Author: Sefakor

Four Industrial fishing vessels have had their licences suspended by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture in collaboration with the Fisheries Commission, after being found guilty of repeated illegal fishing within Ghana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). According to an official statement from the government, the affected vessels are identified as Meng Xin 10 (owned by Nassa Co. Ltd.), Florence 2 (owned by Akrafi Fisheries), Long Xiang 607, and Long Xiang 608 (both owned by Wannimas Complex Co. Ltd. They were found guilty of multiple violations of Ghana’s fisheries laws, including unauthorised transshipment, also known as Saiko, dumping of fish, fishing…

President John Dramani Mahama has encouraged the leadership of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to welcome innovation by adopting modern technology and best agronomic practices to enhance yields without expanding farm sizes. The First Gentleman of the Land also reiterated the need to move beyond traditional farming methods to ensure increased productivity and sustainability in the cocoa sector. He made these comments when the CEO of COCOBOD, Dr. Ransford Anertey Abbey, led members of the Cocoa, Coffee & Sheanut Farmers Association (COCOSHE) to pay a courtesy visit on him at the Jubilee House in Accra. President Mahama expressed gratitude to…

With just three months into office, one of the Mahama-led government’s touted agricultural projects, ‘Nkoko Nkitinkiti’ will kick-start in the Ketu North Constituency as announced by the Member of Parliament for the area, Eric Edem Agbana. As a youth-targeted project, the MP who is one of the youngest in the parliament of Ghana is partnering another young poultry expert and animal consultant, Mr. Adu Ababio Enoch, who is leading the team responsible for rolling out the project. He is the founder of Tanta Farms and Training Centre, using social media to encourage the youth about poultry production. With his rich…

The Chief Executive Officer of the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), Dr Andy Osei Okrah, has visited three major oil palm processing companies in the Western and Central Regions as part of his outfit’s efforts to increase and improve Ghana’s oil palm industry. His visit was part of a familiarisation exercise to assess operations, identify challenges, and explore strategies to boost local oil production. The companies he visited included the Benso Oil Palm Plantation (BOPP), Plantations Socfinaf Ghana (PSG), and Twifo Oil Palm Plantation Limited (TOPP), key players in the oil palm value chain contributing significantly to job creation and…

Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) has gone into partnership with the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) Ghana to provide capacity building to young entrepreneurs in the food innovation space. This partnership aims to bridge the gap between creative food products and regulatory requirements, whilst ensuring that start-ups across the country meet the highest standards of safety and quality. Under the partnership, KIC and FDA Ghana will provide guidance, training, and mentorship to help start-ups understand the FDA certification process more effectively. This support will enable young entrepreneurs to bring their innovative food products to market faster, ensuring their business growth and…

In the heart of Ghana, on a sprawling four-acre land at Adenya junction, Kokoomu in the Eastern Region, lies Mordecai Farms, a beacon of innovation and sustainability in aquaculture and agriculture. Founded by a retired Portfolio Manager/Fund Manager, Seth Boakye-Dankwah, the farm is named after Mordecai, a biblical figure known for his wisdom and leadership. Mr Boakye Dankwa’s vision was to create a farming enterprise that not only generates wealth but also promotes environmental sustainability and empowers the youth of Ghana and beyond. Mordecai Farms is proof of modern farming techniques. The farm uses a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS), a…

Seasoned entrepreneur, writer and agricultural engineer, Kwabena Obeng Darko has called on farmers and persons interested in agriculture to acquire some form of financial skills training to enable them to thrive in that sector. This, according to Mr. Obeng, will help people in the agricultural industry use their finances judiciously while eliminating unwanted expenditures. “Beyond technical expertise, it is imperative for farmers and people who want to go into agribusiness to have some financial knowledge. Financial literacy will help you cut down costs, enhance transparency if you are working with a team, and also guide you to know if you…

The Dawhenya Irrigation Scheme which houses some abandoned greenhouses for years has been estimated to produce 4,500 tonnes of vegetables, generating about $1.9 million annually when it becomes operational. Paying a working visit to the site with other stakeholders, the Minister for Food and Agriculture , Eric Opoku and his Deputy, John Dumelo visited the enclave to assess the level of agricultural development projects ongoing, and how best the ministry can improve the space to boost food production and encourage farming among the youth in the country. In a pursuit to provide strategic value and also to keep it in…

In a bid to keep the vegetable sector vibrant and economically beneficial, Dr. Felix Kamassah, the president of the Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association of Ghana (VEPEAG) and managing partner of Maphlix Trust Ghana Limited, the largest vegetable farm in West Africa, has lauded the Food and Agricultural Ministry for its efforts to rehabilitate some abandoned greenhouses in the Dawhenya Irrigation Scheme area. According to Dr. Kamassah, the move by the ministry will exponentially increase vegetable yields while providing jobs for interested farmers and young people. Speaking to The Ghanaian Farmer, Dr. Kamassah highlighted the benefits of vegetable production to…

The Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) and the Coconut Federation of Ghana (COCOFEG) have convened a high level discussion on sustainable ways of growing of Ghana’s coconut industry. The engagement brought together key stakeholders, focused on addressing challenges in the coconut sector, navigating for opportunities, and enhancing collaboration between the two bodies. Speaking at the event, the President of COCOFEG, Patrick Ndabiah reiterated the significance of value addition to maximise the economic growth of the coconut industry. “It is through value addition that we can realize the full potential of the tree. While production is ongoing, there should be a…