Mr. Bright Simons, Vice President of IMANI Africa, has sparked discussions on Ghana's agricultural export landscape, urging strategic diversification away from traditional commodities like cocoa towards what he terms as the “cash crops of the future.”
Highlighting a curious paradox, Mr Simons noted that while Nigeria dominates regional yam production, it is Ghana that supplies a significant portion of the United Kingdom's yam consumption, with Nigerian immigrants contributing significantly to this demand.
This unique export success story underscores Ghana's potential in the international market but also raises the question of how to replicate such achievements across other sectors.
Simons proposed a deliberate shift towards cultivating crops with promising export potential, envisioning a post-cocoa future for Ghana's agricultural sector. However, he cautioned against merely replacing cocoa with other volatile commodities like almonds and cashews, which have also faced challenges in market stability and farmer exploitation.
Addressing the issue of value addition, Simons pointed out that traditional methods have failed to significantly improve farmers' incomes, as processed products still contend in the competitive commodity market.
However, he highlighted the importance of innovation, citing visionary entrepreneurs such as those behind Talmond, a venture presumably focused on value addition and innovation in the almond sector.
The proposal for innovation-led approaches signals a departure from conventional strategies and calls for novel solutions to enhance Ghana's competitiveness in global agricultural trade.
Do you agree that by fostering a culture of innovation and supporting entrepreneurial endeavours, Ghana could unlock new opportunities and carve out a niche in high-value agricultural markets? Let us know your thoughts
