The Deputy Director of Crops of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Kingsley Amoako, has stated that the Mango Industry is one of the key areas of focus in improving the lives of Ghanaians.
“The mango industry is a perfect candidate for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo’s policy of “one district one factory” and it will be considered along the value chain to create jobs and wealth for our citizens especially the youth and women.”
The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, he said, is working with MoFA to support the mango producing districts to encourage more youth to take to mango farming.
A number of challenges afflict the mango industry, including post-harvest losses, and fruit flies and bacterial black spot (BBS), which have denied the country major export markets. Other challenges have being climate change effect on production, high cost of input, limited credit and financing of the industry.
According to Mr. Amoako, in 2016, Ghana exported 2,122 MT of fresh mangoes, valued at US$ 11.6 million, aside the fresh cuts, juiced and dried mangoes.
The country, he said, can do much better if more attention is given to the mango industry.
Speaking at the 2017 Mango week celebration at Kpong in the Eastern Region, he further explained that: “Government recognises the potential of the horticulture industry in general and its contribution to creating jobs, wealth and foreign exchange inflows. To enable the country to fully tap these potentials, we have a dedicated Deputy Minister for Agriculture in charge of Horticulture.”
The Director of Agriculture and Food Security Programme of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency, Ghana (ADRA), Samuel Asante Mensah, stated that Ghana has the potential of becoming one of the leading Mango Industries through increment in export.
“The Mango industry has had its setbacks, especially fruit fly, Anthracnose and BBS diseases resulting in restrictions in fresh fruit exports to some markets. But notwithstanding, increasing export demand for processed mango presents a bright future for the industry.”
Over the past decade more land has been planted to mango. The EDAIF, now AximBank Mango Plantation Project alone, which ADRA manages, provides technical support to 500 farmers with 10,000 acres established between 2009 and 2016.
He further urged that: “We eagerly look forward to increased government support and agricultural research backing to enhance jobs, income creation and foreign exchange generation for Ghana.”
The Mango Week programme is intended to spur Ghana’s mango sector to take advantage of Ghana’s exceptional natural wealth in mangoes.
Under the theme: ‘Mango, Ghana’s green gold: Growing for food and creating jobs,’ the two-day event was designed to be operational, practical and provide the industry with information it needs to address current challenges and take advantage of new opportunities.
The Chief of Party of the West Africa Trade and Investment Hub, Carol Adoum, stated that Ghana can change its economic status through a much more focus on the mango sector.
“Through increasing technical knowledge, business systems and professionalisation of operations throughout the value chain, Ghana can solidify and grow its position as a leading industry presence in the mango sector worldwide.”
The first Mango Week was held in 2006 at the Alisa Hotel, Accra. Now, the event is going to be an annual programme which will aim at adding value, to create jobs for the youth.
The event is an initiative of the United States Agency international Development (USAID), Adventist Development and Relief Agency, Ghana (ADRA), German Development Cooperation (GIZ), Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE) and the West Africa Trade and Investment Hub.
