By Eugene Davis
The Orange Growers Association of Ghana (OGA) has called on the government to provide increased financial support and strengthen collaboration with the various directorates under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. This, they believe, will help scale up production and maximize the economic value for farmers.
According to the Operations Director of OGA, Theodore Tsidi Kloba, the association is currently tapping into only 40% of its economic potential, with the remaining 60% lost due to post-harvest inefficiencies.
Speaking to the media after a courtesy call on the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Tsidi Kloba said “We came here today with the aim of being able to leverage on the various directorate that are under the Ministry, it is obvious that almost every agric industry is riddled with some issues and the citrus industry has been riddled with similar issues like poor market access, lack of skill labour, lack of research and development to be able to introduce some other varieties that are climate smart, so with all that in hindsight we came over to be able to have a good conversation with members of the ministry so that we will be able to see the plans they have for the citrus industry and also the sort of financial prospects that we will be able to tap from the ministry.”
To address this challenge, OGA is seeking to leverage opportunities within the sector ministry to enhance market access and minimize losses.
Total citrus production in the country stands at approximately 425,000 metric tonnes, with oranges accounting for 285,000 metric tonnes.
OGA further highlights that increasing production would not only improve public health and boost the rural economy but also reduce reliance on imports while contributing to climate change mitigation.
Available data indicates that nearly 90% of the 11,000 remaining citrus growers in Ghana are smallholder farmers, each cultivating less than two hectares. In contrast, only 1% of Ghanaian citrus farmers own orange groves larger than eight hectares.
Officials of the Orange Growers Association (OGA) expressed excitement about the meeting, highlighting key aspects of the ministry’s initiatives, its strategic direction, and the potential for financial support. They emphasized the importance of funding for outgrowers, associations, and various stakeholders across the industry’s value and supply chains.
The Technical Advisor at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Kwasi Etu-Bonde, assured OGA that they could benefit from the government’s soon-to-be-launched Farmers Service Centers. He also confirmed that the ministry would facilitate connections between OGA and the Ghana Exim Bank to help scale up their production.
