ghana - assessment of agricultural information needs

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ASSESSMENT OF AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION NEEDS INAFRICA, CARIBBEAN & PACIFIC (ACP) STATES

WEST AFRICA

Country Study: Ghana

Final Report

Prepared by:

A. Alemna &Collins Osei

On behalf of theTechnical Centre for Agricultural and Rural

Cooperation (CTA)

Project: 4-7-41-209-6/a

October 2007


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ASSESSMENT OF AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION NEEDS INAFRICA, CARIBBEAN & PACIFIC (ACP) STATES

WEST AFRICA

Country Study: Ghana

Final Report

Prepared by:

A. Alemna &Collins Osei

On behalf of theTechnical Centre for Agricultural and Rural

Cooperation (CTA)

Project: 4-7-41-209-6/a

October 2007


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Disclaimer

This report has been commissioned by the CTA to enhance its monitoring of theinformation needs in ACP counties. CTA does not guarantee the accuracy of the dataincluded in this report, nor does it accept responsibility for any use made thereof. Theviews and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author alone and do notnecessarily reflect the views of CTA. CTA reserves the right to select projects andrecommendations that fall within its mandate.

(ACP-EU) Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA)Agro Business Park 26708 PW WageningenThe NetherlandsWebsite: www.cta.intE-mail: [email protected]


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Acknowledgements

The consultants wish to appreciate the efforts of all those who accepted to beinterviewed for this work, and also wish to thank those who provided information forvarious sources that were required in the compilation of the annexes.


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iv

List of Acronyms

ADP - Accelerated Development ProjectADRA - Adventist Development Relief Agency

AFRAM - Afram Publications LimitedAgSSIP - Agriculture Services Sub-Sector Investment ProjectCTA - Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural CooperationCIDA - Canadian International Development AgencyCRI - Crops Research InstituteCSIR - Council for Scientific and Industrial ResearchCUSO - Canadian University Service OrganisationDFID - Department for International DevelopmentECOWAP - Economic Community of West African States ProtocolE-C - Electronic Commerce DivisionFAO - Food and Agricultural OrganisationFASDEP - Food and Agriculture Sector Development Policy

FFS - Farmers Field SchoolGBC - Ghana Broadcasting CorporationGNAFF - Ghana National Association of Farmers and FishermenGPRS - Ghana Poverty Reduction StrategyGTZ - German Technical CooperationICM - Information and Communication ManagementICT - Information and Communication TechnologyICT4AD - Information Communications Technology for Accelerated

DevelopmentIITA - International Institute for Tropical AgricultureINASP - International Network for the Availability of Scientific PublicationsINSTI - Institute for Scientific and Technological Information

ISP - Internet Service ProviderJSS - Junior Secondary SchoolKK - Kuapa KokooKNUST - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyKWA - Kwadaso Agricultural CollegeLAN - Local Area NetworkMCA - Millennium Challenge AccountMDG - Millennium Development GoalMOE - Ministry of EducationMOFA - Ministry of Food and AgricultureNCA - National Communications AuthorityNEPAD - New Partnership for Africas DevelopmentNGO - Non-Governmental OrganisationPGRRI - Plant Genetic Resources Research InstitutePPME - Policy Planning Monitoring and EvaluationSSS - Senior Secondary SchoolTEEAL - The Essential Electronic Agricultural LibraryUDS - University for Development StudiesUG - University of GhanaURA - Upper Region RadioWTO - World Trade Organisation


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Table of Contents

Disclaimer ......................................................................................................................................... iiList of Acronyms .............................................................................................................................. ivList of Tables ................................................................................................................................... vi

Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................... i1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 12. COUNTRY PROFILE ...................................................................................................... 2

2.1 Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry and Livestock ................................................................ 32.1.2 Fisheries.................................................................................................................. 32.1.3 Forestry.................................................................................................................... 42.1.4 Livestock.................................................................................................................. 42.1.5 Factors Militating Against the Growth of the Agricultural Sector............................. 4

2.2 Status of ICT Infrastructure and Recent Developments in the Sector ............................ 63.2 Operational Aspects ........................................................................................................ 9

3.2.1 Description of Agricultural Information and Services............................................... 93.2.2 Information Sources............................................................................................... 103.2.3 Information Products and Services Provided........................................................ 10

3.2.4 Information and Communication Management Capacity...................................... 103.3 Interventions Supporting Information and Communication for Agriculture and RuralDevelopment ................................................................................................................. 12

4. INSTITUTIONAL NEEDS ANALYSIS ........................................................................... 134.1 Information Needs ......................................................................................................... 134.2 Capacity-Building Needs ............................................................................................... 15

5. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................. 185.1 Conclusions ................................................................................................................... 18

5.1.1 Information Needs................................................................................................. 185.1.2 Capacity-Building Needs....................................................................................... 195.1.3 Potential Partners and Beneficiaries..................................................................... 19

5.2 Recommendations ........................................................................................................ 205.2.1 Information Needs................................................................................................. 205.2.2 Capacity-Building Needs....................................................................................... 215.2.3 Potential Strategic Partner Institutions.................................................................. 21

6. PROPOSED CTA INTERVENTION STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN ....................... 236.1 Information Needs ......................................................................................................... 236.2 Capacity-Building Needs ............................................................................................... 23

ANNEXES ...................................................................................................................................... 25ANNEX 1: TERMS OF REFERENCE ........................................................................................... 26ANNEX 2: COUNTRY PROFILE (GHANA) ................................................................................... 33

2.1 General Agricultural Profile ........................................................................................... 332.1.1 Size of Agricultural Population............................................................................... 332.1.2 Farmed Land, Forests, Fishing Areas................................................................... 332.1.3 Agricultural Systems.............................................................................................. 342.1.4 Agriculture in the Economy (Percentage GDP) ..................................................... 342.1.5 Main Agricultural Produce and Secondary Products............................................. 35

2.2 Socio-Economic Profile ................................................................................................. 372.3 Media and Telecommunications ................................................................................... 43

ANNEX 3: PROFILE OF INSTITUTIONS ...................................................................................... 473.1 List of Institutions in the Agricultural and Rural Development ....................................... 473.2 Select List of Key Institutions ........................................................................................ 51

ANNEX 4: LIST OF INSTITUTIONS/PERSONS INTERVIEWED ................................................. 65ANNEX 5: STAKEHOLDERS VALIDATION MEETING HELD IN, ACCRA, ON WEDNESDAY,

APRIL 11, 2007 ATTENDANCE .................................................................................. 67ANNEX 6: BIBLIOGRAPHY .......................................................................................................... 68


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List of Tables

Table Page1 Information and Communication in Management Capacity 112 Information Needs 13

3 Top Five Information Needs 144 Top Three Information Formats 145 Top Five Information Sources 156 Types of information services for different actors 167 Staff Training Needs 178 Frequently mentioned equipment 359 Sectoral contribution to GDP, 1999-2005 3510 Foreign exchange earned by agricultural and

non-agricultural sectors, 1999-2006 3511 Value of Ghanas exports by major distinctions 3612 Demographics 3813 Literacy level and languages 39

14 Health 3915 Ownership of Health facilities 4016 Sources of Lighting 4017 Primary School enrollments 4118 Junior Secondary School enrollments 4119 Senior Secondary School enrollments 4220 University enrollments 4221 Polytechnic enrollments 4222 Migration by locality and sex 4323 Migration by region 4324 Major newspapers 4425 Television channels 45

26 Fixed and Mobile Telephone Operators 46

Currency - 1 = 12,212.81 (30/3/2007)Source: Ghana Association of Bankers


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Executive Summary

IntroductionCTAs tasks are to develop and provide services that improve access to information for

agricultural and rural development, and to strengthen the capacity of ACP countries toproduce, acquire, exchange and utilize information in this area. CTAs programmes areorganized around three principal activities: providing an increasing range and quantity ofinformation products and services and enhancing awareness of relevant informationsources; supporting the integrated use of appropriate communication channels andintensifying contacts and information exchange (particularly intra-ACP); and developingACP capacity to generate and manage agricultural information and to formulateinformation and communication management (ICM) strategies, including those relevantto science and technology. These activities take account of methodologicaldevelopments in cross-cutting issues (gender; youth, information & communicationtechnologies ICTs, and social capital), findings from impact assessments andevaluations of ongoing programmes as well as priority information themes for ACP

agriculture.

Objectives of the StudySince 2003, CTA has been systematically conducting needs assessment studies acrossthe Pacific, Caribbean and Africa regions the regions it has been mandated to service.These studies have been in direct response to calls for CTA, in various evaluations of itsproducts, services and programmes, to be more strategic in its choice regarding thesetting of its own agenda and reacting to demand. This study aims at developingstrategies to improve support to agricultural organisations in Ghana.

MethodologyThree methods were used for this study. These are the desk study the field study, and a

stakeholder validation meeting. The desk study was used to compile the country profileas well as finding basic statistics and other information for the work. This included a

search on the Internet and personal enquiries. A sample of fourteen (14) institutionsin Agricultural and Rural Development was used for this study. These includeAgricultural Training Institutions; the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, ResearchInstitutions; the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (URA Radio); the AdventistDevelopment and Relief Agency (ADRA) and the Ghana National Association offarmers and Fishermen (GNAFS). The field study included face-to-face visits andinterviews with personnel of the twelve identified key agricultural institutions. Thepreliminary findings were discussed at a validation seminar with the stakeholders.

Expected results

The expected results of the study are as follows; Status of infrastructure, information services and ICM capacity of institutions

involved in agriculture and rural development described and analysed; Information and capacity building needs in the areas of ICM identified for key

institutions and potential CTA partners involved in agriculture and ruraldevelopment;

Baseline data on the status of ICM and ICT in agriculture and rural developmentcompiled for monitoring purposes and improved outreach.


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The study should therefore also provide updated country profiles on the status ofagricultural information services the status of ICM/T in Ghana which will allow CTA tomake informed decisions as on the type and mode of intervention as well as partnerselection.

Findings

Major findings of the study include the following: Agriculture plays a dominant role in the economy of Ghana, with about 60% of

the labour force in the country involved in agriculture. The use of ICT ((telephone, Internet, websites) for agricultural information is very

limited in Ghana. Although a few telecentres have been set up in the country, access to these are

limited owing to the high illiteracy among rural dwellers, high cost of Internetconnectivity and frequent power outages.

The main information sources used by the key institutions in the study include theMinistry of Agriculture, CTA; libraries of the various Universities and researchinstitutes in Ghana.

The information products and services provided by the main actors includeinformation on crop production; fertilizer use; marketing avenues; and animalproduction.

The number of staff involved in agricultural information provision are not many,though their qualifications are however appreciable.

A number of the key institutions in agriculture do not have any fixed informationbudgets.

The major information needs of key institutions are development and fundingprogrammes; social development issues; and credit and micro-credit.

There is a heavy demand of current agricultural journals among the keyagricultural institutions.

The other needs are materials in local languages and visual or pictorial

information. There is a clear lack of resources in information management in the key

institutions.

Conclusions

The major information needs among the sample studied are informationon development and funding programmes; social development issues; credit andmicro-credit; conferences and meetings; and information on government andinternational regulations.

There is the urgent need for agricultural information provision in Ghana toinvolve more use of radio, television and newspapers.

Most of the institutions interviewed made little or no use of the Internet, mobilephone, radio and television in rural information provision.The type of information needs cut across the urban/rural divide as well as theliterate/illiterate requirements.

Although Ghana has seen a lot of improvement in Internet access in the past tenyears, this does not appear to have covered the rural folks who are mostly farmers.Training should begin with basic computer usage, through to Internet searching, to thedesign and development of websites.


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Training must be done in a systematic manner to cover all zones in the country,as there is a tendency for such activity to be restricted to the national or regionalcapitals.

RecommendationsSequel to the training, is the need to ensure that equipment and their resources

are also provided. As evidenced in the research, most of the computer hardware foragricultural information provision in Ghana is either outmoded or non-functional.

For those institutions or organizations that have above-average resources,emphasis needs to be placed on issues such as bandwith problems and softwarerenewal.

Local CTA partners and beneficiaries are doing a good job in propagating CTAmaterials. It is therefore expected that these partners would be given more support soas to make them provide better assistance to farmers and rural dwellers.

CTA must increase its support to its existing partners in Ghana such as theInstitute for Scientific and Technological Information (INSTI) and the Ghana NationalAssociation of Farmers and Fishermen (GNAFF) as they are already providing goodservices.

More support is also requested for agricultural libraries in Ghana in the form ofcurrent materials, enhanced training of staff and updating knowledge of their staff.

CTA should engage consultants and translators to translate some of its materialsinto major local languages for the use of rural farmers.

It is also recommended that Consultants be engaged to provide more materialsin visual and pictorial format to assist farmers in rural areas on their agriculturalproduction and services.

Agricultural libraries in Ghana should also be given more support in theirinformation-provision functions. This could be in the form of provision of currentmaterials, enhanced training of staff and the upgrading of their equipment.

In the area of partnerships, we recommend five main strategic partners. Theseare: a radio and television station; a publishing house; the National Film and Television

Institute (NAFTI); a major newspaper; and an NGO based in the northern part of thecountry.

For the radio stations, the following are recommended: Unique Radio in Accra;Radio Peace at Winneba; Royal Radio at Wenchi; and URA Radio at Bolgatanga. TheGhana Television (GTV) is also recommended, while the Daily Graphic and GhanaianTimes Newspapers are appropriate partners. For the Northern-based NGO, Action Aidis recommended. URA Radio (Ghana Broadcasting Corporation and GraphicCorporation) were among the Institutions interviewed. The other Broadcasting stationsand newspapers have been recommended because of their national coverage. Action

Aid is recommended because it is a major NGO based in the Northern part ofGhana. ADRA can also be considered.


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1. INTRODUCTION

1. This study aims at developing strategies with ACP agricultural organisations in

order to improve support to these organisations in Ghana. The study will focus on:

Providing an overview of main agricultural services and actors existing in thecountry (information supply side) in terms of their strengths, weaknesses andopportunities for collaboration with CTA;

Identifying agricultural information and ICM capacity building needs of keyactors/key strategic partners for CTA products and services;

Identifying potential strategic partners for CTA and services (paying specialattention to e.g. print media, editors, radio, TV and journalist networks);

Developing some baseline data on the status of ICM and ICTs in the country tofacilitate subsequent monitoring and updating activities.

2. The study should assist CTA to improve and better target interventions andactivities aimed at potential partners and beneficiaries (including women, youth, privatesector and civil society organisations) to have a more informed picture of their needs andaid in the elaboration of a strategy and framework of action. The study should alsohighlight where there are specific needs for CTAs products and services therebyenabling improvement in the delivery of the same.

3. The study is conducted in three parts: Desk Review, Field Study and astakeholder validation meeting. The Desk Review aims at collecting backgroundinformation and data, preparing a country profile and list of institutions involved inagriculture. The Field Study involves face-to-face interviews with relevantstakeholders/concerned parties, using the data capture form and guidelines provided by

CTA. Interactions between the consultant and the Regional Coordinator weremaintained for the duration of the study. In all, a total of 14 institutions/organisationswere selected for more in-depth interviews for this study. A sample of fourteen (14)institutions in Agricultural and Rural Development was used for this study. Theseinclude Agricultural Training Institutions; the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, ResearchInstitutions; the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (URA Radio); the AdventistDevelopment and Relief Agency (ADRA), the Ghana National Association of Farmersand Fishermen (GNAFS), Afram Publishing Company and Graphic Corporation. Effortswere made to ensure that these covered the Northern, Middle and Southern Zones ofthe country. The preliminary findings were discussed at a validation seminar with thestakeholders.


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2.1 Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry and Livestock

13. Agriculture is the dominant sector of the Ghanaian economy contributing about40% of the countrys GDP and employing nearly 60% of the active Ghanaian workforce.

14. Ghanas economy is basically agrarian and agriculture is the largest sector. Theagricultural sector is made up of five sub-sectors namely crops (60% agriculture GDP),cocoa (16%), forestry (11%), fisheries (5%) and livestock (4%). The sector is thereforeat the centre of Ghanas developmental process. The agricultural sector is contributingto the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS I&II) and the Millennium DevelopmentGoal (MDG1) through improved food security and livelihoods and eradicating extremehunger and poverty programmes respectively.

15. Several agricultural programmes and projects have been instituted to support theGhana Governments objective of an accelerated agriculture growth of 5-6% p.a. Thelatest of such programmes is the Agriculture Service Sub-sector Investment Project(AgSSIP). Specific activities of the agricultural research component of AgSSIP includethe strengthening/rationalizing the scientific information system among others. Despitethe contribution of agriculture and forestry to national food security and improvedlivelihood, growth rate in productivity is still low (3.1%).

16. Food production in the country is mainly rain-fed, small-scale, labour intensivewith high post-harvest loses of between 30-35%. Crops grown are tubers, cereals, oil-palm, plantain, fruits and vegetables. Food production is in the hands of peasantfarmers. Ghanas Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) has overall responsibility forthe growth of this sector and livestock. One major positive point is the countrysqualification for the Millennium Challenge Account which will inject US$547 million.

17. Ghana is the worlds second largest producer of cocoa, producing over 600,000metric tonnes. Its production had been in the hands of private farmers, although themarketing of the produce is in the hands of government. Over the past few years, thegovernment has focused attention on processing the cocoa beans locally to add morevalue to it before export. The Ministry of Finance has oversight responsibility for thecocoa sector.

2.1.2 Fisheries

18. This is under the Ministry of Fisheries and only 60% of domestic fish demand ismet from local sources. Efforts are underway to develop aquaculture, most especially inthe production of tilapia. The Ministry is using surveillance to monitor the depletion offish stocks at the high seas and the Volta Lake.

19. The fisheries sector contributes about 5% of agricultural GDP and 3% to overallGDP in Ghana. Furthermore, close to 10% of the population are dependent on it foremployment.

20. A substantial part of this fish intake is derived from the countrys marinecapture fishery, while agriculture contributes only a small percentage. Themarine capture fishery accounts for about 80% of the annual landings, the inland


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fisheries, principally the Volta Lake, account for about 19%, while freshwater fishculture accounts for about 1%. The annual fish production over a 5 year period(1998-2002) ranged between 290,000 and 472,000 metric tons. The fisheriessector also contributes about 5% to the agricultural gross domestic product. Theannual fish requirement for the country is estimated to be about 700,000 metric

tons. Current production therefore provides only 50% of annual requirement.Over the years, the stocks have declined posing a major threat to theirsustainability. This downward trend is expected to continue if new stringentconservation measures are not introduced into the industry at both national andregional levels.

2.1.3 Forestry

21. A large chunk of Ghanas forest reserves have been depleted through miningand human activities. Managing the countrys forests and wildlife is the responsibility ofthe Forestry Commission. A key focus of the Forestry Commission is theencouragement of individuals, organisations and commercial bodies to invest in largescale tree planting development.

2.1.4 Livestock

22. The livestock sector, which includes poultry, is able to meet only 30% of thecountrys meat requirements, although there are vast pasture lands available forincreased livestock production. Over 80% of milk and other dairy products come fromimports. Lately, many rural communities have expressed concern about the negativepractices of Fulani herdsmen whose cattle destroy farmlands and river bodies.

2.1.5 Factors Militating Against the Growth of the Agricultural Sector

23. A critical review of the poor performance of the agricultural sector has revealedthat a myriad of problems militate against the growth of the sector. These problemsinclude:

24. Policy Vaguely defined mission and functions of MOFA. Difficulty in acquiring agricultural land.

Absence of land use policy. Inadequate investment by government in agriculture.

Over-reliance on donor funding with its stringent conditions and procedures. Un-co-ordinated donor funded projects and NGO activities across the country

with different implementation policies. Ineffective monitoring of on-going projects, poor evaluation of completed

projects and non-utilisation of lessons and experiences. Unfair domestic and international trade policies. Weak enforcement of fisheries laws. Poor dissemination of information on trade agreements and protocols.


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Poorly coordinated agricultural and trade policies.

25. Institutional Weak producer organisations. Limited monitoring, control and surveillance of fisheries resources. Inadequate agricultural extension staff (both in number and skills). High attrition rate of trained staff. Weak research-extension-farmer linkage. Lack of reliable statistical data for decision-making. Weak enforcement of laws. Inefficient marketing systems. Weak market-processor-farmer linkage. Weak agri-business system. Slow progress in decentralization. Poorly motivated public service.

26. Infrastructure

Poor access to production areas. Inadequate haulage vehicles. Unhygienic marketing centres. Inadequate processing facilities. Inadequate and inappropriate storage facilities. Poor, unattractive and unhygienic packaging. Limited irrigation facilities. Inadequate energy supply and distribution.

27. Financial High cost of inputs relative to output prices. High interest rates and transaction costs on credit. Non-availability of medium and long-term capital. Low investment in agro-processing. Lack of innovative financial packages favouring agriculture. Unfavourable timing of credit disbursement.

28. Social Aging farmers. Low interest of youth in agriculture. High rural-urban migration. High rate of illiteracy among farmers and fishermen.

29. Wealth/Environmental Over-reliance on rainfall. Poor preparedness against outbreaks of pests and diseases. Seasonal destruction of range land by bush-fires. Poor management of natural resources. Encroachment on farmland by mining and estate developers. Destruction of farmland by mining operations.

30. Technology


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Telecom, failed to raise the necessary capital to undertake the major network expansionneeded to meet its rollout obligations. The second national network operator, Westel,has not provided effective competition for the highly entrenched incumbent, andmanagement problems have made it unattractive in domestic and international capitalmarkets.

37. As a result, since starting operations in 1999, Westel has rolled out only about3,000 lines out of its mandatory target of 50,000 by 2002. Difficulties in interconnectionnegotiations with the incumbent not only delayed the launching of Westels services by ayear, but also adversely affected the penetration rates and service quality. Politicalinterference in the regulatory regime and an ineffectual regulatory authority alsocontributed to this.

38. The emergence of new wireless and satellite-based solutions is positioning thecountry to take advantage of the benefits to be derived from ICT. The use of computershas increased tremendously in the past 5 years, while the number of Internet ServiceProviders (ISPs) has also increased. At the end of 2005, the National CommunicationsAuthority (NCA) had licensed a total of 114 companies to provide Internet services in the

country. Of these, only 27 had actually commenced.


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3. STATUS OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION FORAGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

3.1 Institutional, regulatory and policy framework39. The governments policy objectives for agriculture were still based on thetransformation of the rural economy through modernized agriculture, as outlined by theGhana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS I). Specifically, the agricultural sector isexpected to ensure the following: (i) food self-sufficiency and food security; (ii) theproduction of raw materials for industry; and (iii) increased foreign exchange earningsthrough diversification of exports.

40. The US governments aid package to Ghana under the Millennium ChallengeAccount (MCA) promises to give the agricultural sector a boost. According to theprogramme,t he $547 million Millennium Challenge Compact over a five-year periodaims at reducing poverty by raising farmer incomes through private sector-led,

agribusiness development. The focus of the programme is on increasing the productionand productivity of high-value cash and food staple crops in certain areas of Ghana, andenhancing the competitiveness of Ghanas export base in horticultural and othertraditional crops. The agricultural project under the MCA covers six areas:

41. a. Farmer and Enterprise Training in Commercial Agriculture.b. Irrigation Development.c. Land Tenure Facilitation.d. Improvement of Post-Harvest Handling and Value Chain Services.e. Improvement of Credit Services for On-Farm and Value Chain .

Investments.f. Rehabilitation of Feeder Roads.

42. Various local information sources have been used in the dissemination ofagricultural information in Ghana. One of these is the use of radio. This has been usedwith some effect in providing information to farmers. The availability of the transistorradio makes it easy for more families to own radios, and for people to carry themanywhere. As at 2007, there are 12 stations in Ghana. The success achieved by theuse of FM stations to transmit programmes to farmers in the Upper, Central and Voltaregions of Ghana testifies to the potency of this method. The initial problemencountered with the use of this method, cost of transistor radios, has been partiallysolved by the Governments decision to subsidise the cost of preset radios for ruralfarmers.

43. Television is another means of providing agricultural information. As at 2007,there are 1.73m Television sets in Ghana. There is a specially designed 30 minutesagricultural magazine programme which is shown on Wednesday evenings on GhanaTelevision. There is also a weekly adult education programme which sometimesdiscusses agricultural issues.

44. Unfortunately, television sets are expensive and not widely accessible to ruralfarmers. They also require the use of electrical power which is not available in most of


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the rural areas. One way of solving the problem of unavailability of television sets is forthe Government to subsidise the cost as in the case of preset radios, to peasant farmersin the villages. The farmers can be encouraged to form cooperatives to buy solar-powered television sets so that members can watch agricultural programmes.

45. Agricultural information in Ghana is also provided through the use of posters.

This was used successfully in the campaign against the cocoa disease known as theswollen shoot. Many of these posters are in the form of easy and simple texts withdiagrams and illustrations which an illiterate can understand. The major advantage of aposter over other means of communication is the permanent interaction it fostersthrough repeated contact which imposes, strengthens, and institutionalises the messagebeing conveyed. Its greatest shortcoming is that it does not come close to person-to-person communication. What is usually required of such posters is that they should bedesigned to be informative, persuasive and self-explanatory.

46, Agricultural research stations in the country have been organizing open dayswhen farmers are invited and shown new developments and new findings. Theseactivities are usually followed by question-and-answer sessions which help to provide

information for the farmers.

47. Comic plays effectively combine visual and oral effects in driving home theirmessages, and they are also familiar language and popular especially among the ruraland illiterate people, majority of whom also happen to be farmers.

48. A number of local and international Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)are involved in the information transfer process. These include Sasakawa Global 2,000,a Japanese organisation; Africa 2,000; OXFAM; Canadian University ServiceOrganisation (CUSO); Farmers Services Organisation; and various religious bodiessuch as the Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA) and the Catholic Church.

49. These organisations have contributed immensely to the agricultural developmentof Ghana. It is heartening to note the remarkable progress being made by theSasakawa Global 2,000 to get information to farmers in the Northern, Upper and Voltaregions. In some cases, output of corn, millet and other food crops has alreadyincreased at least four-fold through information given to farmers in the use of artificialfertilizers.

3.2 Operational Aspects

3.2.1 Description of Agricultural Information and Services

50. Currently Agricultural Extension Services and the various agricultural librariesand information centres are the main sources of agricultural information and ruraldevelopment.


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51. Result from the data capture form provide a summary of the following services:Local sources - Radio Programmes; video presentations; Fairs and Exhibitions;Commodity and Farmer Associations; Institutional Libraries; Newspapers; ResearchPublications; and Input suppliers.National Source - INSTI; Question and Answer services; Ministry of Agriculture;Farmer-based Organisations: and NGOs.

International Sources CTA; FAO; PERI; Internet; Databases; Journals; AgriculturalResearch, Websites; IITA; and KTI.

3.2.2 Information Sources

52. The information sources used by the various institutions in the study includeCTA; the Ministry of Agriculture; the libraries of the Faculties of Agriculture in the variousUniversities; various Research Institutes of the Council for Scientific and IndustrialResearch; and the FAO Library.

3.2.3 Information Products and Services Provided

53. A summary of the data capture form indicates that the following informationservices and products are provided by the main actors; in the order of importance;a. Technical adviceb. Academic literature/journal articlesc. Questions and Answer Services.d. Library and information services.e. Abstractsf. Conference papersg. Databases

3.2.4 Information and Communication Management Capacity

54. Based on the findings of this study, the number of staff in theagricultural/information/communication sector are not many. With the exception of theagricultural libraries that have an average staff of between 2 and 6, most of the otherinformation provision agencies depend on two or three members of staff. Qualificationsof staff are however appreciable, as these range from Basic Level Education Certificateto M.Phil. In the area of resources, more needs to be done as most of the computersand documents are either non-functional or outdated. Budgets range between 80,000and 400,000 per annum. Access to the Internet is also encouraging. Except for twoorganisations GBC (URA Radio and GNAFF), the remaining twelve en institutions under

the study, have full Internet connectivity.


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3.3 Interventions Supporting Information and Communication forAgriculture and Rural Development

55. Various interventions have been made by the government, NGOs and donoragencies. The government in its ICTAD policy, intends among others, to promote the

deployment and exploitation of ICTs to support the activities of the agricultural sectorincluding, the production, processing, marketing and distribution of agricultural productsand services. The government has also established the E-Commerce Division under theMinistry of Food and Agriculture to provide information electronically on prices andavenues of marketing of farm products to farmers.

56. In relation to rural development, one major target group is women. Hence theGhana Information Network for Knowledge Sharing (GINKS) an NGO, has established arural telecentre mainly to train women in the use of ICT for information on farming andcommerce. International organisations such as the CTA are also assisting farmersorganisations to address some of these issues.

57. Internet usage is negligible in rural areas, which is disturbing, since the bulk ofGhanas population that generates the greater part of the countrys income, live there.Therefore, providing Internet access and other ICT facilities is not only an issue ofequity, but has great economic consequences for the whole country. This is due to theinherent positive contributions. ICTs can make to improve efficiencies, productivity andthe well-being of rural people.

58. To reduce this gap, the government has drawn up a programme to establishcommunity ICT centres throughout the country. At these centres, rural people will betrained and have access to a number of ICT services, including the Internet. Under theprogramme, ICT centres are to be established in 230 communities. The first phaseconsists of establishing 62 community ICT centres, of which 60 have been completed.


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4. INSTITUTIONAL NEEDS ANALYSIS59. A sample of fourteen (14) institutions in Agricultural and Rural Development was

used for this study. These include Agricultural Training Institutions; the Ministry of Foodand Agriculture, Research Institutions; the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (URARadio); the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) and the Ghana NationalAssociation of Farmers and Fishermen (GNAFS). Efforts were made to ensure thatthese covered the Northern, Middle and Southern Zones of the country.

4.1 Information Needs

60. An analysis of the information needs of the respondents is indicated in Table 1below:

Table 1: Information Needs

Type of Information Request bySocial Development issues ADRA; UDS, GNAFF, KK, URA, GCCredit and micro-credit ADRA, KK, KWA, E-CEquipment sourcing UG, KKBriefings/Summaries URA, GCApplication of ICT UG, KWA,Journal Articles ADRA, UG, CRI, UDS, KNUST, GNAFF,

E-C, PPME, PGRRI, URACTA Booklets ADRA, KK, URAFulltexts of electrical Journals UG, CRIDevelopment and funding programmes CRI, UDS, KNUST, GNAFF, KK, KWACrop varieties CRIPost-harvest technology CRI, KKConference and Meetings CRI, UDS, KNUST, PPMELocal Language materials UDS, GNAFF, KK, KWA, PPME, URACurrent Textbooks UDS, KNUSTStatistical Data KNUSTFarm problems GNAFF, URA, AFRAMVisual/Pictorial information GNAFS, KK, KWA, E-C,Gender Issues ADRA, KK, AFRAMMaterials for mass distribution GNAFF, KKNon-farm livelihoods KWAMarket data KWA, E-C

Commodity profiles E-C,Agricultural/Dev. Networks PPMEGovernment and international regulations PPME, URA, GC(Source; Information from interviews)

61. The analysis indicates that information needs of the respondents vary as muchas there are needs common to some of them. The Table below shows the top fiveinformation needs.


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Table 2: Top Five Information NeedsType of Information % of Interviewees

Development and funding programmes 50%Social development issues 41%Credit and micro-credit 33%Conferences and meetings 33%Government and International regulation 16%(Source: Information from Interview)

62. It can be seen from table 2 above that the highest number of the samplerequested information on development and funding programmes. The next demand isfor information on social development issues. The two cases cited above, are notunexpected, as all the organisations surveyed provide information to farmers and ruraldwellers and therefore need such information for their clients.

63, It was also clear that the universities and research institutes had commoninformation needs such as conference and meetings, while the non-governmentalorganisations (NGOs) also had common needs such as credit and micro-creditinformation and information on gender issues. Being civil society organisations, thisinformation is necessary to determine the level of benefits that citizens are getting fromthe various government interventions. An interesting revelation from the interview is thatnone of the sample surveyed indicated the need for information on waste utilization orcrop insurance systems, although these are very necessary in Ghana.

Table 3: Top Three Information FormatsFormat % of Interviewees

Journal articles 83%Local language material (Twi/Fante) 50%Visual or pictorial information 33%(Source: Information from Interviews)

64. As indicated in table three above, a large number of respondents in the surveyrequested that they be provided with current journal articles. This was mentioned by tenout of the twelve respondents. This request was not restricted to the universities andresearch institutes (as would be expected), but there were also requests from someNGOs and the only radio station in the sample.

65. The high demand for local language materials was also expected, as most of theclients find it easier to read and understand issues in their local languages. As statedearlier in this research, illiteracy among farmers in Ghana is very high. In dealing withthis group of people, it is easier to use visual or pictorial information. Hence the demandfor this type of format.


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Table 4: Top Five Information SourcesSource Used by

INSTI ADRA, UG, CRI, UDS, KNUST, E-C,PPME, PGRRI

University Libraries ADRA, UG, CRI, KNUST, GNAFF, PPME,URA, GC, AFRAM

CTA UG, CRI, UDS, GNAFF, KAC, E-C, PPMEMinistry of Food and Agriculture ADRA, CRI, KNUST, GNAFF, KAC, PPMEFAO Library UG, KNUST, PPME, PGRRI(Source : Information from Interviews)

66. Analysis of the possible sources that provided information on agricultural needshad interesting revelations. Locally, the Institute for Scientific and TechnologicalInformation (INSTI) was cited by 66% of respondents as one of their main sources. Thiswas followed by the university libraries (58%). At the international level, CTA wasmentioned by 58% of the sample surveyed as one of their sources of agriculturalinformation. This was followed by the FAO Library with 33%. Most of the formatsdemanded is in journal literature.

67. It was also surprising to note that only two of the respondents (16%) mentionedthe electronic media (radio and television) as possible sources of information. None ofthe respondents cited the Internet as a possible source of agricultural information. Inthis age of information technology, this was rather disappointing. The use of cell phonetechnology and video tapes as means of agricultural information provision is virtuallynon-existent in most parts of the country

4.2 Capacity-Building Needs

68. In order to determine the capacity needs of the sample surveyed, it may bepertinent to discuss the different types of agricultural information services in Ghana andtheir different actors. Table 5 below indicates this.


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Table 5: Types of information services for different actorsType of Services Consumers/Users Facilities/Media Required

Scientific InformationServices

- Research Scientists- Extension- Farmers- Processors/marketers

Website (Internet) Library (Trad. &

electronic) Scientific Publications

- Journals- Annual Reports- Conference Rep.

Data bases

Technical InformationService

- Research Scientists- Subject matter

specialists- Extension- Farmers- Processors/marketers

Website (Internet) Library (Trad. &

electronic) Radio & TV Manuals

- Production guides- Extension guides

ICT (CDs, CD-ROM)Traditional InformationServices

- Farmers- Processors/marketers

Extension materials- Demonstrations- FFS Training

Mass media- Print media- Audio/Visuals

Oral Presentation- Farmers to farmer- Story telling

- Folklore(Source: Ministry of Food and Agriculture)

69. It is clear from the table above, that different actors need different types ofinformation, thereby necessitating, different levels and types of capacity-building. Thesurvey results indicated the need for three areas of capacity-building: staff training,equipment and funds. The table below indicates the staff training needs.


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Table 6: Staff Training NeedsTraining Needed Which Organisation

Basic Internet training ADRA, GNAFF, KWA, PPME, URA, KKLocal Area Network (LAN) ADRA, UG, KWA, AFRAMNetwork Administration UG, CRI, KK, PGRRIComputer Troubleshooting UG, PPMEWebsite design CRI, KNUST, ADRA, AFRAMHardware Maintenance CRI, KWADatabase Management UDS, PGRRIEditing of reports UG, UDS, GCParticipative Methodologies CRI, KKInformation Management E-C, GC(Source: Information from Interview)

70. From the above table, ten areas of training needs are identified. Whereas theUniversities and Research Institutes are interested in training in areas such as websitedesign, database-management and editing of reports, the non-governmentalorganisations and the departments in the Ministries need training in basic Internetsearch and participative methodologies.

71. The varying training needs may therefore create challenges in attempts toprovide a broad-based training programme in Ghana. It may be pertinent to mentionhere that a number of respondents requested that training be done locally to cover manypeople, instead of a few people being sent overseas for training.

72. In the area of equipment, two main observations were made during the researchprocess. First, there was a clear lack of resources for information management in theorganisations. In fact, two of the respondents (ADRA and URA) did not have any roomor facility dedicated to information management purposes. Secondly, even in caseswhere these resources were available, they were mostly old and non-functioningcomputers, matching with outdated books and journals. This explains why there is alarge demand for equipment, as indicated in Table 7 below:

Table 7: Frequently Mentioned EquipmentEquipment Which Organisation

Computer hardware ADRA, UG, CRI, KNUST, KK, PPME,PGRRI, URA, AFRAM

Local Area Network (LAN) UG, CRI, GNAFF, URAInternet CRI, GNAFF, KWA, AFRAMWebsites ADRA, KNUST, PGRRI, GCTelephones CRI, UDS, KWA

Bandwith UDS, PGRRI, GCSoftware renewal E-C,(Source: Information from Interview)

73. As can be seen from the table above, nine of the respondents mentionedcomputer hardware as their main equipment requirement. This goes to confirm theresearchers observation during site visits that most of the organisations either do nothave enough computers or the few available are outmoded.


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74. A number of organisations did not have Local Area Networks (LAN) while othersdid not also have websites. A few had created websites but they were not functioningproperly. The UDS and PGRRI had problems with bandwidth. This is a commonproblem with institutions and organisations that are located outside the national capital Accra. Similarly, some of the areas outside Accra have problems with telephoneconnectivity as indicated by CRI, UDS and PGRRI. It is interesting to note that the only

respondent who did not have any of the major problems faced by the other respondents(E-C) had its own peculiar problem with payments for software renewal.

75. In the area of funding, this did not seem to be a major problem amongrespondents. Except for three respondents (25%) - GBC (URA Radio); ADRA; andKwadaso Agricultural College, who cited funding as a problem, the remaining 75%respondents appear satisfied with their funding.

76. One main feature with the funding however, is that as manya s five (41%)respondents MOFA; Kuapa Kokoo; Crops Research Institute; Kwadaso AgriculturalCollege; and the Plant Genetic Resources Institute had no idea of how much money hadbeen allocated for their information management services. For those who provided

information about their annual budgets GNAFF; ADRA; GBC (URA Radio); E-Commerce Unit; Faculty of Agriculture (UG); Faculty of Agriculture (KNUST); and theUDS, these range between80,000 and450,000 annually.

5. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

77. The conclusions and recommendations are presented based on the findings of

this research and informal discussions with agricultural planners and other groups in thesector.

5.1 Conclusions

5.1.1 Information Needs

78. The major information needs are information on development and fundingprogrammes; social development issues; credit and micro-credit, conferences andmeetings; and information on government and international regulations.

79. It is very clear that this type of information cuts across the urban/rural divide aswell as the literate/illiterate requirements. While the urban dwellers may be looking forinformation on development and funding programmes, rural dwellers may be moreinterested in information on social development issues.

80. Similarly, while information on meetings and conferences may be the priority ofthe educated elite, the needs of the illiterate information searcher may be more in thearea of credit and micro-credit facilities for agricultural production and services.


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81. There is urgent need for agricultural information provision to involve more use ofthe mobile phone, Internet facilities, radio and television. This is especially in the area ofrural information provision which may not be able to meet the more organized andformalized avenues such as libraries and information centres.

5.1.2 Capacity-Building Needs

82. The past ten years have seen a lot of improvement in the use of computers andInternet access in Ghana. Unfortunately, this improvement does not appear to havecovered the rural folks who are mostly the farmers.

83. The first-stage of capacity-building should include staff who provide informationto farmers and rural dwellers, library and information personnel as well as front-lineagricultural staff such as extension officers. Training should begin with basic computerusage, through to searching on the Internet, website design and updating.

84. There is a need for training to be done in a systematic manner to cover all the

zones in the country, as there is a tendency for such activities to be restricted to thenational or regional capitals.

85. Sequel to the training, is the need to ensure that equipment and other resourcesare also provided. As evidenced in the research, most of the computer hardware foragricultural information provision in Ghana is either outmoded or non-functional. Thisshould be the beginning point.

86. For those institutions or organisations that have above-average resources suchas the universities and research institutes, emphasis needs to be placed on issues suchas bandwidth problems and software renewal.

5.1.3 Potential Partners and Beneficiaries

88. CTA has a number of partners in Ghana such as INSTI, GNAFF and MOFA(Directorate of Extension).

Under the INSTI, the following institutions are partners: Agricultural Information Centre, Agona Swedru Biotechnology and Nuclear Agricultural Research Institute (GAEC), Accra CSIR-Building and Road Research Institute, Fumesua-Kumasi Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, Akim Tafo College of Agric. And Renewable Natural Resources, KNUST, Kumasi College of Agriculture and consumer Sciences, UG, Legon-Accra

College of Agriculture, UEW, Mampong-Ashanti CSIR-Animal Research Institute, Accra CSIR-Crops Research Institute, Fumesua-Kumasi CSIR-Food Research Institute, Accra CSIR-Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, Fumesua-Kumasi CSIR-Institute of Industrial Research, Accra CSIR-Oil Palm Research Institute, Kusi-Kade CSIR-Plant Genetic Resources Research Institute, Bunso


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CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Nyankpala CSIR-Science and Technology Policy Research Institute, Accra CSIR-Soil Research Institute, Kwadaso-Kumasi CSIR-Water Research Institute, Accra Faculty of Agriculture, UDS, Tamale Ministry of Food and Agriculture Information Resource Centre, Accra Radio Peace, Winneba Royals FM, Wenchi School of Agriculture, UCC, Cape Coast

89. The INSTI has a network of Question and Answer Service that covers all theresearch institutes and the Faculties/Schools/Colleges of Agriculture in the universities.The GNAFF also has direct links to farmers and fishermen throughout Ghana. Theresults of this linkage is the large number of respondents in the survey who depend onCTA for their information sources. These include all the Universities and ResearchInstitutes.

90. It would therefore seem that these local partners and beneficiaries are doing agood job in propagating CTA materials. It is therefore expected that these partners andbeneficiaries would be given more support so as to make them provide better assistanceto farmers and rural dwellers.

5.2 Recommendations

5.2.1 Information Needs

91. It is clear that although CTA provides assistance in the area of information in

Ghana, this needs to be improved especially in the areas of social development issuesand literature relating to credit and micro-credit.

92. There should also be an increase in the area of current journal publications onAgriculture, as this is a major area of concern among a large number of respondents.Currently, all the agriculture-related libraries have a free use of AGORA. The Institutefor Scientific and Agricultural Research (INSTI) and the University for DevelopmentStudies (UDS) have in addition, access to TEEAL. What may be required now is forCTA to sponsor the publication of a local academic journal in the field of Agriculture.

93. Another major area that needs serious consideration is the provision of locallanguage materials. It is recommended that CTA provide support in this area by

commissioning consultants and translators to translate some of the materials into themajor local languages such as Twi and Fante for the use of rural farmers. Localmaterials could be produced in the local languages in subjects such as fish farming;snail farming; and grass-cutter rearing.

94. It is also recommended that consultants be engaged to provide more materials invisual and pictorial format to assist farmers in rural areas on their agricultural productionand services.


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95. Agricultural libraries in Ghana should also be given more support towards theirinformation-provision functions. This could be in the form of provision of currentmaterials, enhanced training of staff and updating of their equipment.

96. Apart from the communication options discussed above, it is suggested thatefforts should be intensified in the use of comic or folk plays as a means of providing

information for farmers. Appreciable results have been achieved with this method in theprovision of family planning and AIDS information to rural populations in Ghana.

5.2.2 Capacity-Building Needs

97. In the near future, it is expected that more villages and rural information centreswould be established by the government of Ghana to provide information for farmers.

98. A number of respondents indicated the poor telecommunication and electricityservices as major challenges in information provision. The government of Ghana has toimprove upon these services in order to enhance agricultural information provision. The

problem of high Internet cost and bandwidth issues are also in the area of governmentsupport. Policies should be put in place by the government to subsidise bandwidth andencourage Internet usage in Ghana.

99 Efforts should also be made by the government to establish more rural radiostations such as the URA Radio to provide agricultural information to rural farmers.

100. One major finding of the study is the fact that there is no newspaper presently inGhana that is devoted to agricultural information provision. Perhaps the CTA could takethis up and support a local newspaper(s) or newsletter(s) in this area. Examples ofnewspapers that immediately come to mind are the Daily Graphic and the GhanaianTimes. In the case of a newsletter, the GAINSNEWS is recommended. (These are

popular newspapers that are circulated nationwide).

5.2.3 Potential Strategic Partner Institutions

101. Five main strategic partner institutions are recommended to the CTA. These are:

i. A partnership with a major publishing house to produce agricultural materialsin local languages, (e.g. Afram Publications).

ii. A partnership with a major radio and TV station to package agriculturalinformation for rural dwellers. In the case of Radio Stations, the following arerecommended: Radio Peace at Winneba; Royals Radio at Wenchi; Unique

Radio in Accra; Radio Ada at Ada; and URA Radio at Bolgatanga. For theTelevision Station, Ghana Television (GTV) is recommended.

iii. A partnership with a major newspaper editor to provide periodic columns fordiscussion of agricultural issues. (e.g. Graphic Corporation)

iv. A partnership with a local NGO based in the northern part of the countrywhose population are mainly farmers, but who have little or no access to CTAmaterials. The NGO could serve as a link to disseminate CTA materials and


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propagate its activities in the Northern part of Ghana. In this vein, ADRA isproposed.

v. In the area of repackaging information for the peasant farmer, CTA can alsopartner with the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI) to producedocumentaries on agriculture.

vi. Another avenue for a partnership is with the Information Support Unit of the

Ministry of Food and Agriculture.


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Provision of Information and Communication Systems (KK; URA Radio; KAC) Technical assistance (MFA; KAC)

107. Training can be at two levels. The first will be a training of trainers programmefor frontline extension staff and other service providers. The second type of training willbe a formal one including attachments and exchange programmes for policy makers,

researchers and librarians.

The proposed implementation schedule is indicated below:CTA INTERVENTION PLAN OCT., 2007-SEPT., 2008

ACTIVITY MONTH1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

1. Provision of Academic Journals x2. Support for Library equipment x3. Electronic Network of Universities x4. Training in animation x5. Provision of local language materials x6. Provision of visual/pictorial materials x7. Partnership with local newspaper x8. Partnership with local NGO x8. Partnership with publishing house x9. Partnership with NAFTI x


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ANNEXES


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ANNEX 1: TERMS OF REFERENCE

1. Introduction

The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) was established in1983 under the Lome Convention between the ACP (African Caribbean and Pacific)Group of States and the European Union Member States. Since 2000, it has operatedwithin the framework of the ACP-EC Cotonou Agreement.

CTAs tasks are to develop and provide services that improve access for information foragricultural and rural development and to strengthen the capacity of ACP countries toproduce, acquire, exchange and utilize information in this area. CTAs programmes areorganized around three principal activities: providing an increasing range and quantity ofinformation products and service and enhancing awareness of relevant informationsources, supporting the integrated use of appropriate communication channels andintensifying contacts and information exchange (particularly intra-ACP) and developing

ACP capacity to generate and manage agricultural information and to formulateInformation and Communication Management (ICM) strategies including those relevantto science and technology. These activities take account of methodologicaldevelopments in cross-cutting issues (gender, youth, information and communicationtechnologies ICTs, and social capital), findings from impact assessments andevaluations of ongoing programmes as well as priority information themes for ACPagriculture.

CTAs activities are currently distributed among three operational programmeareas/departments:

Information products and Services;

Communication Channels and Services; Information and Communication management Skills and Systems.

These operation departments are supported by Planning Corporate Services (P&CS)which is charged with the methodological underpinning of their work and monitoring theACP environment in order to identify emerging issues and trends and make proposalsfor their translation into programmes and activities. This current exercise, therefore, fallswithin the mandate of P&CS.

2. BackgroundSince 2003, CTA has been systematically conducting needs assessment studies acrossthe Pacific, Caribbean and Africa regions the regions it has been mandated to serve.

These studies have been in direct response to calls for CTA, in various evaluations of itsproducts, services and programmes, to be more strategic in its choice regarding thesetting of its own agenda and reacting to demand. In putting together its Strategic Planand Framework for Action 2001-2005, CTA look a pragmatic view and opted to developa strategy combining the benefits of both approaches, whereby the need to address theexpressed demands of its stakeholders and the potential long-term advantages ofdeveloping progrmmes that address future needs were combined.


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The Centres new strategic plan covering the 2007-2010 period places emphasis onimproving CTAs efficiency and increasing the Centres outreach by addressing themajor bottleneck of difficult or insufficient access to information in ACP countries, (ii)honing CTAs profile and further defining the riches where the Centre has a comparativeadvantage. Consequently, reaching more beneficiaries and further strengthening CTAspartnership networks is key as well as the thrust to make ICTs and ICM strategies more

widely available.

3. Main IssuesCTA works primarily through intermediary public and private partners (research centres,extension services, libraries, NGOs, farmers organisations, regional organisations andnetworks, ) to promote agriculture and rural development. Under the new strategicplan, the organisations targeted will be extended to include print media, editors, radio,TV and journalist networks in order to further maximize outreach. Through thesepartnership CTA hopes to increase the number of ACP organisations capable ofaccessing and combining modern and conventional ICTs, generating and managinginformation and developing their own ICM strategies. The identification of appropriatepartners is therefore of primordial importance, with bearing in mind issues such as

geographical coverage, decentralization, regionalization, thematic orientation andtransparent and objective criteria and procedures for partner selection.

4. Overall ObjectiveCollaboration strategies with ACP agricultural organisations and relevance of CTAssupport to African ACP countries improved.

5. Scope of the StudyThe study will focus on:

Providing an overview of main agricultural services and actors existing in thecountry (information supply side) in terms of their strengths, weaknesses and

opportunities for collaboration with CTA; Identifying agricultural information and ICM capacity building needs of key

actors/key strategic partners for CTA products and services; Identifying potential strategic partners for CTA activities and services (payi8ng

special attention to e.g. print media, editor, radio, TV and journalist networks); Developing some baseline data on the status of ICM and ICTs in the country to

facilitate subsequent monitoring and updating activities.

The study should assist CTA to improve and better target interventions and activitiesaimed at potential partners and beneficiaries (including women, youth, private sector andcivil society oganisations) to have a more informed picture of their needs and aid in theelaboration of a strategy and framework of action. The study should also highlight where

there are specific needs for CTAs products and services thereby enabling improvementin the delivery of the same.

6. Expected ResultsThe expected results of the study are as follows:

Status of infrastructure, information services and ICM capacity of institutionsinvolved in agriculture and rural development described and analysed;


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Information and capacity building needs in the area of ICM identified for keyinstitutions and potential CTA partners involved in agriculture and ruraldevelopment;

Baseline data on the status of ICM and ICT in agriculture and rural developmentcompiled for monitoring purposes and improved outreach.

The study should therefore also provide updated country profiles on the status ofagricultural information services, the status of ICM/T in the country, which will allow CTAto make informed decisions re type and mode of intervention as well as partnerselection. This will be summarized in one (1) main report per country not exceeding 30pages excluding annexes (cf. section 8 below).

7. MethodologyThe consultant will use a combination of qualitative and quantitative rapid appraisalmethods including:

The desk review of available literature and information sources including thefindings of programme evaluations;

The conduct of face-to-face interviews with relevant stakeholders/concernedparties;

The limited use of questionnaires.

The rapid appraisal approach will allow a general overview of the key issues andcompany/organisational profiles on a per country basis and may give rise to more in-depth studies as and when needed in the future.

8. Reporting

The country reports will not exceed 30 pages (excluding annexes) and is broken downas follows:

Main ReportAcknowledgementsList of AcronymsExecutive SummaryIntroductionCountry Profile2.1 Brief description of agriculture and recent developments in the sector:

2.1.1 Agriculture2.1.2 Fisheries2.1.3 Forestry2.1.4 Pastorialism/Livestock (where applicable)

2.2 Brief description of the status of ICT infrastructure and recent developments inthe sector.

3. Status of Information and Communication for Agriculture and RuralDevelopment3.1 Institutional, regulatory and policy framework

Status of national and/or other sectoral policies on information andcommunication for agriculture and rural development, definition or main


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strategic focus and principal characteristics, opportunities and threatsposed by the political, institutional and regulatory environment.

3.2 Operational Aspects3.2.1 Description of agricultural information and services (main actors in

the area of information and communication for agriculture andrural development)

3.2.2 Information products and services provided3.2.3 Information and communication management capacity.

3.3 Interventions supporting information and communication foragriculture and rural development.Examine the main interventions undertaken, planned or foreseen by theState, donor agencies private sector (e.g. telecommunication sector) torespond to identified needs paying particular attention to the priorities andmeans mobilized. Lessons learnt should also be addressed in thissection.

3.4 Needs analysis (Main bottlenecks and shortcomings)3.4.1 Information needs3.4.2 Capacity building needs (I.C. policies & strategies,

sensitization, networking, skills, training media, ICT, equipment).4. Conclusions and Recommendations

4.1 Conclusions4.1.1 Information Needs4.1.2 Capacity Building Needs4.1.3 Potential Strategic Partners

4.2 Recommendations4.2.1 Capacity Building Needs4.2.2 Information Needs4.2.3 Potential Strategic Partner Institutions

5. Proposed CTA Intervention Strategy and Action PlanFrom the above analysis, establish a link between the needs which are not

currently met or for which complementary actions are needed and CTAs supply(products and services). This should lead to an overall and coherent strategy for CTAand an action plan and priorities are identified and an implementation schedule defined.

Annexes1. Terms of Reference2. Country Profile

2.1 General agricultural profile (from available documentation)2.1.1 Size of agricultural population (male/female/youth)2.1.2 Farmed land forests, fishing areas2.1.3 Agricultural systems2.1.4 Agricultural in the economy (percentage GDP)

2.1.5 Main agricultural produce and secondary products2.1.6 Main export markets2.1.7 Trade agreements that include agriculture2.1.8 Sectoral policy related to agriculture, fisheries and forests.

2.2 Socio-economic profile (from available documentary)2.2.1 Total active population, demographic breakdown2.2.2 Literacy level and languages2.2.3 Access to services (health, schools, electricity)2.2.4 Rural urban drift.


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2.3 Media and telecommunications (update/check)2.2.1 Newspapers, periodicals, magazines, radio stations, television

channels.2.2.2 Telecommunication services (fixed, mobile, etc.)2.3.3 Computer and Internet access.

3. Profile of Institutions

3.1 List of all main institutions involved in agriculture and rural developmentactivities, including private sector and civil society organisation, withname, contact details, type and role of institution.

3.2 Select list of key institutions involved in agriculture and rural development,with extensive data and information on the institution, the problems facedand why it is considered a key actor.

4. List of institution/persons interviewed (to include full contact details)5. Bibliography

9. TimingThe draft final report is to be submitted within three months after contract signature byCTA, the final report is due two weeks after receipt of comments from CTA.

10. Expertise NeededThe national consultant should have a university degree or equivalent by experience. Inaddition, he/she should have at least 10 years experience in the field of agriculture, ruraldevelopment or social/economic sciences. He/she must have in-depth knowledge of theagricultural sector in his/her country and be able to identify key players andinstitutions/organisations active in this area. Some knowledge of information scienceswould be an added advantage. The ability to communicate and write clearly in English isessential, while knowledge of at lest one of the local languages forcommunication/interview purposes is an added advantage.

In addition to the skills above, the overall coordinator is expected to be fluent in English,

have some knowledge of the 9 countries forming the object of the study, havedemonstrated experience in coordinating studies with several consultants and inproducing synthesis reports.

The overall coordination of the exercise will be carried out by Ms. Christine Webster,Deputy Head, Planning and Corporate Services CTA.

11. Implementation Schedule (CTA) Preparation/Finalisation of ToR; identification/short-listing of (potential)

consultants; call for offers: July October, 2006. Selection of consultants & contractual arrangements: October November,

2006.

Briefing: January, 2007. Start date of contract: 11th December, 2006. Contract implementation period: 11th December, 2006 31st July, 2007. End date of contract: 31st July, 2007.

12. Key documents to be made available to consultantsDocuments include:

Cotonou Framework Agreement


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Executive Summaries of previous evaluation reports including ITAD; OPM, etc. CTAs Strategic Plan (2007-2010) Annual Reports Examples of reports of previous needs assessment studies. Documents on products & services provided by CTA.

13. Definition of roles and responsibilitiesOverall Coordinator

Respect the timeframe regarding submission of reports and deadlines Help identify/vet country consultants Attend pre-briefing and briefing meetings Review the terms of reference Finalise questionnaires and methodological approach after due consultation with

CTA Team. Finalise the briefing notes and guidelines for local consultants to ensure accurate

and consistent application of the agreed methodology in data collection. Answer queries (technical & otherwise) of local consultants.

During the studies, monitor and provide technical assistance/information to thelocal consultants.

Review preliminary country reports and findings and send comments back tolocal consultants.

Send edited draft final country reports to CTA for feedback. Coordinate and ensure consistency of country reports. Prepare the overall report taking into account the findings and recommendations

of all the country reports (table of contents to be agreed).

Local Consultant Respect the timeframe regarding submission of reports and deadlines. Attend briefing meeting. Familiarise themselves with background document received from CTA; including

the Terms of Reference. Undertake desk study and prepare country profile, list of institutions involved in

agriculture as well as preliminary list of select institutions. Conduct interviews and gather information in the country specified in the

contract. Draft preliminary country reports and send to Overall Coordinator for initial

comments. Based on comments received from Overall Coordinator, revise country reports

and send draft final report to CTA within the specified timeframe. Finalise country reports based on comments and observations received from

CTA and send final report back to CTA.Role of CTA

Draw up initial Terms of Reference and prepare relevant background documents. Appoint the Overall Coordinator and the ACP Local Consultants. Prepare and attend briefing meeting consultants. Invite the overall Coordinator and Local Consultants for Briefing Meeting. Provide input to the Overall Coordinator with regard to fine-tuning terms of

reference. Questionnaires, interview guide and reporting guidelines for theconsultants.


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Provide relevant background documents to the Local Consultants & OverallCoordinator.

Elaborate budget and discuss contractual obligations with the Team ofConsultant & Overall Coordinator.

Liaise with Overall Coordinator throughout the study. Pay invoices for services rendered in a timely manner on condition that all

payment conditions are fulfilled. Overall responsibility for the supervision and implementation of the studies. Bear the agreed costs of expenditure in respect of the study (economy class

return tickets, hotel accommodation and subsistence allowances during briefingmeeting, or during agreed and specified field visits).

Provide feedback and comments on draft country reports to the LocalConsultants.

Give feedback to the Overall Coordinator on the Overview Report.

_______________________________


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and management strategies for the fisheries sector of Ghana. The Ministry of Fisheriesis responsible for all matters concerning fisheries management and administration inGhana.

2.1.3 Agricultural Systems

Land rotation and shifting cultivation are both practiced in Ghana. Land rotationis the principal agricultural system in use in Ghana. Intensive land rotation means theland in frequently rotated, that is, fallows are of short duration and the area concerned isdevoid of unfarmed natural vegetation. In areas of less intensive land rotation thelength of fallows is in general longer and patches of near-climax vegetation nor welldeveloped secondary regrowth normally occur. The less intensive land rotationbecomes the greater is the proportion of unfarmed land to land under rotation (i.e.,cultivation and fallow land together). Fallow is always more extensive in area thancultivated land, but the proportion between the two varies widely with the crops grown,the nature of the regrowth vegetation and the proximity of the cultivated land to markets.

There appears to be no formal rule as to how land is rotated. The only validgeneralization at this stage in our knowledge of agricultural practices is that recentlycultivated land (that is, potentially less productive land) is avoided when plots are chosenfor clearing and planting, and potentially more productive land (bearing naturalvegetation of some years growth), if available, is used in preference.

Shifiting cultivation is carried out by a family or group of families who are theoccupants of temporary settlement. The land immediately surrounding the settlement iscleared and farmed for a few years and then abandoned, when the settlement is rebuiltin a new location where clearing and cultivation is again repeated. The land used forthis type of agriculture is well developed fallow farmland or land unfarmed in recentgenerations. Shifting cultivation is practiced only in a few localities in Ghana and is oftena short-lived precursor of agriculture by land rotation.

2.1.4 Agriculture in the Economy (Percentage GDP)

Agriculture remains the largest contributor to GDP, with a 39.3% share in 2006compared with 32.9% and 27.8% for services and industry, respectively. This was onlymarginally less than the 2005 share of 39.5

About 41.1% of foreign exchange earnings were derived from agriculture, namelycocoa, timber, and other non-traditional commodities. It is however notable (see Table )that the share of agricultural products in total foreign exchange earnings began todecline after 2004. For instance, while agricultural products (cocoa, timber and non-traditional exports) contributed 52.8% of total foreign exchange earnings in 2004, theirshared declined to 45.9% in 2005 and 41.1% in 2006. Specifically in 2006, the value ofthe foreign exchange earned from agriculture are US$1,004 million from cocoa(representing 11% increase from the 2005 value), US$149 million from timber(representing 34.4$ decline from the 2005 value) and US$203 million from non-traditional agricultural exports (representing 34.4% increase from the value in 2005).


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Table 8: Sectoral Contribution to GDP, 1999-2005 at Constant 1993 Prices (%)*Year/Period Sector

Agriculture Services Industry All1999 40.2 32.1 27.7 100.002000 39.6 32.7 27.7 100.002001 39.6 33.0 27.4 100.002002 39.5 33.0 27.5 100.002003 39.8 32.8 27.4 100.002004 40.3 32.6 27.2 100.002005 39.5 32.9 27.6 100.002006 39.3 32.9 27.8 100.00Average 100.001999-2002 39.7 32.7 27.6 100.002003-2006 39.7 32.8 27.5 100.00Source: Ghana Statistical Service *Excluding indirect taxes ** ProvisionalForeign Exchange Earned by Agricultural and Non-Agricultural Sectors,1999-2006 (US$ Million)

Table 9: Foreign Exchange earned by agricultural and non-agricultural sectors, 1999-2006 (US$ million)Year/Period Agriculture Non-

AgricultureTotal

Cocoa Timber Non-Trad.$ % $ % $ % $ % $ %

1999 550 26.2 174 8.3 85 4.1 1.290 61.5 2.099 100.02000 437 22.5 175 9.0 75 3.9 1.254 64.6 1.941 100.02001 381 20.4 169 9.1 82 4.4 1,335 66.1 1,867 100.02002 463 22.4 183 8.9 86 4.2 1,332 64.5 2.064 100.02003 818 34.9 174 7.6 138 6.0 1,182 51.5 2,297 100.0

2004 1,071 39.2 212 7.7 160 5,9 1,290 47,2 2,733 100.02005 908 32.4 227 8.1 151 5.4 1,516 54.1 2,802 100.02006 1,094 30.4 149 4.5 203 6.1 1,947 58.9 3,303 100.0Average1999-2002 458 22.9 175 8.8 82 4.2 1,278 64.2 1,993 100.02003-2006 724 34.2 191 7.0 163 5.9 1,484 52.9 2,784 100.0* ProvisionalSource: Bank of Ghana

2.1.5 Main Agricultural Produce and Secondary Products

The main agricultural produce in Ghana are cocoa, timber, fish and seafoods.

Cocoa exports for 2006 earned Ghana an amount of US$1187.4m, while timber exportsin 2006 produced US$119.5m. In the same year, fish and seafoods earned for Ghanaan amount of US67.9m. (ISSER. The State of the Ghanaian Economy 2006).

Secondary agricultural produce include horticulture; wood products; cassava;nuts; pineapples; plantain; rice; oil palm; maize; yam; and sorghum.


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2.1.6 Main Export Markets

The two principal destinations for Ghanas exports as of June, 2006 were theUnited Kingdom (12.7%) and the Netherlands (12.2%). These two countries were alsothe top two in 2005 but their order was reversed with the Netherlands absorbing 12.5%of Ghanas exports and the United Kingdom 8.3%. These two countries took 24.9% of

Ghanas exports, up from 20.8% in 2005 (Table ). On the West African market, Nigeriaabsorbed 1.5% of Ghanas exports as for June, 2006, a marginal increase from the 2005figure of 1.4%.

Table 10: Value of Ghanas Exports (US$ million) by Major Destination, 2001-2006

Country 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006United Kingdom 174.9

(11.2)164.2(9.9)

212.8(10.7)

227.0(10.0)

196.1(8.3)

179.8(12.7)

Nigeria 77.6(5.0)

80.3(4.8)

20.4(1.0)

26.5(1.2)

33.7(1.4)

21.0(1.5)

USA 186.5

(12.0)

116.9

(7.0)

84.9

(4.3)

145.3

(6.4)

157.6

(6.7)

74.9

(5.3)Germany 111.9

(7.2)109.3(6.6)

123.6(6.2)

103.0(4.5)

105.1(4.4)

55.6(3.9)

Spain 38.5(2.5)

60.6(3.6)

75(3.8)

65.3(2.9)

58.0(2.5)

75.1(5.3)

Japan 44.9(2.9)

62.9(3.8)

104.5(5.3)

95.4(4.2)

70.4(3.0)

43.9(3.1)

Netherlands 214.5(13.8)

246.9(14.9)

224.9(11.3)

279.2(12.3)

295.8(12.5)

172,6(12.2)

France 70.1(4.5)

96.5(5.8)

151.0(7.6)

155.6(6.9)

133.4(5.6)

61.9(4.4)

Belgium 45.9(2.9)

73.6(4.4)

71.4(3.6)

106.9(4.7)

136.1(5.8)

64.7(4.6)

Italy 61.9(4.0)

69.1(4.2)

91.6(4.6)

81.6(3.6)

87.1(3.7)

35.2(2.5)

Others 529.4(34.0)

581.8(35.0)

826.6(41.6)

982.3(43.3)

1093.3(46.2)

631.9(44.6)

Total 1,556.1(100.0)

1,662(100.0)

1,986.6(100/0)

2,268.1(100.0)

2,366.6(100.0)