Graphic and WFP unite to combat post-harvest losses and enhance smallholder farmer incomes

In a concerted effort to address Ghana's post-harvest losses and bolster the incomes of smallholder farmers, the Graphic Communications Group Ltd (GCGL) and the World Food Programme (WFP) today held a pivotal business technical stakeholders breakfast meeting. 

The event, which took place today at the Labadi Beach Hotel, was themed "Transforming Agriculture Productivity in Ghana: Enhancing Incomes of Smallholder Farmers through Reduction in Post-Harvest Losses."

In an address, the Managing Director of GCGL, Ato Afful, underscored the critical need for education on improved farming methods, efficient harvesting, and better transportation and storage solutions. 

"The transformation that we seek should stem from education on improved farming methods and practices, efficient and effective harvesting, adequate transportation channels from farm gate to well-controlled storage facilities, and ultimately adding value by processing, packaging, distribution, and marketing to ensure optimal value for producers in the entire agro-food chain," he said.

This initiative comes at a time when Ghana is working to attain self-sufficiency in food production. The meeting aimed to harness the energy and commitment of Ghanaian youth as a gender-inclusive and climate-friendly engine to tackle the country’s deep-rooted post-harvest challenges and promote food and nutrition security, especially in rural and marginalized communities.

Mr. Afful highlighted the essential role of public-private partnerships in addressing national issues and enhancing agricultural productivity. He noted that while improving yields per acreage is important, it is equally crucial to focus on reducing post-harvest losses to ensure that investments in agriculture translate into real benefits for smallholder farmers. 

"If we do not deal with this challenge, the high investments in scaling up agricultural production and the cultivation of even large mechanized farms will not guarantee us the self-sufficiency and security we envisage in agriculture," he said.

Mr. Afful expressed confidence in Ghana's policy makers and technical experts, urging them to develop clear plans and execute them effectively to progress the agenda of transforming agriculture in the country.

He concluded his speech by thanking the WFP, MOFA, and the MasterCard Foundation for their support and collaboration, and reaffirming GCGL's commitment to promoting national growth and development through developmental journalism.

Partnerships

The Country Director for WFP in Ghana, Barbara Clemens highlighted the unique approach WFP Ghana has adopted in partnership with the MasterCard Foundation to support smallholder farmers. 

Madam Clemens explained that the WFP has shifted from targeting individual farmers to working through networks of aggregators, which has proven more effective in the Ghanaian agricultural context. "Through aggregators, WFP can impact the lives of many more smallholder farmers, providing technical support and post-harvest equipment," she said.

She emphasized the importance of learning from past successes and adapting strategies to fit the local context. 

She pointed out that Ghana's agricultural industry functions mainly through aggregators, and WFP's approach involves identifying and supporting these aggregators to reach smallholder farmers. This method, she noted, allows WFP to potentially reach at least 100,000 smallholder farmers through the MasterCard Foundation project.

She also underscored the need for innovative and out-of-the-box solutions to reduce post-harvest losses and improve agricultural productivity. "We believe that durable solutions come from finding spaces within common practices and adapting them to the specific context we are working with," Madam Clemens stated, calling for a broad perspective on agriculture that includes the entire value chain, from seed production to marketing, to make agriculture more attractive to the youth.

The Country Director praised the partnership with GCGL and commended the work done by the media outlet in promoting agricultural development. She expressed hope that such collaborations would continue to create an enabling environment for all stakeholders, including development and humanitarian partners, to contribute effectively.

In conclusion, Clemens urged stakeholders to reimagine Ghana's agricultural space and the work on post-harvest loss reduction creatively and dynamically. She stressed the importance of dreaming big and adopting innovative approaches to propel the next generation of agriculturalists and ensure Ghana can compete in the global economy. "It is time for us to wake up and dream along with the rest of the world, embracing dynamic and innovative strategies to achieve zero hunger by 2030," she affirmed.

The breakfast meeting, organized in collaboration with the Ministry for Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and the MasterCard Foundation, brought together key stakeholders from various sectors.