purchase and sales at retail level can be equated to consumption. In practice, the regular collection of sales data from retail dealers is difficult. Their numbers are large and not all retailers keep proper records of their sales. Consumption statistics in Ghana could be equated actual deliveries to agriculture by importers. The figures, however, may not reflect accurately, current consumption in agriculture due to stock changes. It is also not feasible to do a survey of all the farmers in order to capture actual consumption, because of the large numbers of smallholders who are not registered and who did not keep records.

To overcome the difficulties of estimating consumption and FUBC using the above methods, we used available data from annual agricultural surveys as proxies; they give a guesstimate of the percentage and type of farms using fertilizers, and geographical distribution. There was access to raw data from the Fertilizer Technical Working Group (FTWG) on import and exports of

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fertilizers and all agricultural products for the period of study. A comprehensive database from the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) in Ghana on agro-input dealers in the country was also used. On the estimation of actual consumption, an estimate of apparent consumption was employed. This is a fair estimate of the actual, which is derived as follows: Apparent consumption = Production + Imports – Exports – Non-Fertilizer Use. As there is no production of fertilizers in Ghana at the moment, the variable Production = 0. In estimating FUBC (per nutrient) the IFA format was used.

1.5 Expected outputs

The study is expected to produce the following outputs:

1. Compile, describe, and carry out a SWOT analysis on sources, methodologies, tools, and data available in Ghana to calculate real consumption of fertilizers and Fertilizer Use by Crop.

2. Calculate estimates of real consumption per product and per nutrient at country level for the past 3 years (2010 to 2013) as per FAOSTAT format available in annex.

3. Calculate estimates of FUBC per nutrient at country level using past 3 years data (2011-2013) as per IFA format.

4. Inform on how to deal with missing / gaps in the data.

5. Identify cost-effective ways for collecting real consumption and FUBC data in the context of Ghana.

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Chapter Two

Economy, Climate and Relief

2.1 Agriculture

The Agricultural sector has long been the backbone of the Ghanaian economy, serving as the engine of growth until in recent times when its contribution to Gross Domestic Product has declined from about 32 percent in 2008 to about 22 percent in 2013, with an annual growth rate of less than 5.1 percent.

The sector brings in large amounts of foreign exchange from its exports and provides employment for about half of the country’s population of 24.6 million. According to the 2010 Population and Housing Census, 45.8 percent of all households in the country are engaged in agricultural activities, of which 95.1 percent are into crop farming, 40.5 percent engaged in livestock rearing and about one percent each in tree planting and aquaculture. The main agricultural export commodities are cocoa, timber, yam, pineapple and maize.

Ghana has a total land area of 23,884,245 hectares with an agricultural land area of 14,038,224 hectares of which 55.9 percent (7,847,300 hectares) are areas under cultivation. Agriculture is predominantly on a smallholder basis in Ghana. About 90 percent of farm holdings are less than 2 hectares in size, although there are a few large farms and plantations, particularly for rubber, oil palm and coconut and to a lesser extent, rice, maize and pineapples. Most of the farms are mainly on subsistence basis and traditional, using hoe and cutlass as the basic farming implements. There is little mechanized farming with bullock ploughing being practiced in some parts of the country, especially in the north. Agricultural production varies with the amount and distribution of rainfall, as there are only a few irrigation schemes. Most food crop farms are intercropped. Mono cropping is mostly associated with larger-scale commercial farms.

Agriculture in Ghana is faced with several constraints starting with those relating to agricultural productivity resulting in low incomes for majority of the households in the rural areas. Farmers are normally faced with difficulties of accessing agricultural inputs, mainly fertilizers and improved seeds, in a timely manner and at affordable prices.

2.2 Agro-ecological zones

Ghana is divided into six major agro-ecological zones namely: Rain Forest, Deciduous Forest, Forest-Savannah Transition, Coastal Savannah and Northern (Interior) Savannah which comprises of Guinea and Sudan Savannahs (Table 1 and Figure 1). The bimodal rainfall pattern in the Forest, Deciduous Forest, Transitional and Coastal Savannah zones gives rise to major and minor growing seasons. In the Northern Savannah zone, the unimodal rainfall distribution results

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in a single growing season. The rainfall determines largely the type of agricultural enterprise carried out in each zone.

Table 2.1: Agro-ecological zones

Zone Area (’000

ha) Percent of total area

Mean annual rain (mm)

Growing period (days)

Major season

Minor season

Rain Forest 750 3 2,200 150-160 100

Deciduous Forest 740 3 1,500 150-160 90

Transition 6,630 28 1,300 200-220 60

Guinea Savannah 14,790 63 1,100 180-200 -

Sudan Savannah 190 1 1,000 150-160 -

Coastal Savannah 580 2 800 100-110 60

Source: SRID, 2001 According to the report on the sixth round of the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS6), households in the forest Zone account for more than half of the crops harvested and value of sales (55% and 58% respectively), during the 12-month survey period from 18th October 2012 to 17th October 2013. Livestock rearing is concentrated in the Savannah areas whereas offshore fishing is done mainly in the Coastal Savannah zone.

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Figure 2.1: Ghana Land Use/Land Cover Change

2.3 Climate

Ghana is located on the Gulf of Guinea, only a few degrees north of the Equator, giving it a warm climate. The climate of Ghana is tropical. The eastern coastal belt is warm and comparatively dry; the south-west corner is hot and humid, while the north is hot and dry.

Ghana’s climate is influenced by the hot, dry and dusty-laden air mass that moves from the north east across the Sahara and by the tropical maritime air mass that moves from the south-west across the southern Atlantic ocean. The climate ranges from the bimodal rainfall equatorial type in the south to the tropical unimodal monsoon type in the north. (Dickson and Benneh, 1988; Benneh et al. 1990).

The rainfall generally decreases from the south to the north. The wettest area is the extreme southwest where the rainfall is over 2,000 mm per annum. In the extreme north, the annual rainfall is less than 1,100 mm. The driest area is in the south-eastern coastal tip where the rainfall is about 750 mm. Much of the rain falls in intense storms of short duration, especially at the

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beginning of the season resulting in heavy runoff and erosion. (Dickson and Benneh, 1988; Benneh et al. 1990).

There are two main seasons: the wet and the dry seasons. Average temperatures range from 21°C to 28°C (70 to 82°F) with a relative humidity between 77 percent and 85 percent. In the southern part, there are two rainy seasons: April through June and September through November. Squalls occur in the northern part during March and April, followed by occasional rain until August and September, when the rainfall reaches its peak.

2.4 Soils and topography

Most of the soils of Ghana are developed on thoroughly weathered parent materials, with alluvial soils (Fluvisols) and eroded shallow soils (Leptosols) common to all the ecological zones. Generally, most of the soils are plagued with inherent or human induced infertility (MoFA, 1998). The soils in the Forest zone are grouped under Forest Oxysols and Forest Acid Gleysols. They are porous, well drained and generally loamy and are distinguished from those of the Savannah zones by the greater accumulation of organic matter in the surface resulting from higher accumulation of biomass. They occur in areas underlain by various igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, which have influenced the nature and properties of the soil (MoFA, 1998).

Soils of the Savannah zones, especially in the Interior Savannah, are low in organic matter (less than 2% in the topsoil), have high levels of iron concretions and are susceptible to severe erosion. Thus, well-drained upland areas tend to be droughty and when exposed to severe incident sun scorch, tend to develop cement-like plinthite. These conditions make it imperative that manure be incorporated regularly into the soils in the Savannah zones (MoFA, 1998).

The topography of the country is mainly undulating with most slopes less than 5% and many not exceeding 1%. The topography of the high rainforest is, however, mainly strongly rolling. The uplifted edges of the Voltarian Basin give rise to narrow plateaux between 300 to 600 m high. Despite the general undulating nature of the terrain, about 70% suffer from moderate to severe soil erosion (Boateng, 1998). A high degree of gully erosion is common in the Savannah zones along the north and south, and to some extent along the west.

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Chapter Three

Agricultural Crop Production

3.1 Introduction

Agriculture in Ghana is a very important economic activity, employing more than half of the population on a formal and informal basis and accounted for about 22 percent of GDP in 2013, having declined from 40 percent in 2011 to 33 percent in 2012. The country produces a variety of crops in various climatic zones which range from dry savannah to wet forest and which run in the east-west bands across the country.

Agriculture is the cultivation of crops and rearing of animals and other life forms food, fiber, biofuel, medicinal and other products used to sustain and enhance human life. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the development of civilization.

There are about 65 crops that are being produced in Ghana (Ghana 2010 PHC). However, data is currently, produced on a few of these crops as shown in Table 3.1 below.

3.2 Production of Food Crops

Production data on major food crops in Ghana are derived from an Annual Survey of Agriculture by the Statistics Research and Information Directorate (SRID) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Crop production data is available at national, regional and district levels. Commodities covered include, maize, rice, millet, sorghum, cassava, yam, cocoyam, sweet potatoes, plantain, groundnuts, cowpeas and soya beans.

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Table 3.1: Crop Groups

Group CROPS

Cereals Maize Millet Sorghum Rice.

Industrial Crops Cocoa Oil - palm Coffee Cotton Tobacco Sheanut Cola - nut Rubber

Citronella Jute Kenaf Sissal Sweet Berry

Legumes Cowpea Bambara beans

Groundnut Soybean Pigeons peas

Fruits Papaya Avocado Mango Coconut Watermelon Banana Pineapple Citrus

Sugar cane Guava Apples Sweetsop Soursop

Vegetables Tomato Eggplant Onion Pepper Okro Cabbage Lettuce Shallots

Carrot Lettuce Cucumber

Roots, tubers and plantain

Yam Cassava Cocoyam Sweet Potato Plantain Taro

Spices Black pepper Ginger Nutmeg Garlic Pepper (Hot)

3.2.1 Production of Cereals

Cereals include rice, maize, millet, and sorghum. Production data available on cereals are for dry grain only. Cereal production (metric tons) in Ghana as reported by SRID was last measured at 2,745,800 in 2013, indicating a decline of 5.01 percent compared to 2,890,700 recorded in 2012. Land under cereal production (hectares) witnessed a decline of 0.55 percent under the review period. Comparing 2012 and 2013, the cereal yields (kg per hectare) in Ghana declined by 3.02 percent.

Table 3.2: Cereal production and area cultivated

Cereals

2011 2012 2013

AREA (HA)

YIELD (MT/HA)

PROD'N (MT)

AREA (HA)

YIELD (MT/HA)

PROD'N (MT)

AREA (HA)

YIELD (MT/HA)

PROD'N (MT)

Rice 197,500 2.34937 464,000 189,500 2.53879 481,100 215,900 2.6378 569,500

Maize 1,023,200 1.64582 1,684,000 1,042,100 1.87113 1,949,900 1,023,500 1.72399 1,764,500

Millet 178,700 1.02966 184,000 172,500 1.04174 179,700 160,700 0.96515 155,100

Sorghum 243,500 1.17906 287,100 230,800 1.21317 280,000 225,800 1.13685 256,700

Source: SRID

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3.2.2 Production of industrial crops

Cocoa is one of the most important industrial crops that are grown in the forest areas of the country, notably, Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Western and Volta regions, where rainfall is 1,000-1,500 millimeters per year. The crop year begins in October, when purchases of the main crop begin, while the smaller mid-crop cycle starts in July. All cocoa, except that which is smuggled out of the country, is sold at fixed prices to the Cocoa Marketing Board. Most cocoa production is carried out by peasant farmers on plots of less than one acre. A small number of farmers are therefore, responsible for the greater proportion of production. Indeed, some studies show that about a quarter of all cocoa farmers receive over half of total cocoa income.

The industry of cocoa production declined by 19.4 under the study period but in 2011 the government’s effort to increase output to one million metric tonnes was achieved, with a production of 1,024,000 metric tonnes. This is attributed to the efforts made in disease and pest control programmes, the use of fertilizer to encourage the increase of production and an increase of the producer price of cocoa.

Some other industrial crops are palm oil, cotton, rubber, sugar cane, tobacco, and kenaf, the latter being used in the production of fiber bags. None of these is of strategic economic importance, and all, apart from oil palms, have suffered as a result of the country’s economic difficulties. Despite claims that such crops could assist local industrialization efforts, the government has not focused the same attention on this sector as on export crops. The government has actually encouraged the export rather than the local processing of rubber, rehabilitating more than 3,000 hectares of plantations specifically for export production rather than revitalizing the local Bonsa Tire Company, which could produce only 400 tires per day in 1988 despite its installed capacity for 1,500 per day.

The production of other industrial crops (oil palm, coffee, sheanut and rubber) increased by 9.5 percent, 26.9 percent, 2.9 percent and 6.2 percent respectively from 2011 to 2013.

Table 3.3: Production of Industrial Crops

Year COCOA COFFEE OIL-PALM SEANUT RUBBER

2010/2011 1,024,600 550 2,125,645 32,655 20,185

2011/2012 879,348 600 2,196,098 33,310 20,200

2012/2013 825,375 698 2,326,922 33,630 21,440

Source: SRID

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3.2.3 Production of Fruits

A number of fruits produce in Ghana are mostly for domestic consumption. Over the years the production of fruits particularly pineapple is the most exported fruit in Ghana annually follow by orange, banana and pawpaw.

The Table shows that some major fruits in Ghana augmented from 1,702,000 in 2011 to 1,899,068 in 2013, showing an increase of 11.6 percent. The area cultivated (hectares) rose from 66,900 in 2011 to 70,150 in 2013, reflecting an increase of 4.9 percent whilst yield also increase by 2.4 percent under the study period.

Table 3.4: Production of fruits

2011 2012 2013

Fruits AREA (HA)

YIELD (MT/HA)

PROD'N (MT)

AREA (HA)

YIELD (MT/HA)

PROD'N (MT)

AREA (HA)

YIELD (MT/HA)

PROD'N (MT)

PINEAPPLE 9,800 56.1224 550,000 10,000 60.0 600,000 10,300 61.80 636,540

PAWPAW 1,200 40.0 48,000 1,500 33.33 50,000 1,550 34.50 53,475

MANGO 7,000 12.1429 85,000 7,200 12.5 90,000 7,400 12.90 95,460

BANANA 7,450 10.0671 75,000 7,600 10.5263 80,000 7,800 10.80 84,240

COCONUT 25,250 13.6238 344,000 25,310 13.631 345,000 26,100 14.03 366,183

CITRUS 16,200 37.037 600,000 16,500 37.8788 625,000 17,000 39.01 663,170

Source: SRID, MoFA

3.2.4 Production of Legumes

Groundnut, cowpea and soyabean are species in the legume or "bean" family (Fabaceae). Groundnut and cowpea are grown in the savannah and forest areas of the country, Ashanti Region, Brong-Ahafo Region, Central Region, Eastern Region, Western Region, Volta Region, Northern Region, Upper East Region and Upper West Region.

Groundnut is one of the most important legumes in Ghana. The groundnut production decreased by 13.9 percent from 475,056 in 2012 to 408,814 in 2013 while area cultivated declined from 345,186 in 2012 to 328,940 in 2013, showing a decrease of 4.7 percent

Cowpea is the second most important legume in Ghana after groundnut. The production decreased by 11.2 percent from 225,686 in 2012 to 200,404 in 2013 while area cultivated declined from 168,805 in 2012 to 161966 in 2013, showing a decrease of 4.1 percent.

Soyabean is mostly grown in some regions in Ghana. These are Volta region, Northern region, Upper East region and Upper West .The total production decreased by 8.6 percent from 151,709 in 2012 to 138,673 in 2013 while area cultivated declined from 85,200 in 2012 to 84,774 in 2013, showing a decrease of 0.5 percent.

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Table 3.5: Production of Legumes

Lugumes

2011 2012 2013

AREA (HA)

YIELD (MT/HA)

PROD'N (MT)

AREA

(HA) YIELD

(MT/HA) PROD'N

(MT)

AREA (HA)

YIELD (MT/HA)

PROD'N (MT)

Groundnuts 356,800 1.3 465,100 345,200 1.38 475,100 328,900 1.24 408,800

Cowpea 182,300 1.3 236,700 168,805 1.34 225,686 161,966 1.24 200,164

Soya beans 83,200 1.78 151,709 84,774 1.64 138,673 Source: SRID

3.2.5 Production of Vegetables

Ghana has a favourable weather for the production of tomato, okra, onion, shallots, garden eggs and pepper. These vegetables have a ready market, not only in the cities but also in the rural areas.

Comparing 2011, 2012 and 2013, the land area cultivated under the major vegetables such as tomato, okra, onion, increased by 1.8 percent, 1.5 percent, 1.5 percent respectively. The area cultivated for shallots, garden eggs and pepper also increased marginally (1.7 percent for shallots, 1.9 percent for garden eggs and 1.8 percent for pepper).

The production of all the named vegetables increased under the period under review (Table 3.6). Tomatoes increased from 320,500 metric tonnes to 340,218 metric tonnes; okro increased from 55,000 to 63,860 metric tonnes; onion also increased from 120,000 metric tonnes to 138,188; shallots increased from 41,600 metric tonnes to 44,780 metric tonnes; garden eggs also increased from 42,000 metric tonnes to 48,980 metric tonnes; and finally, pepper increasing creditably from 95,000 metric tonnes to 116,690.

Table 3.6: Production of Vegetables

2011 2012 2013

Vegetables AREA (HA)

YIELD (MT/HA)

PROD'N (MT)

AREA(HA)

YIELD (MT/HA)

PROD'N(MT)

AREA(HA)

YIELD (MT/HA)

PROD'N(MT)

Tomato 44,450 7.21035 320,500 44,750 7.17318 321,000 46,100 7.38 340,218

Okro 2,800 19.6429 55,000 3,000 20 60,000 3,100 20.60 63,860

Garden Eggs 5,500 7.63636 42,000 6,000 7.66667 46,000 6,200 7.90 48,980

Onions 7,500 16 120,000 8,000 16.25 130,000 8,250 16.75 138,188

Shallots 5,150 8.07767 41,600 5,200 8.13462 42,300 5,350 8.37 44,780

Pepper 13,400 7.08955 95,000 13,700 8.0292 110,000 14,110 8.27 116,690Source: SRID

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3.2.6 Production of roots, tubers and plantain

Roots, tubers and plantain are starchy roots, tubers, rhizomes, corms and stems. They are used mainly for human food, for animal feed and for manufacturing starch, alcohol and fermented beverages including beer.

Total production of roots, tubers and plantain in 2013 was about 28,001,300 compared to 25,015,400 in 2011, showing an increase of 11.9 percent while the total area cultivated declined by 0.2 percent during the period.

Table 3.7: Production of Roots, Tubers and Plantain

2011 2012 2013

Roots, Tubers and Plantain

AREA (HA)

YIELD (MT/HA)

PROD'N (MT)

AREA (HA)

YIELD (MT/HA)

PROD'N (MT)

AREA (HA)

YIELD (MT/HA)

PROD'N (MT)

Cassava 889,400 16.0118 14,240,900 868,500 16.7499 14,547,300 875,200 18.27 15,989,900

Cocoyam 204,400 6.35812 1,299,600 196,300 6.47122 1,270,300 194,000 6.50258 1,261,500

Yam 403,800 14.5 5,855,100 426,300 15.5733 6,638,900 421,600 16.7804 7,074,600

Plantain 336,500 10.7572 3,619,800 337,300 10.544 3,556,500 340,000 10.8097 3,675,300

Source: SRID

3.2.7 Production of other crops produced by district

Watermelon

The estimated cropped area, yield and production of watermelon in the GAPS districts are shown in Table 3.8. The results show that a total of 5,476 metric tons of watermelon was produced from two districts namely; Ga East (28%) and Mfantsiman (47%). There was an increase of about 21.3 percent and 40 percent in cropped area and output respectively.

Table 3.8: Area, yield and production of watermelon by district, 2011-2012

REGION

DISTRICT

ESTIMATED CROPPED AREA

AVERAGE YIELD (Mt/Ha) PRODUCTION (Mt)

2011 2012%

CHANGE 2011 2012%

CHANGE 2011 2012%

CHANGE

Central Mfantsiman 70 85 21.43 35.17 42.5 20.84 2,462 3,613 46.73

Greater Accra Ga East 38 46 21.05 38.29 40.5 5.77 1,455 1,863 28.04

TOTAL/AVERAGE 108 131 21.3 36.73 41.5 12.99 3,917 5,476 39.79Source: SRID/ GAPS (2012)

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Pineapple

Pineapple is an important source of fruit for consumption and export revenue. Table 3.8 gives a breakdown of the estimated area cropped, yield and production of pineapple in five selected districts in the country. The estimated cropped area for 2012 was 26.9 percent higher than that of the previous year. The Mfantsiman district continues to be one of the major pineapple growing districts, with an estimated cropped area of 79 hectares representing about 48 percent of the total cropped area.

The total production of pineapple recorded by the five districts in 2012 was 7,665 metric tons, an increase of about 26 percent in 2012 over the previous year.

Table 3.9: Area, yield and production of pineapple by district 2011-2012

ESTIMATED CROPPED AREA

AVERAGE YIELD (Mt/Ha)

PRODUCTION (Mt)

REGION DISTRICT 2011 2012

% CHANGE 2011 2012

% CHANGE 2011 2012

% CHANGE

Central Mfantsiman 62 79 27.42 50.0 50.0 0.00 3,100 3,950 27.42

Greater Accra Ga West 31 40 29.03 45.0 45.0 0.00 1,395 1,800 29.03

Ga East 15 15 0.00 45.0 45.0 0.00 675 675 0.00

Ashanti Sekyere Afram Plains

16 21 31.25 40.0 40.0 0.00 640 840 31.25

Brong Ahafo Dormaa East 6 10 66.67 40.0 40.0 0.00 240 400 66.67

TOTAL/AVERAGE 130 165 26.92 44.0 44.0 0.00 6,050 7,665 26.69 Source: SRID/ GAPS (2012)

Onion/Shallot

Table 3.10 presents the estimated cropped area, yield and production of onions in the GAPS districts.

Four out of the twenty districts cultivated onion in the reporting year. Ga East was the only district that recorded an expansion (60%) in estimated area cropped area. The Keta and Sekyere Afram Plains districts, on the other-hand reported decreases of 8.35 percent and 34.5 percent respectively. Total estimated area cropped to onion in 2011was 376 hectares but reduced by 35.6 percent to 242 hectares in 2012. Total onion production decreased by about 32 percent in 2012 from the previous year’s output. The table also shows that the average yield for the crop increased by 18.1 percent.

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Table 3.10: Area, yield and production of onion by district, 2011-2012

      ESTIMATED CROPPED AREA

AVERAGE YIELD

(Mt/Ha) PRODUCTION (Mt)

REGION DISTRICT 2011 2012 %

CHANGE 2011 2012 %

CHANGE 2011 2,012 %

CHANGE Central Mfantsiman 27 0 -100.0 5   -100.0 133 - -100.0 Greater Accra

Ga West 40 - -

5   -100.0

200 - -

Ga East 15 24 60.0 5.5 6.8 23.6 83 163 96.6 Volta Keta 97 89 -8.3 6 6.9 15.0 582 614 5.5

Ashanti Sekyere Afram Plains

197 129 -34.5

7 6.5 -7.1

1,379 839 -39.2

TOTAL/AVERAGE 376 242 -35.6 5.7 6.7 18.1 2,377 1,616 -32.0

Okro

Okro is one of the important sources of horticulture crops in Ghana. Table 3.11shows the estimated cropped area, yield, and production of okro in the GAPS districts.

Eight out of the 20 selected districts produced okra with an estimated total cropped area of 787 hectares. The cropped area for okro declined by 22.6 percent in 2012 compared with the previous year’s cropped area of 1,017 hectares. Apart from Ga West which recorded an increase of 77.7 percent of okro production in 2012 compared to the previous year, the remaining six districts recorded declines in estimated cropped area with North Tongu recording the highest (100%).

The Ga West and Keta districts produced 771 metric tonnes and 462 metric tonnes representing about 54 percent and 40 percent respectively, of the total production.

Table 3.11: Area, yield and production of okro by district, 2011-2012

      ESTIMATED CROPPED AREA

AVERAGE YIELD

(Mt/Ha) PRODUCTION (Mt)

REGION DISTRICT 2011 2012

% CHANGE 2011 2012

% CHANGE 2011 2012

% CHANGE

Western Prestea Huni Valley

- 10 -    3.99 - - 40 -

Bia 26 - - 4 -100.00 104 - - Central Mfantsiman 34 30 -11.76 4   -100.00 134 - -100.00

Assin North 108 14 -87.04 5 2.02 -59.60 539 28 -94.75 Greater Accra Ga West 90 160 77.78 2.8 6.38 127.86 252 1,021 305.08

Ga East 110 56 -49.47 4.2 0.97 -76.90 462 54 -88.33 Volta Keta 154 136 -11.66 5 5.5 10.00 771 748 -2.95

North Tongu 46 0 -100 5 -100.00 229 - -100 Eastern West Akim - 0 - 6   -100.00 - - -

Brong Ahafo Dormaa East - 95 - 7   - - - - Techiman 389 287 -26.22 7 -100.00 2,726 - -100.00

Northern Gushiegu 60 - - 5 -100.00 299 - - TOTAL/AVERAGE 1,017 787 -22.59 5 3.77 -24.56 5,516 1,891 -65.72

Source: Computed from the GAPS (2012)

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Chapter Four

Fertilizer Market in Ghana

4.0 Introduction

Fertilizers constitute one of the important inputs into crop production and yield. Its application in the right quantities and at the right time helps in increasing crop yields. However, fertilizer application is very low in the country either due to its non-availability, or where available, its non-accessibility or affordability to the farmers. The country’s source of fertilizers is mainly from imports as fertilizers are not yet produced in the country.

4.1 Fertilizer Importation

Figure 4.1 presents data on the importation of fertilizer into the country from 2011 to 2013. The data shows that fertilizer imports in 2012 increased in customs value by 32 percent compared to 2011. In terms of volume, the increase was 12 percent. In 2013 however, both the import value and volume decreased by 17 percent and 18 percent respectively compared to 2012.

Figure 4.1: Fertilizer imports, 2011-2013

Table 4.1 shows the quantities of the different types of fertilizer imported into the country for agricultural use between 2011 and 2013. In 2012, a total of 471,135 tons of different types of fertilizer were imported into Ghana for agriculture use, accounting for the largest volume of imports during the period and representing an increase of 84 percent over 2011. There was however, a decline of 21 percent in 2013 to 370,051 tons. The table further shows NPK complex accounted for the highest volume of fertilizer imports in 2012 and 2013 (37% and 31.65

2011 2012 2013

Customvalue('000 GH¢) 350,227.7 462,658.0 386,207.3

Netweight (Tons) 432,383.5 482,714.3 397,855.8

 ‐

 100,000.0

 200,000.0

 300,000.0

 400,000.0

 500,000.0

 600,000.0

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respectively) while ammonium nitrate accounted for 21.2 percent in 2011. Ammonium nitrate accounts for the second highest imports of fertilizer for agricultural use in the country.

Table 4.1: Fertilizer Import for Agricultural Use (tons)

ITEM 2011 2012 2013

NPK complex 50,464 127,393 117,047

Ammonium nitrate 53,937 96,458 71,430

Ammonium sulphate 38,474 61,585 54,863

Superphosphate above 35% 50,177 92,456 47,173

Urea 2,838 17,683 36,214

Potassium chloride (Muriate of potash) 27,593 43,422 19,981

Potassium sulphate 21,730 11,324 10,708

Organic material, total 108 275 6,465

Phosphate rock 1,883 2,100 3,300

Calcium nitrate - - 1,479

Diammonium phosphate (DAP) 550 520 529

Sodium nitrate 67 54 258

Monoammonium phosphate (MAP) 219 16,571 258

Urea and ammonium nitrate solutions 5,500 838 169

Potassium nitrate 40 239 74

NK compounds other than Potassium nitrate - - 39

PK compounds 117 - 31

Other straight phosphates - - 24

Other NP compounds - - 10

Calcium ammonium nitrate 272 161 -

Superphosphate other - 56 -

TOTAL 253,969 471,135 370,051 Source: CountryStatsghana.org

Table 4.2 shows the major countries from which fertilizer was imported into the country between 2011 and 2013. In 2011, Morocco and Russia were the major sources of fertilizer imports, accounting for 17.7 percent (76,346.3 tons) and 12.5 percent (53,985.1 tons) respectively. The two countries also recorded the highest volume of fertilizer imports in 2012 (15.5% and 10.6% respectively), slightly lower than the proportions of total fertilizer imports in 2011. In 2013, however, Russia was the highest source of fertilizers imported into the country, accounting for 21.4 percent. Other important sources of fertilizer imports are Estonia, Sweden, Norway, Lithuania and Ukraine.

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Table 4.2: Fertilizer Import By Origin

Country

2011 2012 2013

Custom value ('000 GH¢)

Net weight (Tons)

Custom value ('000 GH¢)

Net weight (Tons)

Custom value ('000 GH¢)

Net weight (Tons)

Russian Federation 56,790.6 53,985.1 56,489.3 50,977.3 88,366.3 85,220.7

Estonia - - 15,243.6 17,100.1 48,096.9 46,646.4

Morocco 74,464.4 76,346.3 75,056.8 75,057.0 46,317.6 49,723.1

Sweden 17,316.4 17,161.4 31,451.3 23,936.3 37,556.3 24,638.3

Norway 36,854.9 56,709.5 33,460.6 40,089.3 25,658.8 35,197.0

Belgium 6,856.9 8,233.8 8,831.3 8,968.6 22,517.2 25,512.2

Ukrainian Ssr 24,199.0 34,598.9 43,735.0 46,523.5 21,399.3 28,100.0

United States 12,674.3 21,530.2 12,868.0 12,981.1 12,108.8 10,658.4

Italy 28,430.8 44,609.5 18,027.4 29,815.8 11,358.9 18,813.8

Finland - - 6,075.9 6,600.0 11,173.3 13,512.0

Germany 18,571.5 21,490.1 33,435.3 45,669.7 10,864.6 9,616.6

Lithuania 39,964.3 61,228.4 35,518.2 44,045.2 9,582.4 10,073.7

Thailand - - - - 9,497.5 5,611.5

Latvia 2,456.0 4,053.0 17,828.6 19,287.7 8,933.4 10,000.0

China 4,144.2 8,166.4 2,047.3 1,222.1 8,584.6 10,557.2

Libyan Arab Jamahiriya - -

- -

6,324.1 8,335.7

Viet Nam 37.2 14.2 12,631.6 10,053.0 2,580.0 2,272.3

United Kingdom 8,236.8 3,125.3 14,373.5 3,558.1 1,381.0 186.6

Others 19,230.4 21,131.7 45,584.2 46,829.6 3,906.1 3,180.4

Total 350,227.7 432,383.5

462,658.0 482,714.3

386,207.3 397,855.8 Source: Ghana Statistical Service

4.2 Fertilizer Exportation

Figure 4.2 shows that fertilizer exports from the country declined by 32.2 percent in 2011 to 33,527.9 tons in 20112. It however, increased 16 percent to 39,023.5 tons in 2013. In terms of value, the decrease from 2011 to 2012 was 31.1 percent while there was a marginal increase of one percent in 2013.

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Figure 4.2: Total fertilizer exports, 2011-2013

Table 4.3 shows the quantities of different types of fertilizer exported from the country for agricultural use between 2011 and 2013. The table shows a general decline in fertilizer exports for agriculture use outside the country. In 2011, a total of 104,053 tons of different types of fertilizer inputs were exported for agricultural use. This volume declined by about one-third (32%) to 33,274 tons but increased by 13.4 percent to 33,772 tons in 2012.

Ammonium sulphate (36%) accounted for the highest volume of fertilizers exported for agricultural use in 2011 followed by ammonium nitrate (32.8%). In 2012 and 2013, however, ammonium nitrate formed the greatest proportion of exports of fertilizer.

Table 4.3: Fertilizer Export for Agricultural Use (tons)

ITEM 2011 2012 2013 Ammonium nitrate 34,079 32,682 34,117 NPK complex 155 464 3,253 Diammonium phosphate (DAP) 525 - 230 Potassium chloride (Muriate of potash) 1,637 17 48 NK compounds other than Potassium nitrate - - 39 Sodium nitrate 32 14 35 Ammonium sulphate 37,422 - - Calcium ammonium nitrate 25 - - Urea 407 62 - Urea and ammonium nitrate solutions - 15 - Superphosphate above 35% 28,028 - - Phosphate rock 1,306 - - Potassium sulphate 271 - - Monoammonium phosphate (MAP) 47 20 - Potassium nitrate 24 - - Organic material, total 95 - - TOTAL 104,053 33,274 37,722

Source: CountryStatsghana.org

2011 2012 2013

Customvalue('000 GH¢) 82,585.9 56,865.5 57,387.2

Netweight (Tons) 49,443.2 33,527.9 39,023.5

 ‐

 10,000.0

 20,000.0

 30,000.0

 40,000.0

 50,000.0

 60,000.0

 70,000.0

 80,000.0

 90,000.0

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Table 4.4 shows that the main destination of fertilizers exported from the country in 2011 was Burkina Faso, accounting for 76.6 percent of the total volume of fertilizer exports for that year. This declined to 62.4 percent in 2012 but increased to 77.9 percent in 2013. Other export destinations for fertilizers are Guinea, Mali, Cote D’Ivoire and Niger.

Table 4.4: Major fertilizer export by destination

2011 2012

2013

Country

Custom value ('000

GH¢)

Net weight (Tons)

Custom value ('000

GH¢)

Net weight (Tons)

Custom value ('000

GH¢)

Net weight (Tons)

Burkina-Faso 64,676.5 37,891.3 35,727.7 20,931.3 45,198.8 30,408.9 Cote D'ivoire 1,447.9 1,073.8 6,712.4 5,165.7 6,241.9 4,634.9 Guinea 6,409.5 3,296.8 8,050.6 3,800.2 3,316.3 2,345.2 Mali 3,477.9 2,698.7 4,044.6 2,341.8 1,775.4 1,172.5 Togo 225.2 214.3 292.1 186.3 354.2 186.0 Liberia 38.1 30.7 100.3 19.5 218.3 150.0 Niger 1,111.3 683.3 1,870.0 1,046.0 97.1 51.0 Benin 8.5 0.9 - - 86.0 37.5 Senegal 288.3 123.2 8.6 2.2 39.8 8.0 Nigeria 1,065.7 1,087.0 - - 6.1 1.5 Sierra Leone 902.4 447.0 53.3 15.0 0.8 0.2 Kenya - - - - 0.7 0.3 Congo 16.2 2.3 - - - - Other 2,918.4 1,894.0 5.9 19.9 51.7 27.7

Total 82,585.9 49,443.2 56,865.5 33,527.9 57,387.2 39,023.5 Source: Ghana Statistical Service

Table 4.5 shows the use of non-fertilizer use for agricultural purposes between 2011 and 2013. The table shows that consistently, ammonium nitrate, accounting for 99 percent over the period, constitutes the highest proportion of non-fertilizer use for agriculture (tons) in Ghana. Appreciable volumes of sodium nitrate, potassium chloride and urea were also recorded as being used for agricultural purposes.

Table 4.5: Non-fertilizers used for agricultural purposes (tons)

ITEM 2011 2012 2013

Ammonium nitrate 19,858.0 63,776.0 37,312.7

Sodium nitrate 35.0 40.0 258.3

Potassium chloride (Muriate of potash) 72.0 2.0 132.4

Urea - 18.0 110.0

Potassium nitrate - - 23.8

Diammonium phosphate (DAP) - - 4.0

TOTAL 19,965 .0 63,836.0 37,841.0 Source: CountryStatsghana.org

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4.3 Fertilizer Consumption (2011 – 2013)

Fertilizer consumption mainly relates to the quantities of fertilizer actually used by farmers solely for agricultural purposes such as crop farming. The determination of actual consumption is complex and requires conducting surveys which are very costly and therefore, rarely conducted in Ghana. Another means of calculating fertilizer consumption is to do an analysis of records of agro-chemical dealers on the assumption that farmers apply the fertilizer during the year of purchase and sales at retail level that can be equated to consumption. In Ghana, there is no comprehensive data on agro-chemical dealers, and their capacity to keep accurate and reliable data is highly questionable. Another way of collecting consumption data is through the industries assuming that deliveries to agriculture by the manufacturers and importers equate to consumption. Efforts to collect data from importers on their deliveries to agriculture have not been successful due to their reluctance to release information. In view of the difficulty in getting consumption data using the three means above, the use of apparent consumption was adopted to give a proxy for actual consumption using the following formula:

Apparent consumption = Production + Imports – Exports – Non‐Fertilizer Use

In order to arrive at the apparent consumption, import and export data as captured through the Ghana Community Network System (GCNet) were collected from the Ghana Statistical Service. The data were cleaned and validated with the assistance of the Fertilizer Technical Working Group (FTWG) and fertilizer.org, to determine fertilizer for agriculture use for the computation of apparent consumption.

The data from local blenders was not included in order to avoid double counting. Our investigations reveal that the one tone of chemical blended produces one tone of fertilizers. For example, if 1 tonne of G-MOP is blended (put together) with 1 tone of G-TSP, the amount of fertilizer that will be produced will be two tonnes. Therefore, the amount of chemical imported for blending is equal to the same amount of fertilizer blended. With this, our inability to get the quantity of blends from the blenders will not affect the quantity of fertilizer use in the country, if we use import quantities of chemicals used for blending as the amount of fertilizers blended.

Table 4.6: Apparent consumption (tons - product)

Source: FUBC survey in Ghana 2014

ITEM 2011 2012 2013

Import 253,969.0 471,135.0 370,050.7

Export 104,053.0 33,274.0 37,722.0

Non fertilizer use 19,965.0 63,836.0 37,841.2

Apparent consumption 129,951.0 374,025.0 294,487.6

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Table 4.6 shows the apparent consumption of Ghana over the period 2011 to 2013. The year 2012 recorded the highest apparent consumption of 374,025 tons which shows an increase of 188 percent compared with 2011 (129,951 tons). However, in 2013 apparent consumption declined by 18 percent.

4.4 Fertilizer Use Recommendations

Research work on fertilizer requirements by crops have been conducted by the research institutions and `some major fertilizer importers. However, the use of special formulations for selected crops is not common in Ghana. The cocoa sector is the biggest beneficiary of special fertilizer formulations due to the high demand from the sector. All the major fertilizer importers have produced special fertilizer formulations (Asaase wura, Cocoa Master, Cocoa Feed, etc.) specifically for cocoa. There is also a special fertilizer formulation (Yara Mila) for the production of cereals in the Guinea and Sudan agro-ecologies. Although the nutrient levels of soils in the various agro-ecologies vary considerably, most farmers generally use NPK 15-15-15, Sulphate of Ammonia and Urea for all crops in all the agro-ecologies, a challenge the Ministry of Food and Agriculture is working to address.

Table 4.8: Ghana Crop Research Fertilizer Recommendations

Sources: Crop Services Division, MoFA

Crops N Kg/ha P2O5 Kg/ha K2O kg/ha

Maize 66.3 37.5 37.5 Rice (Rain-fed) 66.53 37.5 37.5 Rice (Irrigated) 146.9 75.0 75.0 Pepper 88.1 45.0 45.0 Garden Eggs 89.5 37.5 221.5 Pineapple 117.5 60.0 60.0 Oil Palm 85.0 85.0 300.0 Cocoa 0.0 112.5 75.0 Onion 88.1 45.0 45.0 Tomatoes 88.8 60.0 60.0 Okro 66.3 22.5 22.5 Pawpaw 75.0 75.0 75.0

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Chapter Five

SWOT Analysis of Data Sources, Methodologies, Tools and

Data Availability

5.1 Data sources, methodologies, tools and data availability to calculate

real consumption of fertilizers and fertilizer use by crops in Ghana

Three major sources of data on fertilizers were identified in the study; the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, the Ghana Statistical Service and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Each of these sources has some challenges in terms of methodology, tool and data availability and so a SWOT analysis was carried out for each of these institutions.

5.2 SWOT Analysis

The SWOT analysis was carried out on sources, methodologies, tools and data availability to calculate real consumption of fertilizers and fertilizer use by crops in Ghana

5.2.1 Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority

Strengths Weakness 1. Established under Act 791, Ghana

Revenue Authority, 2009 2. Mandated to ensure the declaration of

all imports into the country and exports out of the country

3. Use of the harmonized system and customs tariff schedules which makes the description of items standardized, and therefore, easy reporting on fertilizers

4. Has an automated system for data capture at the country’s approved entry points.

1. Does not have personnel at unapproved entry points of the country

2. Under-reporting of goods entering or leaving the country

3. Wrong entries of the weights or volumes of imported and exported by Clearing Agents

Opportunities Threats 1. Demand for improving operations to

increase revenue for national development

2. Demand for data on fertilizer imports and use for policy

1. Smuggling of goods, including fertilizers through unapproved routes

2. Delivery of goods in transit into the country

3. Subsidies leading to low prices of fertilizers in Ghana compared to neighbouring countries

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5.2.2 Ghana Statistical Service

Strengths Weakness

1. Established under the Statistical Service Law, PNDCL 135 of 1985

2. Mandated to compile, collate, analyze, publish and disseminate all official statistics including trade statistics

3. Has access to data from the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) through the Ghana Community Network Services (GCNet)

4. Has an automated system (EUROTRACE) for processing data obtained from GCNet

5. Conducts censuses and surveys including agricultural surveys

1. The automated system unable to detect wrong entries from the GCNet

2. Wrong entries have to be checked manually before detection

3. Inadequate resources to conduct annual agricultural household surveys

Opportunities Threats

1. Has a very good working relationship with the Customs Division of GRA and GCNet

2. A Trade Statistics Technical Working Group is in place to resolve any issues relating to trade data

3. Competent staff in Trade Statistics Section to work on fertilizer data obtained from GCNet

4. A Fertilizer Technical Working Group in place to review fertilizer data obtained from Customs

5. Annual Establishments Surveys to collect data on local fertilizer blends

6. Increased demand for fertilizer data for evidence-based policy

1. Introduction of new software that would require training of personnel

2. High attrition rate of staff requiring the training of new staff on the EUROTRACE software

3. Non-declaration of correct value of fertilizer blends during Establishment Surveys

4. Other institutions conducting agricultural surveys

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5.2.3 Ministry of Food and Agriculture

Strengths Weakness 1. It is the Ministry mandated under the

constitution with the development of agriculture in the country

2. Has a Directorate in charge of Research, Statistics and Information

3. Conducts annual surveys on crop production, which could include fertilizer use by crop

4. Has Agricultural Extension Officers who provide services to farmers

5. Is responsible for distributing subsidized fertilizers to famers and so is a position to provide such data.

1. Limited presence of Agricultural Extension Officers in many rural communities

2. Limited coverage of agricultural households in annual surveys

3. Inadequate mechanisms for monitoring Agricultural Extension Officers

Opportunities Threats 1. Provision of fertilizers to farmers at

subsidized prices 2. Training and advising farmers on the

correct use of fertilizers to increase agricultural production

3. A high demand for data on fertilizer use for evidence-based policy

1. Inadequate resources to conduct regular, large-scale agricultural surveys

2. Other institutions undertaking agricultural surveys

5.3 Conclusions on SWOT analysis

Based on the above SWOT analysis, the custom Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) appears most appropriate for the collection of import and export data on fertilizer. However, due to technical challenges the Ghana statistical Service with technical assistance from fertilizer.org is doing the computation and compilation of the fertilizer data on imports and exports. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture seem to have the capacity to compile and compute the fertilizer consumption use but due to financial difficulty, it is not able to achieve this.

In conclusion, a good collaboration between the Customs Division of GRA, GSS and MOFA on the collection and computation of consumption and fertilizer use could be achieved.

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Chapter Six

The Fertilizer Subsidy Programme in Ghana Implementation Modalities, Challenges and its Impact on Food Production

6.1 Introduction

The use of chemical fertilizer has become an important input in the crop production processes of Ghana due to declining soil fertility status. In some parts of the country, especially the Guinea Savannah agro-ecology zone, crop yields can reduce to as much as 50% if no fertilizer is applied.

6.2 Fertilizer use comparison of Ghana and other parts of the world

Fertilizer use efficiency is a very important input for agriculture to enhance crop productivity and production due to the declining soil fertility of agricultural lands in the Sub-Saharan African countries. Fertilizer application rates in Ghana however, are the lowest (12kg/hectare) compared with other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and South East Asia.

The low application rate is contributing to low yields obtained by farmers for the major crops grown in the country. This challenge of low fertilizer usage has been attributed to (among others) the high cost and poor access.

6.3 Policy direction

The policy within the national development agenda is to improve agricultural to contribute to the transformation of the economy and maximize the benefits of accelerated growth. Significant improvements in the productivity of the agricultural sector are required to raise the average income of Ghanaians and also impact on the attainment of at least five (5) of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

In order to meet this objective farmers have to increase productivity through easy access to affordable fertilizers and seeds. Against this background, the government instituted the Fertilizer Subsidy Program in 2008 to help farmers increase the rate of fertilizer application to at least 50kg/ha as recommended by the Medium Term Agriculture Sector Investment Plan (METASIP).

6.4 Quantity distributed and cost to government

Over the period of the implementation of the Fertilizer Subsidy Programme (2008 – 2013), a total of 724,055 metric tons of fertilizer has been subsidized at a total cost of GH¢262,498 million. The quantities of fertilizer distributed to farmers under the programme and the cost to government are indicated in Table 6.1 below.

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Table 6.1: Total Fertilizer Subsidized and Total Cost to Government 2008 to 2013

Year Total Fertilizer Subsidized

(Metric Tons)

Total Subsidy Paid by Government (GH¢ Million)

2008 43,176 20,654

2009 72,795 34,400

2010 91,244 30,002

2011 176,278 78,746,

2012 173,755 117,437

2013 166,807 60,005

Total 724,055 262,498 Source: Directorate of Crop Services, Ministry of Food and Agriculture

6.4 Implementation modalities

As already indicated, the importation of all chemical fertilizers into the country is done by the private sector. The imported fertilizer is distributed throughout the country by registered fertilizer distributors and agents. From 2008 to 2011, the voucher system was used in the implementation of the programme. This was changed to the waybill system in 2012 because the waybill system enables easy tracking of quantities distributed as subsidies are paid only on the quantities of fertilizer distributed to farmers. The system also enables the regions and districts to have knowledge of the volumes of fertilizers distributed in their respective regions and districts.

For a farmer to be able to purchase government subsidized fertilizer, he/she must obtain a copy of a farmers’ passbook at the nearest District Agriculture Office. The passbook enables farmers to document their farm operations as well as track beneficiaries of the subsidy programme. At the national, regional, district and retail levels, specialized fertilizer forms (FORMS A, B, C and D) and record sheets (regional, district and daily record sheets) have been developed to record the quantities of fertilizer and seeds distributed at all levels monthly.

6.5 Selection of companies and allocation of quotas

The Fertilizer Subsidy Programme is being implemented by the Government of Ghana in collaboration with the private sector. Annually, the programme is advertised in the national dailies and participating companies are selected through a competitive bidding process. The prices for the various types of fertilizer are fixed through negotiations between government (MoFA) and the selected companies. The quantity to be subsidized by government (national target) is decided by the Fertilizer Technical Working Group (FTWG) based on the budgetary allocation to MoFA. To avoid the incidence of oversupply, the national target is allocated to the selected companies as quotas. The company’s quotas are shared among the ten administrative

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regions using historical regional consumption data and projections from the previous years. This is also to ensure that fertilizer is distributed to all parts of the country.

A list of approved fertilizers and the companies importing them as well as the crops on which they are applied is presented in Appendix V.

6.6 Subsidy targeting and policy governing the programme

To ensure maximum reach to resource poor farmers and to ensure greater efficiency of distribution and value for money, the MoFA occasionally reviews the policy for the administration of the subsidy programme. The current policy was reviewed in 2013. Unlike in the previous years where farmers were not limited on the quantities of fertilizer they could purchase under the programme, the new policy has put a limit on the quantities a farmer could purchase during a farming season. The current policy allows a farmer to purchase fertilizer enough to cover only 2 hectares (i.e. 10 bags of NPK and 5 bags of Sulphate of Ammonia or Urea). The main target of the subsidy programme are smallholder farmers cultivating all kinds of food crops including maize, rice, sorghum, millet, vegetables, cotton, etc. As much as possible, women farmers are given priority.

6.7 Challenges

Although there other administrative and implementation challenges, the main challenge of the subsidy programme since its inception has been the delay in the payment of subsidies to companies for quantities distributed to farmers. Monitoring of the programme at all levels has been extremely weak due to unavailability of funds. There was high incidence of smuggling to neighbouring countries in the past. MoFA has taken some measures to address the incidence of smuggling, thus smuggling is not currently a major problem. The programme in the past commenced late denying farmers especially those in the southern sector the opportunity of getting subsidized inputs at the critical period of the farming season. This issue was addressed by MoFA in 2013.

6.8 Impact on food production

In spite of some challenges, the Fertilizer Subsidy Programme has chalked some successes. The usage of fertilizer in the country has increased resulting in increased average rate of application from 8kg/ha in 2008 to 12kg/ha in 2013. The increased rate of application has resulted in increased production of the country’s major crops such as maize, rice and soybean. This has enhanced the availability of the major staple food crops and also contributed to price stabilization.

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Figure 6.1: Impact on food production

Source: Statistics, Research and Information Directorate, MoFA

The increases in the production of the major crops cannot be attributed to the increased use of fertilizer alone. Other factors of production such as the weather, seed and farm management practices which are essential in the crop production process for the attainment of higher yields may play major contributory roles. However, it is certain that the increased use of fertilizer contributed significantly to the increases in yield of the crops, especially in the northern parts of the country where the absence of fertilizer, keeping other factors of crop production constant can lead to about 50% yield losses due to the low fertility status of the soil. The increased production of the root and tuber crops over the last four years cannot be linked to the increased use of fertilizer since very little fertilizer is used in the production of root and tuber crops in Ghana for superstitious reasons.

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Y

i

e

l

d

Year

Average yield of Maize, Rice and Soyabean ( T/HA) 

Maize

Rice

Soybean

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Chapter Seven

Dealing with Missing Gaps in Data

7.1 Verification method

At the moment available time series data on fertilizers in Ghana is data on imports and re-exports as there is no production of fertilizers in the country. Missing gaps in data can therefore be traced to importers and exporters in order to possibly fill them through the method of verification as follows:

1. Start by undertaking a systematic review of data available to establish who may hold what data that is required

2. Establish a working group of key importers and exporters to develop data provision arrangements to resolve the issues

3. Implement data supply agreements (DSA’s) with key importers and exporters, outlining what they will have to provide to enable the filling of the gap(s)

4. Aggregate data to a level where it is no longer deemed as commercially sensitive – e.g. grouping data in order that individual sites and companies cannot be identified.

Generally, however, the situation might not be as simple in the Ghanaian context where only a few importers and exporters can be contacted by way of verification in order to fill the gap(s). We may therefore, have to use known statistical methods, depending on the availability of actual fertilizer data and also data availability on some related variables. We now outline conditions and methods of use of three approaches namely; surrogate, interpolation and extrapolation.

7.2 Surrogate technique

Assuming that time series data on imports of fertilizer that has gaps and related actual data on production of fertilizers are available in the country. These two sets of data may be related in the sense that the amount of imports for each year may depend on the amount and level of production in the country. In such a case, the surrogate technique can be considered to fill the gap(s) with the following conditions carefully considered:

1. There should be more than one year of actual data to establish a relationship with the surrogate parameter.

2. Calculate simple correlation coefficients.

3. If the correlation is not obvious, then consider other techniques.

The formula and example below outline the surrogate method:

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Fertilizer trend estimates using surrogate parameters Formula: y = yt * (so/st)

Where y = fertilizer import in year 0 and t

s = the surrogate statistical parameter in year 0 and t 1. This formula assumes a simple proportional relationship between the surrogate

and actual variables.

2. Data calculated for missing years is therefore an adjusted version of the preferred data

Example: Using fertilizer production data as a surrogate for fertilizer imports, we follow the following steps:

Table 7.1: Step 1: Known data for target variable

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Fertilizer imports (tons)

4,317 4.245 3,923

Table 7.2: Step 2: Known surrogate variable

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Fertilizer production (tons)

538 557 584 584 530 546 537 505 519

Table 7.3: Step 3: Ratio of two series

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

7.91 7.90 7.77

Table 7.4: Step 4: Ratio of two series

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

7.91 7.91 7.71 7.91 7.91 7.91 7.90 7.77 7.77

projecting backward using 2010 ratio projecting forward using 2012 ratio

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Table 7.5: Step 5: Gap filled time series for target variable (surrogate*ratio)

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Fertilizer imports (tons)

4,192

4,254

4,408

4,617

4,616

4,317 4.245 3,923 4,036

We present explanation of the steps using the surrogate technique to fill gap(s) for the sake of countries that produce as well as import fertilizers as follows:

Step 1: Provides target variable (imports of fertilizer) with gaps

Step 2: Provides data of surrogate variable (production of fertilizer in the country) that is related to the target variable with high correlation coefficient above 0.6. The higher the correlation coefficient, the better the estimate of the target variable will be.

Step 3: Ratios of the target variable and surrogate variable computed by dividing known target variables by known target surrogate variables.

Step 4: Projecting backwards for 2009-2005 using 2010 ratio; projecting forward for 2013, using 2012 ratio.

Step 5: Fill the gaps in the target variable by multiplying the surrogate variables of the various years with the rations generated for each year.

7.3 Trend analysis – Interpolation and extrapolating

Interpolation and extrapolation are forms of trend analysis used to fill in gaps in data. Interpolation is used for filling data gaps within datasets by estimating trends between two or more data points; e.g. intermediate years where no data are available. It is especially useful for datasets with regular gaps – e.g. periodic surveys.

Using data in step 5 above, we now show the interpolation can be used to fill gaps in data. Assuming we have the gaps in the fertilizer import data shown in Table 1 below:

Table 7.6: Fertilizer imports data

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Fertilizer imports (tons)

4,254

4,408

4,317 4.245 3,923

The following steps should be followed to interpolate for 2008 and 2009. We will limit ourselves to linear interpolation as the data provided reveals.

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Step 1: Calculate the absolute difference between the last year before the gap and the first year after the gap (data for 2007 and 2010) i.e. 4,408 – 4,317 = 91

Step 2: Calculate the length of the gap (2010 – 2007 = 3 years

Step3: Calculate average change in imports per year (91/3) = 30.33

Step 4: Calculate total imports for gap years by adding/subtracting average change in imports – 2008 imports, we assume an increasing trend so we add i.e. (4,408 + 30.33 = 4,438); for 2009, we again assume an increasing trend so we add (4,438 + 30.33= 4468)

Extrapolation is the process of estimating, beyond the original observation range, by extending or ‘extrapolating’ trend backwards or forwards (projections). It is similar to interpolation, which produces estimates between known observations, but extrapolation is subject to greater uncertainty and a higher risk of producing meaningless results. Extrapolation may also mean extension of a method, assuming similar methods will be applicable. Extrapolation may also apply to human experience to project, extend, or expand known experience into an area not known or previously experienced in order to arrive at a (usually conjectural) knowledge of the unknown

Typically, the quality of a particular method of extrapolation is limited by the assumptions about the function made by the method. If the method assumes the data are smooth, then a non-smooth function will be poorly extrapolated. Extrapolation is a difficult and complex topic, so suffice to indicate here that it can be used to fill gaps in data but would have to be used with caution.

Where there are data available for two or more related variables as discussed under ‘Surrogate Technique’ other techniques such as ‘splicing’ and ‘overlap’ can be used to fill data gaps. Splicing involves combining or joining more than one method or data series to form a complete time series, while overlap is the assessment of comparability of two datasets over a time series looking for consistent overlap or difference, preferably for multiple years to avoid bias and either use comparable dataset or recalculate existing data on the basis of consistency and where there is a consistent relationship, the default is to use a proportional adjustment of old estimates/data to be consistent with the new.

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Chapter Eight

Cost-effective ways for collecting real consumption and Fertilizer Use by Crop data in the context of Ghana

8.1 Introduction

Fertilizer consumption measures the quantity of plant nutrients used per unit of arable land. This excludes traditional nutrients such as animal and plant nutrients. For the purpose of data dissemination, FAO has adopted the concept of a calendar year (January – December). Some countries compile fertilizer data on calendar year basis, while others are on split year basis according to their farming season(s).

Arable land includes land defined by FAO as land under temporary crops (double cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pastures, land under market and kitchen gardens and temporary fallow (land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded). This is a difficult concept to measure in Ghana, given that data for all the variables that constitute arable land are not readily available. This concept also means that the quantity of fertilizer used in a year for various crops is to be divided by very large tracts of land including meadows for mowing and pastures that have never seen fertilizers and which are very difficult to measure.

Ideally, consumption should relate to the quantities actually used by farmers on crops on a given field. This concept is also difficult to apply as it requires costly surveys which cannot be conducted regularly. In general, farmers apply the fertilizers during the year of purchase and sales at retail levels could be equated to consumption. In practice, the regular collection of sales data from retail dealers, particularly in large countries, is difficult. The numbers are large and not all retailers keep good records of their sales. In Ghana, where there is no production of fertilizers the consumption statistics are in fact the imports minus re-exports, plus blends by some importers. The figures may not reflect accurately current consumption in agriculture due to stock changes, but they are reliable since the recording units are the importers and the customs officials, who keep good records.

These estimates, however, can only give us a good indication about the total fertilizer consumption in the country but the question of the amount of fertilizer used by crop (FUBC) remains unanswered.

8.2 Cost effective way of collecting FUBC data

The most cost effective way to collect FUBC data is through a sample survey, as a census will definitely be very expensive. The cost effective way of collecting such data is through sample

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survey of farmers in each district who have applied fertilizers to their crops in the year as follows:

1. Take a sample of farmers of the various crops on which fertilizers are applied to in districts and all the agro-ecological zones

2. Collect information on the size of the farms of the sampled farmers

3. Collect information on the purchases and use of fertilizers by the farmers (the total weight of fertilizers purchased and used)

4. Sum up the amount of fertilizers used by the selected farmers

5. Sum up the total land size of the selected farmers

6. Estimate the FUBC by dividing total amount of fertilizers used by the total size of the farms. This will give us the average amount of fertilizers use for each individual crop that has been surveyed (kg/ha)

7. Sum up the average amount of fertilizer used for all crops surveyed

8. Find the average of the averages of fertilizer use by the various crops surveyed to get the FUBC for the country.

The following sections present an attempt by the FUBC Study Team to use the method proposed above as the most cost effective way of collecting FUBC data for the period 2011 – 2013.

8.3 Report of survey on fertilizer use by crop in Ghana (2011-2013)

8.3.1 Background

African leaders in 2006, having noted the continuous reduction in crop yields due to depleting soil nutrients came up with a 12-point resolution that seeks to improve upon the soil fertility and the resultant increase in crop yields in order to stem the tide against food insecurity. Seven years down the line the purpose of this study would investigates the performance of Ghana in respect of what has become known as the Abuja Declaration.

8.3.2 Objective of study

The objective of this small study is to estimate the amount of fertilizer being used by farmers on cultivated crops in Ghana and hence compute an estimate of nutrients being supplied to the crops as against the recommendations of the Abuja Declaration.

8.3.3 Methodology

Small samples of farmers were selected for investigation in order to determine the amount of fertilizers they applied to their crops in 2011-2013. This was to help in the estimation of the total fertilizer consumption for various crops. For the sake of time and limited resources, small samples were selected purposively with the assistance of District Agricultural Officers in nine districts to capture data on crops on which fertilizers were applied. Crops considered include the

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following: cocoa, rice (rain-fed), rice (irrigated), pawpaw, onion, and tomatoes. The rest are oil palm, pepper, maize, okro, pineapple and garden eggs.

The survey was conducted in nine districts covering four regions as shown in Table 8.1 below.

Table 8.1: Areas sampled for FUBC data collection

Region Districts

Greater Accra Ada

Eastern Suhum

Volta Ho, Adaklu, Ketu North,

Central Winneba, Mfantseman, Ajumako, Ewutu- Senya

The questionnaire used for the survey is presented in Appendix I.

8.3.4 Expected output

The study was expected to inform on the areas cultivated for the various crops and the amount of fertilizer applied by the farmers on the various crops. The average will then be computed for each crop, and a further computation of the average of averages to estimate the amount of fertilizer being used by crop (kg/ha) for the country. However, there were some challenges with obtaining reliable information on the cropped areas as most of the farmers could not provide accurate information on the areas cultivated.

8.3.5 Trends of fertilizer consumption

The quantity of chemical fertilizer used in Ghana, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, has increased tremendously over the past seven years due to the introduction of the Fertilizer Subsidy Programme. Available data shows that the estimated amount of fertilizer used increased from 95,000 metric tonnes in 2007 to 280,000 metric tonnes in 2013 (Crop Services Division of MoFA).

The estimated amount of fertilizer used for some crops in 2011, 2012 and 2013 is shown in Table 8.2. The table shows that fertilizer used for rain-fed rice increased from 7,200 in 2011 to 8,350 kg in 2013. In the case of maize, fertilizer used decreased from 25,750 kg in 2011 to 22,225 kg in 2012, but increased moderately to 24,475 in 2013. .

The table further shows that fertilizer use on cocoa declined from 12,200kg in 2011 to 10,150 in 2012 but recorded an increase to 14,550kg in 2013. Generally, fertilizer application to the different crops staggered between 2011 and 2013.

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Table: 8.2: Amount of fertilizer used by type of crop

Crop Year Amount of Fertilizers (kg)

Rice (Rainfed) 2011 7,200 2012 7,825 2013 8,350 Rice ( Irrigated) 2011 1,200 2012 1,200 2013 1,200 Maize 2011 25,750 2012 22,225 2013 24,475 Tomatoes 2011 7,350 2012 8,625 2013 7,675 Okro 2011 4,950 2012 6,975 2013 6,900 Pepper 2011 14,150 2012 11,125 2013 13,975 Onion 2011 6,600 2012 7,050 2013 8,925 Garden eggs 2011 6,000 2012 4,900 2013 7,625 Pineapple 2011 9,525 2012 10,550 2013 5,300 Cocoa 2011 12,200 2012 10,150 2013 14,550 Palm fruit 2011 700 2012 900 2013 850 Pawpaw 2011 600 2012 100 2013 500

Source: FUBC Survey

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Compound fertilizers (e.g. NPK 15-15-15, 23-10-05, 0-22-18+9CaO+5S+5MgOs) and Asaase Wura (for cocoa) are by far the most consumed fertilizers in Ghana. They account for over 70% of the total consumption. Sulphate of Ammonia and Urea are the common fertilizers used for top dressing in Ghana. The bulk of fertilizers are consumed in the cocoa sector, the Guinea and Sudan Savannah agro-ecological zones as well as the maize belts in Ashanti and the transitional zone in Brong Ahafo region. Aside of the quantity consumed by the cocoa sector, a large volume is consumed by smallholder farmers for the production of food crops mainly cereals and vegetables. There are however, large plantations and commercial farms who also consume substantial quantities of fertilizer.

8.3.6 Limitations to the study

The original survey design aimed at collecting information from ten farmers (respondents) for each of the ten main crops that fertilizers are applied to in Ghana. This was the number that the team estimated that the approved budget could cover. However, in the end, more than ten crops were covered and more than ten farmers in some cases were interviewed. In some other cases less than ten farmers were interviewed. The size of the sample is very small and may not be representative of the population. In any case the results may provide a good idea about the total amount of fertilizer nutrients used by crops in Ghana for the period of the survey.

Another limitation of the study is the lack of data on the estimated areas cultivated for some emerging crops such as carrots, water melon, cabbage, etc. which will facilitate the estimation of FUBC and consequently the total fertilizer nutrient consumption as in presented in Appendix V.

As stated in chapter 4, the inability of the team to collect information from fertilizer imports and blenders on the amount of fertilizers blended for use on different crops will, however, not affect the total consumption of fertilizers in the country, because the total quantity of imports of chemicals used for blending gives the same quantity of fertilizers blended.

8.3.7 Recommendations for future data collection on fertilizer use

As indicated earlier, the study team encountered a number of challenges including the reluctance of major fertilizer importers to provide information on their imports and blended fertilizers and the quantities meant for application to the different crops, as well as the difficulty in undertaking a large-scale survey to estimate fertilizer use by the different crops.

The Statistics, Research and Information Directorate (SRID) of the Ministry of Agriculture is mandated to conduct annual surveys to collect data on crop and livestock production. This survey is done in collaboration with the District Agricultural Officers.

The Extension Service Division through the District Extension Officers is to provide services to farmers and advise them on the use of modern farming methods (including fertilizer application) to increase productivity. It is therefore, recommended that:

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1. As part of the Multi-Round Annual Crop and Livestock Surveys, the SRID includes questions to also collect data on quantities of fertilizer applied to the various crops.

2. The Directorate should be well-resourced to undertake the annual surveys to make available data on Fertilizer Use by Crop for the country.

3. The capacity of the District Agricultural Officers and Extension Officers should be strengthened to enable them provide the needed extension services to farmers so that they are motivated, have trust in the Ministry and provide the needed information during the annual surveys.

4. The Fertilizer Subsidy Program should be sustained to maintain the farmers’ trust in the work of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

5. Collaboration between the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Fertilizer Technical Working Group and companies importing and blending fertilizers is improved to make data on fertilizer use available for policy analysis.

6. The capacity of members of the Fertilizer Technical Working Group is enhanced in the computation of nutrient levels of the various types of fertilizer applied to the different crops.

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References

Agriculture in Ghana, Facts and Figures, 2013, Statistics Research and Information Directorate, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Accra

A study on consumption and fertilizers use by crops (FUBC) in Nigeria (February 2014).The Fertilizer Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN) In collaboration with Federal Fertilizer Department (FFD), Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development, Nigeria.

Benneh, G., 1990, The Regional Impacts of Climate Change: An Assessment of Vulnerability, A special report of working group 11 of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Benneh G. et al, 2008, Agriculture in Africa: Impact Assessment and Adaptation Strategies, Earthsan, UK.

Boateng Paul, 1998, Adoption: Changing families, Changing Times, Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, London. Edited by Anthony Douglas and Terry Philpot.

Dickson, K. and Benneh G., 1988, A New Geography of Ghana, Longman.

FAO Fertilizers Use by Crop in Ghana 2005

Fertilizer and Seed Subsidy implementation modalities, 2013, Directorate of Crop Services, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Accra

Fertilizer and Seed Subsidy implementation modalities, 2012, Directorate of Crop Services, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Accra

Ghana Agriculture Production Survey 2011

Ghana Agriculture Production Survey 2012

Ghana Fertilizer Assessment. (June 2012).

Kamhabwa, Franks, (February 2014), Consumption of fertilizers and fertilizers use by crop in Tanzania.

Marika Krausova & Afua Branoah Banful, (September 2010), Overview of the Agricultural Input Sector in Ghana

Ross H. and Salas R., 2014, Information Matters Working Paper on Green House Gases.

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APPENDICES

Appendix I: Fertilizer Used by Crop Survey (2011-2013)

Questionnaire

Type of crop being farmed (mono cropping only)………………………………………………

Year 2011 2012 2013

Size of farm (in acres)

Quantity of fertilizer used on the farm (kg) Quantity in (Bags) Quantity in (Bags) Quantity in (Bags)

Type of fertilizer(s) used on farm

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Yield per acre

Note: 1. Amount of fertilizer here could mean one type or mixture of two or more types of fertilizers 3. All NPK types should be named fully e.g. NPK 23 10 5, or NPK 15 15 15, etc.

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COMMODITY UNIT

Maize 100kg (Bag)

Paddy rice 84kg(Bag)

Plantain (Apentu) Av. Bunch 9-11kg (Bag)

Tomatoes 52kg(Bag)

Pepper 20kg(bag)

Onion 73kg(Bag)

Palm fruits mini bag

Oranges 100 singles(Bag)

Cocoa 64kg(Bag)

Garden eggs 27kg (Bag)

Pawpaw Box

Pineapple Box

Water melon 100 Singles

Millet 93Bag

Sorghum 109Bag

Source : Marketing Services Unit, SRID (Mofa)

Appendix II: List of MoFA Staff contacted for the FUBC Survey

Region District Name of Agric Officer Contacted Tel. No

Eastern Suhum-Kraboa Coaltar Felix Awu 0240599269

Volta Ketu North Alfred 0261157121

Volta Ho Elizabeth Wormenor

Volta Adaklu Victor Tsakpo 0243812044

Greater Accra Dangme East Mahamadu Seidu 0246713014

Central Mfanstiman Daniel Agbavor 024-6778436

Central Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam Pascal Ametewee 057-4392979

Central Awutu Senya Odame 0273195826

The officers listed above may be contacted in case of any verification with regards to the FUBC Survey. Find below the list of some of the farmers who willingly provided their names and agreed to be contacted for any further enquiries.

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Appendix III: List of Respondents (Farmers) that willingly gave their Names

S/R Name Of Farmers Gender Community Contact

1 Adator Williams M Dorwuime 243050232

2 Babanao Gabriel M Dzodze 243126790

3 Mac Kugbonu M Dzodze-Penyi 243438863

4 Kwame Kpeli M Xipe 247446522

5 Dovi Ashiavi F Teyikope 246607193

6 Saviour Hlorvi M Teyikope 246607193

7 Francis Agbogli M Ohawu 244211204

8 Ben Alaga M Vume 245483111

9 Henry Kudzordzi M Xipe/Vume 243551636

10 Jenner Kpeli M Xipe 507741117

11 Emmanuel Niboh M Avalavi 244487546

12 George Sabah M Avalavi 547617982

13 Evely Niboh F Avalavi 244451387

14 Sunu Mawulorm M Akrofu 207603596

15 Innocent Agbo M Akrofu 200809884

16 Justice M Akrofu 207303954

17 Edifor Mawuse M Akrofu 203937456

18 Emmanuel Agbeli M Akrofu 267344427

19 Victor Kwao M Adaklu Waya 267344427

20 Christopher Dzameda M Ho Municipality 241389626

21 Alfred Ahiable M Adaklu 241840245

22 Comfort Mortey F Adaklu 245239006

23 Godfred Tampo M Adaklu 208675777

24 Emmanuel Adjolia M Adaklu 249176899

25 David Kaledzi M Adaklu No Number

26 Christian Gatror M Adaklu No Number

27 Gabriel Mortey M Adaklu No Number

28 George Agbavitor M Adaklu 246633638

29 Emmanuel Gbeda M Adaklu No Number

30 Anastasia Tsigbey F Adaklu 544475639

31 Mawusi Agbevo M Adaklu 246442296

32 Kumafo Samuel M Adaklu 242284401

33 Ben Ahiave M Adaklu 242242032

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Appendix IV: Annual Area Planted to Selected Food Crops, (‘000Ha)

Crop 2010 2011 2012 2013

Maize 992 1,023 1,042 1,023Millet 177 179 172 161Rice 181 197 189 216Sorghum 253 243 231 226Cassava 875 889 869 875Cocoyam 205 204 196 194Plantain 328 336 337 340Yam 385 204 426 422Soya Bean 91 86 85 85Cocoa 1,600.20 1,600.30 1,600.80 1,650.80Oil Palm 367.1 381.8 397.1 409.1Cashew 77.0 82.0 86.5 89.0Coconut 25.2 25.3 25.3 26.1Rubber 25.5 25.8 26.0 26.8Citrus 16.0 16.2 16.5 17.0Coffee 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5Mango 6.9 7.0 7.2 7.4Banana 7.3 7.5 7.6 7.8Pawpaw 1.0 1.2 1.5 1.6Pineapple 9.5 9.8 10.0 10.3Tomato 44.2 44.5 44.8 46.1Pepper 13.2 13.4 13.7 14.1Shallot 5.0 5.2 5.2 5.4Okro 2.6 2.8 3.0 3.1Onion 7.0 7.5 8.0 8.3Garden Eggs 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.2

Source: Statistics, Research and Information Directorate (SRID), MoFA

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Appendix V: List of Registered Fertilizer Products

No. Fertilizer Product Company Crop(S) Applied To 1. NPK Louis Dreyfus

Commodities (GH) (Golden Stock)

Food crops

2. Urea “ Maize 3. Sulphate of Ammonia (SOA) “ Food crops/Cereals 4. Potassium Nitrate “ Pineapple 5. Calcium Nitrate “ 6. Mono Ammonium Phosphate (MAP) “ 7. Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) “ Maize 8. Fertibor “ 9. Triple Superphosphate (TSP) “ 10. Sulphate of Potash “ 11. Golden Finisher “ 12. Ground Rock Phosphate “ 13. Muriate of Potash “ 14. Kieserite “ 15. Cocoa Master “ Cocoa 16. Di-Grow Green Dynapharm International

(GH) Ltd. Fruits/Vegetables

17. Di-Grow Red “ Fruits/Vegetables 18. Boost Xtra The Candel Company Ltd. 19. Bio Power Plus Neptunus (Ghana)

Company Ltd.

20. Sidalco Liquid Fertilizer Sidalco Ltd. Cocoa 21. Sidalco Liquid Fertilizer “ Cocoa 22. Urea Afcott (Ghana) Ltd. Maize 23. Sulphate of Ammonia “ Food Crops/Cereals 24. NPK “ Food Crops 25. Kieserite “ Horticultural crops 26. Protifert LN 6,5 (Foliar Fertilizer) Tropical 2000 (Ghana)

Ltd.

27. Urea Yara (Ghana) Ltd. Maize 28. Yara Bela Sulfan “ Rice, Maize 29. Yara Mila Unik 15 “ Maize 30. Yara Mila Actyva “ 31. Yara Liva Nitrabor “ Cocoa 32. Yara Liva Calcinit “ Tomato 33. Rock Phosphate “ 34. Triple Superphosphate (TSP) “ Food Crops 35. Sulpomag “ Fruits and vegetables 36. Zinc Oxide “ 37. Etibor “

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38. Yara Mila Winner “ Fruits and vegetables 39. Sulphate of Ammonia (SOA) “ Food Crops/Cereals 40. Krista MgS “ 41. Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) “ Horticultural/Field

Crops 42. Granular Muriate of Potash (GMOP) “ Food Crops 43. Kieserite Horticultural crops 44. Assase Wura “ Cocoa 45. Krista SOP “ 46. Krista K “ Horticultural crops 47. Tracel BZ “ 48. Sulpomag Wienco (Ghana) Ltd. Cocoa 49. Algua Calli (Ghana) Ltd. Maize/Cereals/Fruits/

Vegetables/Pinapple 50. NPK Chemico Ltd. Food Crops 51. NPK (EXTRA K) “ Food Crops 52. NPK “ Food Crops 53. Sulphate of Ammonia (SOA) “ Food Crops/Cereals 54. Cocofeed “ Cocoa 55. Cocofeed “ Cocoa 56. Triple Superphosphate (TSP) “ 57. Muriate of Potash “ Food Crops/

Horticultural Crops 58. Potassium Sulphate “ 59. Potassium Nitrate “ 60. Magnesium Sulphate “ 61. Sett Enhanced “ 62. Harvest More “ 63. Harvest More “ 64. Crop Starter “ Food Crops 65. NPK+S (EXTRA K) “ 66. Crop Master “ Horticultural/Field

Crops 67. Micromate Cocoa “ Cocoa 68. Phoscal Grow Green (Ghana) Ltd. Fruits/Vegetables/

Horticultural Crops 69. Assase Nufosuo Farmers Hope Company

Ltd.

70. Gotta Grow (Foliar) Fifac Ltd. 71. Humate Green OK Universal-Pro

Concentrate (Liquid) West African Green OK

72. Royal Anatolia Extra (Organic Liquid Fertilizer)

Owundanoti Co. Ltd.

73. Ammonuim Sulphate Olam Ghana Ltd. 74. Urea “

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75. NPK “ 76. Super Gro GNLD International 78. Cocopeat (100% Organic Growing

Medium) Ecofibre (Ghana) Ltd.

79. Organic Vitazyme NKO Agrochemical and Trading Enterprise

80. Sampada Bio Organic Fertilizer GBI-Hanjer (Ghana) Ltd. 81. Urea ETC Agro (Ghana) Ltd. Maize 82. NPK “ 83. Sulphate of Ammonia (SOA) “ 84. Urea AMG West Africa 85. NPK “ 86. Sulphate of Ammonia (SOA) “ 87. Herbagreen Fevak Company Ltd. 88. Vitex Shiras Company Ltd. 89. ACARP Compost Accra Compost and

Recycling Plant

Source: PPRSD, MoFA