2012年-世界发展银行全球_Agribusiness_Indicators___Ghana_58页_1mb

Summary of Agribusiness Indicators: Ghana

Core Content

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the agribusiness sector in Ghana, focusing on key areas such as improved seed, fertilizer, mechanization, finance, transport, and the policy environment. The study was conducted as part of the Agribusiness Indicators (ABI) Program, which aims to assess the performance and development potential of the agriculture sector through a set of standardized indicators. The findings are based on data collected in April 2011 and reflect the state of the sector as of 2010.

Main Areas Analyzed

1. Improved Seed

• Legal and Regulatory Framework: Ghana has a national seed law (Plants and Fertilizer Act) that allows for increased private sector involvement in seed production. However, the implementation of this law is still in progress.
• Certified Seed Supply: In 2010, only 19% of maize and 8% of rice areas were planted using certified seed. The government provides 100% of foundation seed, while the private sector supplies all certified seed.
• Private Sector Participation: The private sector has limited capacity for seed multiplication, but investment in seed technology is increasing. Only a few companies have started importing hybrid maize seeds.
• Import Process: The import of improved seed was previously banned but is now open to private companies. However, the process is still lengthy, taking 2-3 years for registration, testing, and approval.
• Farmer Seed Use: Most farmers still rely on traditional seeds, and access to improved seeds remains limited, especially for high-yielding hybrid crops.

2. Fertilizer

• Consumption Trends: Fertilizer use increased from 189,878 MT in 2006 to 308,786 MT in 2010, a rise of over 60%. The average consumption rate reached 40 kg/ha in 2010, close to the target set by the Abuja Declaration.
• Market Structure: The fertilizer market is well-established with 8 major importers, 35-50 distributors, and 4,000 retailers. The nutrient/output price ratio (Pn/Po) for urea and maize in 2011 was 2.6, indicating profitability for farmers.
• Subsidy and Costs: Fertilizer subsidies account for 42% of the retail cost. Prices for NPK, urea, and SoA in key production zones are $20.8, $18.8, and $13.9 per 50 kg bag, respectively.
• Private Sector Participation: The ease of entry for the private sector in the fertilizer market is rated at 3 (out of 5), and the market is robust with high agro-dealer density (0.84 agro-dealers per 1,000 farmers).

3. Mechanization

• Tractor Availability: In 2010, Ghana had 11 tractors per 100 sq km of arable land, significantly lower than South Africa (43) and Kenya (25).
• Government Policy: The government has initiated a public-private partnership (PPP) to provide tractors under a subsidized program. However, the implementation has been problematic due to issues like poor after-sales service, unavailability of spare parts, and political interference.
• Private Sector Role: Private sector participation in the tractor market is growing, with several importers and distributors operating. Tractor services are used for land preparation, planting, and post-harvest activities.
• Cost of Services: The average cost of plowing one hectare is $46/ha, with variations depending on the region (e.g., $42/ha in the Savannah, $47/ha in the Forest, and $50/ha in the Coastal Savanna).
• Challenges: Mechanization is not widely adopted by smallholders due to high financing requirements. Spare parts availability is a major issue, and the ease of private sector participation is rated at 1.9 (out of 5).

4. Finance

• Commercial Lending to Agriculture: Agricultural lending constitutes only 6.1% of commercial bank lending in 2010, far below other sectors. Interest rates range from 25% to 40%, and the interest rate spread was 21.8% in 2010.
• Access to Credit: Access to agricultural credit is limited, with only 8% of rural households receiving credit for agriculture. The cost of credit is high, and nonperforming loans in the agricultural sector reached 21%.
• Innovations: Recent developments include the introduction of loan guarantee funds, insurance products, and a warehouse receipt system. A Collateral Registry was established in 2011 under the Borrowers and Lenders Act.
• Private Sector Involvement: The private sector is showing increasing interest in the agricultural finance sector, and more financial institutions are joining the credit registry bureau.

5. Transport

• Transport Costs: Transport is a significant cost component in the marketing of agricultural inputs and produce. The cost of transporting maize from wholesale markets to urban centers ranges from $0.10 to $0.44 per ton per km.
• Infrastructure Quality: Ghana’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI) is 2.52, indicating moderate performance. Rural Access Index (RAI) is 61%, showing that most rural populations live within 2 km of an all-season road.
• Challenges: Overloading of commercial vehicles and trans-border delays due to check points and bribery increase transport costs. The ease of entry into the trucking sector is rated at 4 (out of 5), but competitiveness is rated at 3.

6. Policy and Enabling Environment

• Policy Environment: The private sector perceives the agribusiness policy environment as moderately enabling (rating = 2.9/5). However, policy consistency is rated at 2.6/5 due to frequent and arbitrary changes.
• Private Sector Advocacy: There is a lack of an active private sector advocacy group (rating = 1/5), and efforts remain fragmented.
• Government Expenditure: Agriculture received 9% of the federal budget in 2009, nearly doubling from 2008. However, it still falls short of the CAADP target of 10%.
• Export Crop Indicators: Producers receive only 53% of the FOB export price for cash crops, indicating limited value capture.
• Processing Industry: Only 10% of maize production is processed through formal marketing channels, including large-scale processing and feed milling.

Key Findings and Recommendations

• Improved Seed: The private sector is beginning to play a more significant role, but seed supply remains constrained. Legal reforms are promising, but implementation lags.
• Fertilizer: The market is well-developed, with high agro-dealer density and growing use of fertilizers. However, the private sector faces challenges in accessing the market efficiently.
• Mechanization: Limited tractor availability and high costs restrict mechanization, especially for smallholders. Government subsidies and PPP programs are not yet effective.
• Finance: Access to agricultural finance is limited and expensive. The private sector is gradually entering the market with new financial instruments.
• Transport: Transport is a major cost factor, and infrastructure quality remains a challenge. Overloading and trans-border inefficiencies increase costs.
• Policy Environment: The policy environment is improving, but consistency and private sector advocacy are lacking. The government needs to increase budget allocation to meet CAADP targets.

Conclusion

The agribusiness indicators reveal that while Ghana has made progress in some areas like fertilizer use and transport infrastructure, the sector still faces significant challenges in seed availability, mechanization, and access to finance. The private sector is showing interest and is beginning to play a more active role, but institutional and policy support is needed to ensure sustainable growth and commercialization of the agriculture sector. The report highlights the importance of improving the policy environment, increasing investment in agricultural inputs, and enhancing infrastructure and financial services to support agribusiness development.