Cover_Rebuilding West Africas Food Potential

Chapter 10. Comparative analysis of mango value chain models in Benin, Burkina Faso and Ghana 325

Ghana has three main production zones, namely:

• the southern belt around the capital Accra (+/- 2400 ha of planted orchards at early stage of development


• the Brong Ahafo region


• the Northern Zone, spearheaded by the Integrated Tamale Fruit Company’s (ITFC) organic mango
  production program with at least 1200 outgrowers

Mangoes from Ghana have different destinations: firstly, the local urban market of Greater Accra, usually
traded through a network of wholesalers and retailers; secondly, export markets for fresh fruit, primarily to
Europe, including the fair trade and organic niche markets. To facilitate these exports, public and private
investors have undertaken efforts to set up cool storage facilities at the harbour. Finally, a large share of
mango is sold to processing firms. Fruit processing has developed into a competitive industry in Ghana.
The country successfully exports fresh-cut fruit (through BlueSkies Ltd.), and produces juice and pulp for
domestic, regional and international markets (e.g. through Sunripe Ltd.).

Ghana has a comparative advantage over neighbouring countries because it has two harvest seasons in
the south (peak and minor season). Several producer associations have emerged over the past decade,
each of which federates more than 100 farmers, for whom they sell collectively, organize farm services
such as pruning and spraying, and in some cases establish a pack house. The mango associations in the
south and outgrower schemes in the north have a strong focus on exports, whereas other organizations
in the Brong Ahafo region aim to improve household welfare by promoting local marketing of the fruit.

3.4 Summary

Table 2 summarizes some key characteristics relevant to the mango sector in the three selected countries:

(^11) Source: FAOSTAT (2008). Estimation; reliable statistics are not available.
(^12) COLEACP (2010) http://www.coleacp.org/fr/system/files/file/COLEACP/LE_2010_05_ENG.pdf.
(^13) Source: TIPCEE.

Table 2. Key features of the mango sector in three countries

Area under

mango culti-

vation (Ha)

Location Level of

processing

Cooperative

action of

producers

Public support to mango sector

Benin 240011 Sea-bordered Low No Low:

-No NGO programs

-Not selected by Gov’t as focus crop

Burkina

Faso

13,500^12 Landlocked Medium/

High

Ye s Medium/High:

-WorldBank /Gov’t subsidy program

PAFASP

-In portfolio of national extension and

research institutes

-Many NGO programs with producer

organizations and exporters

Ghana 4,208^13 Sea-bordered High Ye s Medium/High

• USAID and gov’t program to promote
  exports.
  -NGO programs to establish trade
  linkages, certification and Good
  Agricultural Practices (GAP)