IICD supported project: E-Commerce for Non-Traditional Exports Project - Ghana

This project enhances the marketing capacity of small-scale producers of Non-Traditional Exports (crops like cashew and shea nut, pineapple and maize) in the Ghanaian market through the establishment of six District Agricultural Information Centres (e-commerce centres) in different parts of the country. Farmers and traders can subscribe to the Information Service for a small monthly fee. The information services at each e-commerce centre include:

• Web-based promotion of products and linkages to current and potential traders through personalised Web sites hosted at the district offices, linked to the central Web site at Ministry of Agriculture head quarters
• Access to market information on the main markets in Ghana at the MOFA district offices, linked to the central marketing database at MOFA head quarters

The website for the project was launched. It provides, amongst other things, an overview of the project and informs on issues such as market prices, production and international trade producers and traders, and agricultural information centres.

The project has established 6 district agricultural information centres with 3 computers and, and has trained the farmers and traders in using ICT to support their work. They are now keeping farm records in simple databases.

The Ghanaian standards of living for producers of agricultural non-traditional exports and that of their immediate families are very low.  Farmers have little or no information at all about potential markets prices for the commodities they produce and no link with the potential buyers of their products.

The Ghana Export Promotion Council (GEPC) has been trying to link the non- traditional exports producers with potential markets through use of telephone and fax facilities.

Read more about IICD’s Ghana Country Programme.

• To provide access to web-based marketing information services for small producers and traders/exporters of Ghanaian agricultural non-traditional export products
• To expose and promote non-traditional export products, producers and traders in regional, national and international markets through a web-based information system
• To establish district information centres and develop databases on selected non-traditional agricultural exports in the selected districts
• To establish district information centres and develop databases on selected non-traditional agricultural exports in the selected districts

"This system is very promising. Already, we have seen some of the benefits because we have sold some yams to an exporter from Accra who saw our website," says Nana Owusu Gyare, a traditional Chief and a farmer.

Ahmed Suleman, Ghana National 3rd Best Farmer in 2000, is also excited: "I used to go round all over the country looking for people to come and buy my maize. Now with my products on the internet, my travelling is reduced dramatically."

Martha Kumah, the market Queen of the Techiman Market (The largest market in the West African Sub-Region) is also very pleased. "With the internet so close to me at the market, and with my people trained in how to use it, we can put our information up. I am also sure that it will now be easier for us to access credit for our business".

These are but a few impacts on the subscribers of the project.

Read more about IICD’s approach towards Livelihoods.

• Connectivity is a major issue in rural internet usage. With relatively bad telephony in the rural areas, connectivity is a major issue. To solve this some radio equipment that is able to carry data at an appreciable speed can be used
• The District Agricultural Centres seem to be successful.  There is always a queue of users waiting to use the facility. This could be avoided by investing in more hardware.

The project will form part of the strategic framework developed by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Food and Agriculture Sector Development Programme (FASDEP).

The project manager will be in charge of the entire project, and reports directly to the Head of the International Trade Desk of MOFA (PPMED).  All the other staff will report to the project manager.

The stakeholders in each district will form an implementation committee, made up of all recognised bodies, including the District Assembly, the Traditional Council, the District Cooperative officer, Farmer and Trader groups, and other groupings. This committee will manager the day-by-day implementation of the project at the district.

The District Agricultural Information Centres will become sustainable through a monthly flat fee to farmers and traders. About 70 subscribers are expected in each of the six districts.