Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 3
SUPPORT SYSTEMS IN AGRICULTURE
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SUPPORT SYSTEMS IN AGRICULTURE
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Subject: Agricultural Science
Class: SHS 3
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 12
Grade code: 3.3.1.LI.2
Strand code: 3
Sub-strand code: 2
Content standard code: 3.3.1.CS.1
Indicator code: 3.3.1.LI.2
Theme: MOBILI SATION OF RESOURCES AND NETWORKS
Subtheme: SUPPORT SYSTEMS IN AGRICULTURE
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Welcome, future leaders of Ghana's agricultural sector! Today, we are exploring a crucial topic: Support Systems in Agriculture. Think of a successful football team like the Black Stars. Do the players succeed all by themselves? No! They have a coach, a medical team, a manager, and passionate supporters. In the same way, our farmers, traders, and food processors cannot succeed alone. They rely on a network of organisations and services that provide them with money, knowledge, tools, and policies to help them thrive. Understanding this "support team" is essential because it is the engine that drives our nation's food security, creates jobs, and boosts our economy.
A. What is an Agricultural Support System?
An agricultural support system is the network of public (government), private, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that provide essential services, resources, and a favourable environment for agricultural activities to succeed. These services are crucial for everyone involved in agriculture, from the person planting the seed (the farmer) to the person selling the final product (the trader) and the person turning it into a new product (the processor).
Key Actors in Agriculture: Farmers/Producers: Those who cultivate crops, raise livestock, or manage fisheries. Traders/Marketers: Individuals and companies that buy produce from farmers, transport it, and sell it to consumers or processors. Processors: Those who transform raw agricultural produce into other products (e.g., turning cassava into gari, cocoa beans into chocolate, or mangoes into juice). B. Categories of Support Organisations in Ghana
We can group these organisations into several categories based on their main role. Governmental / Public Sector Organisations These are established and funded by the Government of Ghana to create policies and implement national agricultural programmes. Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA): This is the main government body responsible for agriculture. Services for Farmers: Provides Agricultural Extension Agents (AEAs) who offer technical advice on best farming practices; implements flagship programmes like Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) which provides subsidised seeds and fertilizers. Services for Traders/Processors: Provides market information and develops policies that ensure food quality and safety. Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD): A specialised agency that regulates the cocoa industry. Services for Farmers: Supplies high-yielding cocoa seedlings; carries out disease and pest control programmes (e.g., CODAPEC); funds research into better farming methods through its subsidiary, the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG). Services for Traders: The Quality Control Company (QCC), a subsidiary, grades and seals all cocoa beans before export, ensuring traders get a fair price for high-quality beans. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR): The leading national science and technology institution. It has several agricultural institutes. CSIR - Crops Research Institute (CRI): Develops new and improved crop varieties that are high-yielding and resistant to diseases and drought (e.g., new varieties of maize, cassava, and yam). This directly helps farmers. CSIR - Food Research Institute (FRI): Develops new food processing and preservation techniques to reduce post-harvest losses. This directly helps processors and traders. CSIR - Soil Research Institute (SRI): Conducts research on soil management and fertility to advise farmers on the best types of fertilizers to use. This helps farmers. Financial Institutions These organisations provide the money (capital/credit) needed for agricultural activities. Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) PLC: A universal bank with a special focus on agriculture. Services for Farmers: Offers loans for purchasing inputs (seeds, fertilizer), machinery (tractors), and for setting up irrigation. Services for Processors: Provides loans for establishing and equipping processing factories. Services for Traders: Offers credit for purchasing produce from farmers and for transportation. Rural and Community Banks: These are banks located in rural areas, making them more accessible to smallholder farmers. Services: They offer savings accounts, small loans (microcredit), and other financial services tailored to the needs of rural communities. Ghana Agricultural Insurance Pool (GAIP): Provides insurance for farmers. Services for Farmers: Offers insurance policies that pay out to farmers if their crops fail due to natural disasters like drought, floods, or pests. This reduces the financial risk of farming. Research and Educational Institutions These bodies generate knowledge, develop new technologies, and train skilled personnel for the agricultural sector. Universities: Such as Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST - College of Agriculture) and the University of Ghana (School of Agriculture). Services: Train agricultural scientists, extension officers, and agribusiness professionals. They also conduct advanced research to solve problems facing the sector. Agricultural Colleges: Such as Kwadaso, Ejura, and Ohawu Agricultural Colleges. Services: Provide practical, hands-on training for technical officers and AEAs who work directly with farmers. Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) & International Bodies These are non-profit organisations that often work on specific projects to support farmers. Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA): Services: Works to improve seed systems, soil fertility, and market access for smallholder farmers. They fund projects and provide technical expertise. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN: Services: Provides policy advice to the government, promotes sustainable agricultural practices, and offers technical assistance during emergencies like pest outbreaks (e.g., fall armyworm). Private Sector Organisations These are for-profit businesses that provide essential goods and services. Input Suppliers: Companies like Yara Ghana (fertilizers) and Dizengoff Ghana (agrochemicals, irrigation kits). Services: Supply farmers with the critical inputs they need for production. Agro-processing Companies: Companies like Blue Skies (fruit processing) and Golden Exotic (banana production). Services: They often run out-grower schemes, where they provide farmers with inputs, training, and a guaranteed market for their produce. This is a powerful support system for farmers and ensures a steady supply of raw materials for the processors. Farmer-Based Organisations (FBOs): These are groups or cooperatives formed by farmers themselves. Services: They help members to access loans, buy inputs in bulk at a lower cost, and bargain collectively for better prices for their produce. They are a form of self-support. Summary Table of Support Systems