Ghana aims for higher cotton production
Efforts are being made to revamp cotton production in Ghana, which has fallen from nearly 40,000 tonnes in 1990 to 3,000 tonnes in 2010.
The decrease in Ghanaian cotton production is being attributed to several factors, including low procurement price, low yields, liberalisation of the cotton sector and high production costs.
To help increase cotton output, the World Bank has made credit facility available to Ghanaian cotton cultivators.
An advocacy programme introduced by Actionaid Ghana has also drawn the government’s attention to improving facilities for enhancing cotton production.
As part of the programme, the government was urged to either directly make tractor facilities available to farmers, or to liaise with the companies that procure cotton to resolve the issue of availability of tractors.
In response, the government recently developed a new policy to increase cotton production in the country. Under it, the Northern part has been divided into three zones, with each zone being taken care of by a separate company. The three companies – Armajaro, Olam and Wienco – have been asked to address the problem of ploughing in these regions.
