CERATH Development Organization through the WACOMP Sub-contracting Matching Scheme V1 is engaging selected pineapple and mango producers in the Eastern and Central regions of Ghana. The aim of the project is to strengthen the export competitiveness of selected mango and pineapple value chain actors through a cocktail of technical assistance to enhance sustainable and climate-smart production, processing, and increased compliance to international standards. Primarily, the project targets mango and pineapple farmers, cooperatives, aggregators, transporters, and AGROPAL West Africa Limited (a dried fruit processing company). The project’s target areas are selected mango and pineapple-producing districts in Greater Accra, Eastern and Central Regions.
The purpose of the engagement was to support the target processing enterprise (AGROPAL) in the development of a database and traceability system for its supply chain. Also, the project team sort to identify some challenges faced by the pineapple and mango producers and how to address these challenges. Some of the entities engaged during the scoping activities included F&D Farmers Association, ABD Farms, Koranco Farms, Golden Riverside Limited, and Qualipine Union.
As a leading value chain in Ghana’s non-traditional exports, significant efforts need to be directed at boosting the mango and pineapple while resolving the accompanying challenges. Indeed, the scoping assignment of the target landscape revealed some challenges that pose as barriers to the productivity within the value chains. For instance, there are low of connectivity to international markets, minimal compliance to quality assurance practices, inefficiencies in production and processing, inadequate technical know-how on good agronomic practices, weak farmer cooperatives, quality management challenges, limited access to market information amongst others.
The one-year project is expected to improve the knowledge of producers, aggregators, and transporters on good agronomic and climate-smart practices, handling, and post-harvest handling practices. In addition, the WACOMP Sub-contracting Matching Scheme V1 will boost technological competencies and improve processing techniques of small and medium-sized fruit processing enterprises. Further, the project will increase trade and market opportunities for the target farmer cooperatives, and small and medium-sized fruit processing enterprises. Indeed, the project will increase incomes and enhance living conditions for female farmers, and youth/women-led fruit producing and processing companies within the target value chains.
