Why Campaign For Global Food Security: More People Die From Obesity than Hunger

Author: Gregory Mensah (ir), MSc, Agro-ecologist and Theophilus Zottorgloh (ir), MSc, Plant Science.

I would like to start my presentation with some questions emanating from unhidden facts published by renowned research institutions. Did you know for a fact that more than one of three Americans is obsessed?  On the other hand did you know for a fact that one in a thousand adults and one in ten thousand children do not eat for a whole day on an average day? Did you also know for a fact that almost a third of a million Americans die annually of obesity? Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable deaths. However, deaths from hunger (due primarily to eating disorders) are too rare to be recorded in mortality statistics (Journal of American Medical Association, USDA Economic Research Service, S-9, and West Virginia Health Statistics Centre). This shows that the global hunger campaign or lobby in America from organisations such as “Feeding America” tells a quite different story for the above facts. 

Personally, I believe that “the availability of food to all” aspect of the FAO definition of food security is not a problem at all but rather the problem lies in the accessibility of it. It is no denying fact that the global food production is more than enough and should feed everybody in the world. However, the current global food system from seed to market has become increasingly monopolised by giants agro-food supply chains which has led to the overproduction of food to feed unfairly some specific population while simultaneously leaving more than half a billion people hungry worldwide. This means the large food surpluses produced in agri-business sector have not lowered the number of people who are hungry.

It is therefore apparent that the question of feeding the world can easily be answered when global food distribution and for that matter accessibility is fairly policed. In addition, it is not a hidden fact that the more than 50% of global food production is emanating from smallholder farmers. However, it not a hidden fact that the majority of smallholder farmers are located in developing regions and more so Africa where the greater numbers of global undernourished people live. Therefore, if we want to solve the so-called global food security issue, it needs to be tackled from where the real problem is situated. On December, 14 2012, CNN published on its health news a report from the British medical journal, The Lancet. The report revealed that every country, with the exception of those in sub-Saharan Africa, faces alarming obesity rates -- an increase of 82% globally in the past two decades. This means sub-Saharan Africans are not getting enough food to eat and that food security problems need to be looked at from this region. Dr Majid Ezzati, one of the lead authors of the report continued and said: “We have gone from a world 20 years ago where people weren’t getting enough to eat to a world now where too much food and unhealthy food – even in developing countries – is making us sick.”

A report published by FAO in 2011 indicated that 80% of the food in the developing world comes from smallholder farmers such as those in Africa who are using local inputs and no or less synthetic inputs to produce this enormous amount of food. With a more than 100% increase in food production in these traditional and small-scale farming systems, I am personally advocating for agro-ecology as a solution to Africa’s food security and for that matter hunger problems and even the global nutrition security issues. A typical example can be studied and followed is the “Zero Hunger” policy which was introduced in Brazil to support family farmers in sustainable agro-ecological production. This policy has pushed Brazil to achieve its MDG on ending hunger without the policy mentioning an increase in yields. This was achieved within a shortest time frame after its inception. In Africa however, it is very obvious that most smallholder farmers are sort of into agro-ecology or organic production by-default and that a strong awareness on agro-ecology to support family farmers would be easily achieved to be able to feed the majority of people who go to bed without food in the continent. For Africa not to struggle in order to implement and achieve a successful agro-ecological production if it comes to that, which according to an agro-ecology professor from the Wageningen University, Pablo Tittonil, said it needs a strong knowledge, integration and dialogue involving all production actors and stakeholders. It is therefore obvious that the way to go in Africa is never the status quo in agriculture production in the developed world where obesity and environmental issues are now a major concern because Africa is fed-up with diseases and other health related problems. One would therefore say that if we want to solve the food security issues in Africa, we should ask or learn from Brazil rather than global giant agribusiness industries.

As a Ghanaian, I would like to throw a little light on our food production issues while we struggle to achieve food security. A very recent research report published by the Ghanaweb business news on the 19, November, 2014 from The Urban Association Limited (TUAL) and sponsored by Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) on post-harvest losses in Africa showed that we are throwing more food away than the amount of food reaching the consumer.  For instance, according to the report, as much as 60 percent of Yam produced in Ghana, for instance, does not make it to the consumer. The level of losses occurring in maize production, for instance, ranges between 5-70 percent while between 11-27 percent of rice cultivated never makes it to the consumer. The amount of millet/sorghum lost after harvesting ranges from 5-15 percent, with 18 percent of cassava lost after harvesting, the report added.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9742960/Obesity-killing-three-times-as-many-as-malnutrition.html

www.cnn.com/2012/12/13/health/global-burden-report

Ghana’s law on GM foods finally gets Presidential Assent

Ghana’s law on GM foods finally gets Presidential Assent

Friday, February 17, 2012 14:14 PM

The Biosafety Act which has spent four years in Parliament has finally received Presidential Assent, thus becoming a complete law.
The Law, from the Biosafety Act, 831, 2011 will enable Ghana to allow the application of biotechnology in food crop production involving Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) to enter food production.
It will also ensure an adequate level of production in the field of safe development transfer, handling and use of GMOs that are pharmaceuticals for human use, and which are the subject of any other enactment.
It will also establish a transparent and predictable process to review and make decisions on specified GMOs that were pharmaceutical for human use.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview, Mr Ebenezer Adjietror, Principal Assistant Clark in Charge of Table Office, Parliament House said the Act went through all the required stages before coming into effect as a law.
Explaining why it took that long, he said the bill had initial constitutional matters, which resulted in the movement of back and forth till it was finally passed into law and had received presidential assent.
The 28-page Act has nine Arrangements of Sections, which include Scope, Objectives and Establishment, Administration, Handling of Requests for Approvals, Reviews and Approvals, Technical Advisory Committee, Regulatory Agencies, Inspections, Finance and Miscellaneous.
It also has five schedules which include -Conduct of Business and Affairs of the Board, Information Required in Applications for Contained or Confined Use, Information Required in Applications for Release, Importation and Placing on the Market, Risk Assessment and Regulatory Agencies.
Under the new Biosafety law, a National Biosafety Authority will have to be established with the functions clearly spelt out in the Act and the makeup of the governing body.
In West Africa, neighbouring Burkina Faso is currently using biotechnology for farming particularly in Cotton and vegetable production while Togo, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Mali and South Africa were also applying the technology.
Ghana, before the passage of the law was using an existing Legislative Instrument; CSIR Act 521 of 1996 as a template, since it had provisions for the conduct of research in general, and it was simply to extend this to the conduct of research on Genetically Modified Organisms.
Professor Walter Sandow Alhassan, Project Coordinator on Strengthening Capacity for Safe Biotechnology Management in sub-Sahara Africa (SABIMA) of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) told the GNA that the enactment of the Biosafety law was the culmination of years of outreach activities and advocacy for biotechnology and Biosafety involving a cross-section of Ghanaians including the scientific community, media, farmer-based organizations, consumer associations, religious bodies and legislators supported by donor agents or their representatives.
Prof Alhassan, a former Director-General of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research who could not hide his excitement said the passage of the law marked the determination of the government and people of Ghana to meet the legal requirement for the safe application of modern biotechnology for socio-economic development especially through agriculture.
“It is the start of a long journey in the engagement of modern biotechnology to meet the challenges of agricultural production. It is the hope that the implementing regulations and institutions will be put in place and supported adequately to facilitate the exploitation of the law,” he added.
Out of the 25 countries planting biotech crops, 15 are developing countries and 10 are industrialised countries. Another 30 countries approve import of biotech products for food and feed use.
Egypt, Burkina Faso, Bolivia, Brazil and Australia were the first five countries to commercialise their biotech crops in their countries with the number of biotech crop farmers increasing from 1.3 million to 13.3 million in the 25 biotech crop countries between 1996 and 2008.
Mr Eric Okore, Biosafety Focal Person at the Ministry of Environment Science and Technology commended government for the concern and commitment shown in the passage of the law.
He said the Ministry would put in measures for the implementation of all the requirements in the law.
Professor Emmanuel Quaye Chairman of the National Biosafety Committee told the GNA that the committee had “fought so hard to make this dream a reality but the delay has put Ghana far behind the other countries, though it is worth the time”.
He said the Committee was waiting for the Ministry to constitute the National Biosafety Authority to begin work since the law was now in place.
Biosafety Law, Prof. Quaye noted was needed to improve the safety of food, improve its yield and ensures its security, hence the law would ensure that the necessary measures were put in place to address food safety and its security.
Dr Yaa Osei, Member of the National Biosafety Committee who also could not hide her joy told the GNA that “the work has just begun and we will need all the stakeholders to make our dream come true”.
Dr Osei was instrumental in the preparation of the bill said the committee was waiting for the Ministry to implement what were in the law by establishing the Biosafety Authority.
She explained that Biotechnology was one of the tools that could make a meaningful contribution to the challenges facing the continent. Therefore it would be wise for us to embrace this idea to meet the challenges.
Dr Osei explained that biotechnology was like any technological application that used biological systems, living organisms to make or modify products.
“Traditional biotechnology has been in use for centuries and involves fermentation used in bread making, kenkey, and alcohol production. Modern biotechnology is based on the developments in cellular and monocular biology that occurred in the second half of the 20th century.
She noted that the GM technology did not only improve crop yield but also ensured insect resistance which helped farmers to save substantial amount of money spent on pesticides, enhanced nutritional values and also increased the shelve life of produce.
She urged stakeholders and the general public to put in their maximum support and cooperation for a smooth take off.
Dr Daniel Ibrahim D. Atokple Principal Investigator for the Maruca-Resistant Cowpea Project of the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research said the research institutions were ever ready to begin with the laboratory work adding, “This is a long awaited dream come true” and commended government for the commitment exhibited.
Source: GNA

Food Security & Agriculture

UNCTAD: Organic Agriculture can Feed Africa

Rather than the large-scale of use of monoculture crops and pesticides to achieve food security in Africa, organic agriculture increases yields by nearly 130 percent, aids poverty alleviation and offers a sustainable solution to world hunger, according to a new report by UNCTAD. 14th November 08 - Daniel Howden, The Independent (UK) Link to the report: Organic Agriculture and Food Security in Africa Organic farming offers Africa the best chance of breaking the cycle of poverty and malnutrition it has been locked in for decades, according to a major study from the United Nations to be presented today. New evidence suggests that organic practices – derided by some as a Western lifestyle fad – are delivering sharp increases in yields, improvements in the soil and a boost in the income of Africa's small farmers who remain among the poorest people on earth. The head of the UN's Environment Programme, Achim Steiner, said the report "indicates that the potential contribution of organic farming to feeding the world maybe far higher than many had supposed". The "green revolution" in agriculture in the 1960s – when the production of food caught and surpassed the needs of the global population for the first time –largely bypassed Africa. Whereas each person today has 25 per cent more food on average than they did in 1960, in Africa they have 10 per cent less. A combination of increasing population, decreasing rainfall and soil fertility and a surge in food prices has left Africa uniquely vulnerable to famine. Climate change is expected to make a bad situation worse by increasing the frequency of droughts and floods. It has been conventional wisdom among African governments that modern, mechanised agriculture was needed to close the gap but efforts in this direction have had little impact on food poverty and done nothing to create a sustainable approach. Now, the global food crisis has led to renewed calls for a massive modernisation of agriculture on the hungriest continent on the planet, with calls to push ahead with genetically modified crops and large industrial farms to avoid potentially disastrous starvation. Last month the UK's former chief scientist Sir David King said anti-scientific attitudes among Western NGOs and the UN were responsible for holding back a much-needed green revolution in Africa. "The problem is that the Western world's move toward organic farming – a lifestyle choice for a community with surplus food – and against agricultural technology in general and GM in particular, has been adopted across the whole of Africa, with the exception of South Africa, with devastating consequences," he said. The research conducted by the UN Environment Programme suggests that organic, small-scale farming can deliver the increased yields which were thought to be the preserve of industrial farming, without the environmental and social damage which that form of agriculture brings with it. An analysis of 114 projects in 24 African countries found that yields had more than doubled where organic, or near-organic practices had been used. That increase in yield jumped to 128 per cent in east Africa. "Organic farming can often lead to polarised views," said Mr Steiner, a former economist. "With some viewing it as a saviour and others as a niche product or something of a luxury... this report suggests it could make a serious contribution to tackling poverty and food insecurity." The study found that organic practices outperformed traditional methods and chemical-intensive conventional farming. It also found strong environmental benefits such as improved soil fertility, better retention of water and resistance to drought. And the research highlighted the role that learning organic practices could have in improving local education. Backers of GM foods insist that a technological fix is needed to feed the world. But this form of agriculture requires cash to buy the patented seeds and herbicides – both at record high prices currently – needed to grow GM crops. Regional farming experts have long called for "good farming", rather than exclusively GM or organic. Better seeds, crop rotation, irrigation and access to markets all help farmers. Organic certification in countries such as the UK and Australia still presents an insurmountable barrier to most African exporters, the report points out. It calls for greater access to markets so farmers can get the best prices for their products. Kenyan farmer: 'I wanted to see how UK did it' Henry Murage had to travel a long way to solve problems trying to farm a smallholding on the western slopes of Mount Kenya. He spent five months in the UK, studying with the experts at Garden Organic a charity in the Midlands. "I wanted to see how it was being done in the UK and was convinced we could do some of the same things here," he says. On his return 10 years ago, he set up the Mt Kenya Organic Farm, aimed at aiding other small farmers fighting the semi-arid conditions. He believes organic soil management can help retain moisture and protect against crop failure. The true test came during the devastating drought of2000-02, when Mr Murage's vegetable gardens fared better than his neighbours'. At least 300 farmers have visited his gardens and taken up at least one of the practices he espouses. "Organic can feed the people in rural areas," he says. "It's sustainable and what we produce now we can go on producing." Saving money on fertilisers and pesticides helps farmers afford better seeds, and composting and crop rotation are improving the soil. Traditional maize, beans and livestock farming in the area have been supplemented with new crops from borage seeds to cayenne peppers and honey, with buyers from the US to Europe. Now he is growing camomile for herbal tea, with buyers from the UK and Germany both interested.

Cassava virus on verge of epidemic in East Africa

Experts urge funding, swift action to protect staple food crop




Farmers with harvested cassava in Burundi.16 November 2011, Nairobi - A new variant of a cassava disease is affecting large parts of East Africa, especially in the area's Great Lakes Region, putting a crucial source of food and income at risk, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.



FAO experts say Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) is on the verge of becoming an epidemic, and have called for an urgent increase in funding, research, training, surveillance and other measures to help farmers and breeders.



The appearance of the disease in previously unaffected areas, and the lack of continued funding for research and development work to address CBSD in the region, have added to the threat already presented by Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD).



In Rwanda, a surveillance analysis conducted by the National Agricultural Research Institute in 2010 showed a 15.7 percent rate of infection on local varieties and 36.9 percent in improved varieties.



"None of the cassava varieties currently being distributed to farmers seem to be tolerant to the effects of CBSD. We urgently need to get information on the extent and severity of the outbreak, and to support investments to identify disease-tolerant varieties and coping strategies for farmers," said Jan Helsen, leader of FAO's European Union-funded Regional Cassava Initiative in Eastern and Central Africa.



Hidden signs



One of the challenges facing those who are trying to stem the spread of CBSD is timely detection of the disease.



"The disease manifests itself in different ways depending on local conditions. In some cases it shows symptoms only on the roots. An apparently healthy plant may be found to have spoiled roots only when harvested, with obvious consequences for food security," Helsen explained.



Cassava can account for as much as a third of the total calorie intake for people in countries such as Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda or DRC.



"Thanks to the foresight of, and the scientific support from, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), efforts are underway to understand the epidemiology of the disease, but more support will be needed for this work, and to select and bring on CBSD-tolerant varieties," Helsen added.



Key staple



Short-term measures needed to tackle CBSD include stepping up disease surveillance and conducting regular inspections; increasing the sensitization of communities to the threat of CBSD; and using hands-on training for farmers, like FAO's farmer field schools, to introduce community-based practices to prevent the introduction or spread of the disease, such as the removal of infected plants.



Recommended measures also include banning the distribution of infected plants between districts and zones, and, in the event of infection, using coping strategies such as the early harvest of cassava, before symptoms appear and significant damage can be done.



Building resilience



Since around 2006, FAO and the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) have implemented two regional cassava projects, funded respectively by the European Union and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to support vulnerable farmers affected first by CMD and now by CBSD. The projects have provided access to clean, or virus-free, planting material. The projects aim to develop capacity in disease preparedness and strengthen the resilience of farmers to outbreaks of both diseases.



"Fortunately, there are now eight varieties under development by IITA and its national partners in the region which are resistant to Cassava Mosaic Disease and which show some level of tolerance to CBSD. Under existing programme arrangements, these varieties could be made widely available in the next 18-24 months, assuming that resources can be identified to support multiplication and distribution activities," said Helsen.



Helsen says National Cassava Steering Committees have been set up to manage the response to the disease, but they need more time and funds to ensure that some of the CBSD-tolerant varieties in the pipeline can be multiplied and made available across the region.



Next steps



More extensive surveillance will be carried out in Rwanda again this year, along with Burundi and the DRC, which will give a more complete picture of the occurrence and spread of the disease. To help raise awareness of the impact of the disease, FAO and CRS are currently undertaking a rapid survey on the impact of CBSD on household food security across the region.

TERRESTRIAL INVASIVE PLANTS OF GHANA

Over 250 species of Exotic or Alien plant species have become naturalized in Ghana and over 20 of these can be categorized as invasive.

”That is, a plant or animal transported beyond the ecosystem where it occurs naturally may multiply out of control, endangering native species in the invaded ecosystem, undermining agriculture, threatening public health or creating other unwanted and often irreversible disruptions.”

A key point is that alien species may be beneficial in one part of an ecosystem or geographic region but detrimental in another part or region

Major terrestrial invasives include Chromolaena odorata, Broussonetia papyrifera and Leucaena leucocephala. Chromolaena and Leucaena are colonizers of disturbed forests and savanna woodlands, where they prevent regeneration and displace indigenous species, posing a threat to the biodiversity and to sustainable utilization of the forests.

Sites where invasive alien species constitute a proximate threat to globally significant biodiversity identified and prioritized.

Initially 24 sites were identified as sites where invasive alien species constitute a proximate threat to globally significant biodiversity. From the initial list, 7 sites-3 water bodies and 4 terrestrial sites- were selected on the basis of the importance of the biodiversity, together with the perceived threat posed by alien invasive:

Terrestrial Ecosystems

Bia South Forest Reserve (Siam Weed/ Acheampong/ Busia)

Northern Savanna Zone (Witch Weed)

Accra Plains (Siam Weed/ Acheampong/ Busia and Leucaena)

Afram River Headwaters Forest Reserve (Pulp Mulberry/ Siam Weed/ Acheampong/ Busia)

The Afram Headwaters Forest Reserve is threatened by the invasion of Broussonetia as well as Chromolaena. 

A preliminary list of terrestrial invasive alien species includes:

Azadirachta indica (Neem/ Abode)

Broussonetia papyrifera (Pulp Mulberry/ Yorke)

Cassia siamea

Ceropia peltata (French Odwuma)

Chromolaena odorata (Siam Weed/ Acheampong/ Busia)

Cyperus imperata* (Nsamanfo atadwe)

Leucaena leucocephala (Leucaena)

Gliricidia sepium (Gliricidia)

Lantana camara*  (Ananse dokuno)

Mimosa pigra

Mellingtonia sp.

Mucuna pruriens

Rottboelia cochinchinensis

Senna (Cassia) spectabilis

Striga asiatica

Striga hermonthica*

Tectona grandis (Teak)

Mistletoe

* denotes that species is indigenous

From this initial list, 3 invasive alien species which currently pose a major threat to globally significant biodiversity were prioritized as follows:

Chromolaena odorata

Broussonetia papyrifera

Leucaena leucocephala

In addition, another invasive alien species was prioritized as a potential threat to globally significant biodiversity: Cecropia peltata (French Odwuma)

Striga asiatica and Striga hermonthica were also prioritised as invasive species although it remains to be confirmed whether or not these species are indigenous or exotic.

Lantana camara

Lantana camara, also known as Spanish Flag, is native to tropical regions in Central and South America.Lantana camara has been introduced into other parts of the world as an ornamental plant, it is considered an invasive species in many tropical areas. It is sometimes known as "red (yellow, wild) sage", despite its classification in a separate family to sage (Lamiaceae), and a different order to sagebrush (Asterales).

Ecological impacts / threats

 Competes with and replaces indigenous species. Allelopathic suppression of indigenous species interrupts regeneration processes and reduces biodiversity of natural ecosystems. Dense stands in plantations obstruct access and utilization. It is poisonous to humans and animals and responsible for livestock mortalities. It reduces the grazing potential of the land. Dense infestations, which inhibit the growth of other species, result in bank erosion along watercourses and increased runoff and soil loss on steep slopes. Dense infestations result in the devaluation of agricultural and conservation land.

Lantana camara is an invasive species and has covered large areas in India, Australia' and much of Africa. The famous Victoria Falls area near Livingstone in Zambia testifies to this. It colonizes new areas when its seeds are dispersed by birds. Once it reaches an area, Lantana camara spreads quickly. It coppices so well, that efforts to eradicate it have completely failed. It is resistant to fire, and quickly grows in and colonizes burnt areas. It has become a serious obstacle to the natural regeneration of important native species of plants in some 22 countries. In greenhouses, lantana is notorious for attracting whitefly.
Lantana camara has been reported to make animals ill after ingestion. The berries are edible when ripe though like many fruit are mildly poisonous to humans and livestock if eaten while still green. Lantana has been listed as a Category One "Invasive Toxic Species" in Florida by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council, and has become a problem in Texas and Hawaii.

  

Broussonetia papyrifera

Broussonetia papyrifera (Paper mulberry) is a woody perennial of the family

Moraceae, and is native to Japan and Taiwan. It thrives well in a wide range of habitats including humid tropics, subtropics and temperate environments. It is believed to have been introduced into Asia, Europe, and the Pacific Island countries in ancient times.

Broussonetia is cultivated for a variety of purposes; as shade tree, in home gardens for, glue from the sap, and more popularly production of traditional ‘tapa’cloth from the bark. It has a shallow root system that makes the trees susceptible to blow over during high winds.

It is an evasive plant which regenerates easily. Paper mulberry exhibits aggressive growth and quickly invades disturbed lands, displacing native plants. It spreads easily and even the tiniest root in the soil can become a whole plant. But it growth is suppressed when there is shade cover and the seeds can stay longer in the soil. However, as soon as the shade is removed, regeneration is very rapid. It is prolific, aggressive, gregarious and it is believed to be principally propagated by birds and the fruit bats. It is fast spreading and it is very rapid throughout the forest belt due to its mode of dispersal and ease to establish.

 

Leucaena leucocephala

Leucaena, Lead tree, Jumbay, or White popinac (Leucaena leucocephala or Leucaena glauca is a small Mimosoid tropical tree native to Mexico. It is used for a variety of purposes, such as firewood, fiber and livestock feed. It has been considered for biomass production, as its reported yield of foliage corresponds to a dried mass of 2000-20000 kg/ha/year, and that of wood 30-40 m³/ha/year, with up to twice those amounts in favourable climates. It is also efficient in nitrogen fixation, at more than 500 kg/ha/year. During the 1970s and 1980s it was promoted as a "miracle tree" for its multiple uses. It has also been described as a "conflict tree" in that it is both promoted for forage production and spreads like a weed in some places

Ecological impact / threat

Competes with and likely to replace indigenous species. Dense stands along watercourses are likely to reduce stream flow. Pods are poisonous (in quantity) to domestic livestock.

    

Chromolaena odorata

Chromolaena odorata is an herbaceous perennial that forms dense tangled bushes 1.5-2.0m in height. It occasionally reaches its maximum height of 6m (as a climber on other plants). The older stems are brown and woody near the base; tips and young shoots are green and succulent. The root system is fibrous and does not penetrate beyond 20-30cm in most soils. The flowers are white or pale bluish-lilac, and form masses covering the whole surface of the bush

Chromolaena odorata is native to South America and Central America. It has been introduced into the tropical regions of Asia, Africa and the Pacific, where it is an invasive weed. Also known as Siam weed, It is an aggressive competitor and may have allelopathic effects. It is also a nuisance weed in agricultural land and commercial plantations.

Ecological impacts / threats

Completely it forms dense stands that prevent the establishment of other plant species (ndigenous vegetation). Also interferes with small-crop agriculture and forestry activities. Dense thickets restrict access to infested areas and markedly reduce grazing. Oils in the leaves make the plants highly |inflammable. Infestations on forest margins allow fires to jump from grassland across the forest margin into the fire-sensitive canopies of forest trees, causing much destruction. It is very serious threat to the conservation of plant and animal biodiversity.

 

Mimosa pigra

Mimosa pigra is an erect, much branched prickly shrub reaching a height of 3m to 6m. Stems are greenish at first but become woody, are up to 3m long, and have randomly scattered, slightly recurved prickles 0.5cm tocm long. Leaves are bright green, that fold together when touched or injured and at night. The flowers are pink or mauve, small, regular and grouped into globular heads 1cm to 2cm in diameter. The fruit is a thick hairy, 20-25 seeded, flattened pod borne in groups in the leaf axils. The fruit turns brown when mature, breaking into one-seeded segments. The seeds are brown or olive green, oblong, flattened

Ecological impacts/ threats

Mimosa pigra has the potential to spread through natural grassland floodplain ecosystems and pastures, converting them into unproductive scrublands which are only able to sustain lower levels of biodiversity. ompetes with and replaces indigenous species. Dense stands can replace unique communities of indigenous plants and their associated animlals. Water birds can suffer the most as they find the infestations uninhabitable. Dense stands obstruct access to water for irrigation purposes and watering of domestic livestock. Dense stands could significantly increase water loss through evapo-transpiration and reduce stream flow. Dense stands will cause a devaluation of agricultural and conservation land.

Azadirahcta indica (neem)

Azadirachta indica, or Neem Tree, is an evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia (eastern India and Burma). The tree will reach up to 100 feet (~30 m) tall with limbs reaching half as wide. The shiny dark green pinnately compound leaves are up to 12 inches (30 cm) long. Each leaf has 10-12 serrated leaflets. All parts of the tree have been used medicinally for centuries. It is widely used in toothpastes, soaps and lotion today, as well as being a biological insecticide. Neem has been cultivated for thousands of years for its medicinal properties.

Ecological impacts/ threats

In its native environment it does not present a problem. However, recently neem has also been introduced in countries where it previously was not at home. First the tree spread to parts of Africa, where it now dominates large areas of savanna. It only takes a few years for neem trees to start fruiting, and our native birds quickly took to the sweet flesh of the seeds. The seeds thrive in harsh climates, with no fertilizer, no water, no nothing. Neem trees are incredibly vigorous, lush and green, even during the driest and hottest time of the year. They are easy to spot in the bush, and they are everywhere, choking and displacing the native vegetation, depriving native animals of food and habitat.

  

Senna spectabilis

S. spectabilis is native to tropical America and has been introduced to Africa as an ornamental. Flowers many, fragrant, Petals yellow, Fruit cylindrical or flattened pods ending in a short, narrow point, hard, not splitting open or slightly on 1 side; It is planted in the subtropical moist and lower and upper cordillera zones in central Puerto Rico.

Ecological impacts/ threats

Very aggressive and has taken over the Budongo Forest Reserve near Masindi in the North –western part of Uganda replacing the indigenous trees and causing biodiversity losses. It should not be mistaken for other Cassia (Senna) species. It has been recorded in a few locations in Ghana as an ornamental.

 

Cecropia peltata

Trumpet/Umbrella tree /Embauba

It is native to the Central and South America Region. Virtually every part is used - bark, roots, sap, leaves and fruit - to treat a diversity of ailments (bronchitis and snakebites in Trinidad is a cure for diabetes and hypertension in Guatemala and respiratory disorders). It has shown potential for treating obesity, as well as bacterial infections and cancer.

It should not be confused with Musanga cecropioides (African Corkwood. Umbrella Tree/Odwuma) which  is found in Ghana. In Africa it also is found from Sierra Leone to Angola and eastward to Uganda; typical in secondary forests, common on old farms, short-lived. May form almost pure stands and is suitable for plantation culture. It may reach a height of 100 ft; bole slender and rather straight, 20 to 40 ft in length; trunk diameters mostly 1 to 3 ft. Prop roots may extend to 9 ft and more above the base. Tree can spread vegetatively by means of aerial runners.

Ecological impacts/ threats

It is known to have been introduced in La Cote D’Ivoire for paper production but has invaded the western portions of southern Ghana including the Ankasa Forest Reserve and shading out indigenous vegetation.

Plant Protection & Regulatory Services Plant Protection & Regulatory Services

The PPRSD was established in 1965 by an Act of Parliament: Prevention and Control of Pests and Diseases OF Plants Act, 307 now replaced by  “Plants and Fertilizer Act, 2010 (Act 803).  The PPRSD is the National Institution with the mandate and capacity to organize, regulate, implement and coordinate the plant protection services needed for the country in support of sustainable growth and development  of Agriculture.  The national plant protection policy is Integrated Pest Management, IPM (1992).

Vision

To render efficient, environmentally safe and economically sustainable plant protection and regulatory services that will be meeting the requirements of the clientele and thus contributing to increased food and raw material production.

Mission

To provide services in order to safeguard quality and plants of crop from losses by pests and diseases.

Goal

To contribute to sustainable reduction of crop losses caused by pests and diseases, currently estimated at 30-50%, to about 10-15%, with substantially reduced use of hazardous chemicals.
The Directorate is structured into four Divisions:

• Crop Pests and Disease Management
• Seed Inspection and Certification
• Pesticides and Fertilizer Regulatory
• Plant Quarantine

The Directorate offers Public Services to: Extensionists, Farmers, Importers/Exporters of Agricultural goods, Pesticide Dealers and Applicators, Seed Producers and Dealers, Fertilizer Dealers, Consuming Public and coordinates compliance with obligations in Multilateral Plant Protection Agreements.

Crop Pests & Disease Management Division

The Division derives its mandate from Part I of the “Plants and Fertilizer Act” Act 803 ( 2010)
The Crop Pests & Disease Management Division develops Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), guidelines for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of food crops.
The division carries out training and provides comprehensive diagnostic and identification services of plant pests and diseases for stakeholders, monitors the pest situation in the country, ensures effective control of plant pests, manages calamity pest outbreaks (e.g. armyworms, grasshoppers etc), and carries out classical bio-control measures (mass rearing and release of bio-agents), and serves as secretariat for National Fruit Fly Management Committee and National IPM programme.

Services provided:

• Extension (GO and NGOs): Training of Trainers in IPM, technical backstopping on crop pests and disease identification and integrated control    strategies.
• Farmers: Technical backstopping  on pests and disease identification (diagnosis) and integrated control strategies, support in Global GAP certification (training, pre-  audit)
• Exporters of agricultural produce: Technical backstopping on identification of crop pests, training in Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and carries out diagnostic services.
• IGOs: Pests and Disease situation statistics

 

Ghana Seed Inspection and Certification Division (GSID)

(Part II of Plants and Fertiliser Act, 2010) (Act 803)
The Division supports the production of quality seeds and planting materials.  This is achieved through; field inspection, training of major stakeholders, laboratory analysis on seed samples, monitoring quality of seed and seed certification.

Services provided

• Seed growers:
  • Registration of Seed Growers
  • Monitoring of seed and planting material production of crop species
  • Certification of Foundation and Certified Seeds and also Primary and Secondary planting materials.
  • Training of major stakeholders (Seed Inspectors, Registered Seed Growers,  Seed Dealers,  Extension Staff of MOFA and NGO’s etc)
  • Facilitation of promotional activities in the seed industry.

• Seed dealers:
  • Registration of Seed Dealers
  • Monitoring of Seed Dealers’ outlets
  • Seed importers and exporters
    • Registration of importers
    • Monitoring  of importers’ outlets
    • Registration of exporters
    • Monitoring of exporters’ outlets

• Farmers
  • Education and awareness creation on the benefits of utilization of certified seed/planting materials

Pesticide and Fertilizer Regulatory Division

The Division derives its mandate from the following Acts: Part III of Plants and Fertilizer Act 803 (2010) and Part II of Environmental Protection Agency Act 490 (1994)
The Division supervises and trains Regulatory Inspectors, publishes information materials, registers and trains pesticides and fertilizer dealers and applicators, keeps records as well as statistics of pesticides and fertilizers and manages pesticide and fertilizer stocks in the country. It supervises bio-efficacy trials carried out by research.

Services provided

• Pesticide and Fertilizer dealers: Registration, inspection, training on pesticides and fertilizer management, facilitation of removal of obsolete and unwanted chemicals.
• Pesticide and Fertilizer Applicators: Registration, inspection, training on Pesticide and   Fertilizer Management.
• Extension: training and technical backstopping on pesticides and fertilizer management. • Exporters: Training of trainers in pesticide and fertilizer management for export certification.

• Importers: Sample, inspect, analyze and test fertilizers distributed in the country and prepare appropriate manuals and reports of these.
• IGOs : Provides pesticides and fertilizer consumption statistics.

 

Plant Quarantine Division

The mandate of the division is found in “Part I of Plants and Fertilizer Act.” 2010 (Act 803)
The Division works closely with the customs authorities (CEPS) at all the official entry points.  It supervises and trains Phytosanitory Inspectors, develops and publishes information material, keeps records of plant imports and exports, the importers and exporters, as well as the pests and diseases of quarantine importance.  It issues phytosanitary certificates and import permits.  It also operates the SPS Enquiry Point. The Division also carries out inspection on marketing quality standards on fresh fruits and vegetables for export.  Implementation of relevant International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) are implemented by the Division.

Services provided

• Exporters of agricultural produce: Inspection, certification (Phytosanitary and marketing quality compliance), treatment (confiscation and destruction), information on export requirements and training on export requirements.

• Importers of agricultural produce: Inspection, certification (import permits), release, (confiscation and destruction, return to country of origin), information on import requirements; post-entry quarantine, training on import requirements.

• Provides information on IPPC and WTO on SPS Agreements through the National Enquiry Point (NEP)

© 2011 Ministry of Food & Agriculture, Republic of Ghana. All rights reserved.

A BRIEF REPORT ON CROP SEED PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT SEMINAR ATTENDED IN BEIJING BY THEOPHILUS ZOTTORGLOH.

BACKGROUND

Objectives of the mission

As part of a drive to improve agricultural productivity and spur a green revolution in Ghana and as well achieving objective (1) of the Food And Agricultural Sector Development Policy (FASDEPII). The government reviewed and promulgated a new seed law hence, providing an incentive for investment and knowledge acquisition from more advance countries who are experts in the sector. One of the advance countries is China for which the government of Ghana and the Peoples Republic of China through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture nominated Mr. Theophilus Zottorgloh and Mr. Jonas Kweku Mintah to understudy the seed situation in China for its implementation and adoption in the country. Other areas of interest include

• Impact of research and development in the seed sector
• Understand the process involved in seed testing and quality control process
• Understand how seed companies without research facilities access breeder seed to produce foundation seed on their own,
• Know the types of contractual agreements between seed companies and research institutes for the acquisition of breeder seed,
• Appreciate seed certification procedures under liberalized systems,
• Gain knowledge on how to monitor/trace breeder seed accessed till certified seed is sold, and
• Learn more about how seeds are packaged by the individual companies in China.

Studies carried out to achieve these objectives include

·         A brief introduction on china

·         Tomato hybrid seed production

·         Comparisons of soybean variety trial

·          Introduction to seed testing and quality control

·         China seed legislation and policy

·         Crop seeds production

·         Crop variety regional trials and approval

·         Development of agriculture in China

·         Good Agricultural practices

·         Hybrid rice technologies

·         Research and development of seed production

·         Science and technology progress

·         System of China for potato seed multiplication

·         Technology systems on efficient use of precipitation at dry farm lands on Weibei plateau

·         Sustainable development of china’s

Participants arrived in Beijing on August 18 and checked into the Yong’an Hotel. Soon afterwards, a briefing session took place where the purpose, objectives and program of the tour were discussed. After a brief self-introduction by participants, we had a brief introduction about China; here participants were informed that China is situated in the east and middle of Asia and on the west shore of the Pacific.  It has more than 20 neighbor countries that either Border on its territory or lie across the nearby seas. After eight years of anti-Japanese war and three years of Civil War against the Kuomintang Party, Chair MAO Zedong led the Communist Party of China seized power and established the People’s Republic of China on October 1st, 1949. Chair MAO is the founding father of new China and he died in 1976. The Memorial Hall of Mao Zedong is located at the Tian’anmen Square. China has a land area of about 9.6 million square kilometers and a sea area of about 4.73 million square kilometers. They have the largest population of 1.37 Billion. (22% of the world’s total), among which 50.32% living in rural areas (source:  the sixth national population census in 2010) it is expected that the population will peak to 1.5 billion in 2050.

ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEMS IN CHINA

 There are five (5) administrative levels in the Peoples Republic of China these include

•          Central

•          Provincial

•          City or prefecture

•          County

•          Township

China contains 23 provinces, 4 municipalities, 5 autonomous regions, 2 special administrative areas. Since 1978, China has implemented reform and opening up policy and transformed its planned economy system into an initial socialist market economy system. In 2010, China’s GDP was US$ 5878.6 billion, increased by 100 times than 1978. And now, China is the second largest economic power in the world only after USA. China has been the fastest-growing major nation for the past 30 years with an average annual GDP growth rate above 10%. Because of the large population, the average GDP of China is about US$ 4300 in 2010, ranking 95^th in the world.

HISTORY AND STATUS QUO OF CHINA’S SEED INDUSTRY:

The Chinese seed industry has gone through a lot stages the first being self-sufficiency; Seed production and supply highly depended self-selection, self-multiplication, and self-reservation by farmers, while supplemented by the state this occurred around the late 1970s to early 1990s.

 The second stage was planning the economy of seed production and supply here the government established state-owned Seed companies, which conducted seed production  and supply Hybrid rice and corn and this  showed success  till the mid-1990s.

The third stage focused on the commercialization of Seed Industry. Which was skewed to timeline of events in the seed industry such as China’s Seed Legislation and Policy, National Seed Program started in 1995, Seed Law of PRC entered into force in 2000, China entered into WTO in 2001, the State Council issued circular No.[2006]40 in 2006, and another was issued in 2011 (No. [2011]8).

Current situation on China’s seed industry

Since the mid-1990s achievements for genetic improvement: compact maize varieties, early-maturing rice varieties, super rice, BT-cotton, three-line hybrid cotton, hybrid vegetables et al. There are over 380,000 accessions of agricultural germplasm resources to be under long-term conservation under national Gene Bank, costs for germplasm identification and evaluation have been financed by central government.  Increasing role of private sector in Research and Development (R&D).  A central role of over 400 public research institutions has been changed following the boom of private sector in R&D. especially for hybrid varieties. Private research has led to the establishment over 90 seed companies in 2009 amounting to 600 million RMB (100 million USD) in R&D under the watch of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Over the past 60 years, there have been over 7000 new crop varieties to be released. China is of relatively strong when it comes to international competitiveness in some fields of seed in R&D. The contribution of Genetic improvement has led to about 40% yield increase.

Seed Production

Seed productions are carried out by seed companies in ecological and geographical advantage regions. At present, China is the 2nd largest seed market worldwide, following the U.S. as the No.1. Value of commercial market for seed has rose to over 50 billion RMB (7.5 billion USD) up to now. The estimated potential value of commercial seed market is 80 billion RMB (12 billion USD).  Annual demand for seed market in china is approximate 12.5 billion kg. The share of the hybrid maize and rice, and vegetable hectares planted with purchased seed has reached 100%; with the share of the conventional crop hectares planted with farmer saved seed has decreased. 

CHINA SEED LAW

This aims:

•          To establish fair market competition and achieve a higher productivity of agriculture

•          To regulate the use of germplasm

•          To protect the interest of both producer, merchant and consumer

•          To regulate the genetic improvement, and behavior of seed production and marketing

The Basic areas covered by China’s Legislation

•          Protection System of Germplasm Resources

•          Variety Registration system

•          New Variety Protection System

•          Seed Production and Marketing License System

•          Record System of Seed Production and Marketing

•          Truth-in-Labeling System

•           Quarantine System

•          Seed Reserve System

•          Bio-safety Evaluation System of Genetically Modified Plant Varieties

RECOMMENDATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SEED INDUSTRY IN GHANA

Because of diversified farmer demands and special needs for timely delivery of seeds, there is a need for   SEEDPAG and seed companies to create network to deliver seeds were needed most. Corporate sales can also be encouraged.

 Over 95% of the maize planted in China is hybrid seed.  China has a long and well established history in maize hybrid seed development and usage. Which Ghana can easily learn and adopt

Pricing and policy (East meets west).historically, hybrid seed corn prices in China were quite low which provided little investment in R &D, but a price  of (USD1.5/kg), for hybrid corn seeds encourage great investment targeting improved productivity. China government is clearly encouraging industrial consolidation and great investment to local seed industry.

Advantages of efficient seed production efficient seed production is central to seed company profitability---not only bigger yield mean bigger efficient, but also new variety with high yield. This puts one seed company in a more competitive position than other seed company. Other recommendations include

l             Reform scientific research operating system and mechanism.

l Optimize company-university-research resources to help market leaders foster the core competitiveness in biotech breeding.

l        Considering the risk control and safety management of GM products, Government should control the threshold in biotech breeding and establish strict market access policy to avoid chaos.

l   Strengthen legislation and improve regulations, rules, procedures and policies of the seed industry for the deepening of the industrialization reform and to ensure grain security.

l        Ghana should enact the legislation of transgenic technology in advance to protect the achievements invested by our country, to ensure the healthy and orderly development in the whole chain of research, breeding, seed production-supply-service sections.

CONCLUSION

 I believe that with the support of the government, industrial resources allocation of Ghana’s seed industry will be optimized. Each participant of the industry will show their strengths to achieve the prospects of win-win. For the seed industry in Ghana to develop it will be inevitable to avoid stakeholders in “Innovation, collaboration, innovation and management” among governments, research institutes and seed companies.

It is clear that for the seed industry to grow and develop in Ghana there is the need to develop or establish field trials at the regional level, universities, and at the research institutions. Lots of research attention should also be focus on processing and handling equipments. The enforcement of the seed law is also important. Here areas such as definition of fake seeds, non seed, poor quality seed, and truth in labeling should be clearly spelt out in the law.

I sincerely write for all of us to cooperate to develop seed industry both in Ghana and in other countries, let us jointly propel our seed industry to grow stronger in the battle for the guarantee of grain supply.