• Référence: P-GH-AA0-016
• Date d'évaluation: 17/06/2011
• Présentation au conseil: 25/10/2011
• Statut: PipelinePIPE
• Agence d'implémentation: MINISTRY OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
• Emplacement: Western, Cenntral, Eastern and Ashanti

The components of the project will be clarified in more detail during the forth coming pre-appraisal mission. As of now, the project has the following components:

Out-grower Plantation Scheme ----------------------------

Under this component, an estimated 8,100 farmers will be organised into out-grower schemes where support and other assistance would be channelled through bigger rubber estate developers. The developer will provide a mechanism for input distribution, mobilisation of the producers, as well as a market outlet for the farmers output.

Training and Extension ----------------------

Extension services will be strengthened under the project to train beneficiary farmers in improved techniques of rubber farming, drawing experience from the GREL project. The beneficiary rubber producers will be trained in farming and manuring techniques. Training for extension agents and project management staff will also be provided. Logistical support will be provided to the Project Management Unit (PMU).

Agricultural Credit -------------------

Credit facilities will be extended to out-grower farmers under the project to develop their rubber plantations until trees mature. The amount, institutional framework and system for credit administration will be determined during the pre-appraisal mission.

Planting material production ----------------------------

Private developers will be assisted under the project to establish nurseries for the production of high quality and high yielding rubber seedlings. 230 ha of various rubber clones will be established. These will be the source of high quality planting materials. The rubber planting material will be sourced from countries where rubber productivity is known to be high and adapted to Ghana's local conditions.

Research --------

Research programmes will be established with a view to formulating technical recommendations in rubber management to be adopted by the rubber producers. The areas of rubber research will be defined during pre-appraisal.

The objective of the project is to increase rubber production in Ghana.

The project will contribute to the diversification of the production base for Ghanaian agriculture, increase incomes for small holder farmers, create rural employment, enhance foreign exchange earnings and contribute to poverty reduction. The project will also build on past experience gained in rubber production under small scale production system.

The rubber industry is relatively labour intensive and being a perennial crop, it is estimated that 4ha of rubber is adequate to provide permanent work for one farm family for up to 40yrs. Rubber trees produce rubber latex throughout the year. It is therefore possible for the farmer to have income throughout the year to provide financial support for the family. With the current rubber price of $1.5/kg of dry rubber, it is estimated that a farmer would get a net income of $4,000/yr when all the 4ha farm is in tapping. The cultivation of rubber is therefore regarded as an appropriate and important rural development activity in areas with suitable climate and favourable soils. It could be a positive step for the reduction of poverty in rural communities, wealth creation, and improvement of road networks in rural areas and the elimination of exodus of youth from the rural to the urban areas.

From 2000 to 2006 the total area under rubber cultivation has increased from 17500ha to 22,000ha. The country's production of 13,000tons DRC/yr is valued at $15.6 m. Following the growing international demand for natural rubber in the past decade leading to a good export market for the commodity, the Ministry's Food and Agriculture Development Policy identified Rubber as one of the priority crops to be given support. To consolidate the gains and to strengthen the policy guideline on rubber development, in 2001, MOFA commissioned a Rubber Master Plan study. Among the objectives of the study was the production of 50,000 tons of rubber by the year 2020. The Ghana Rubber Master Plan forecasts a bright future for rubber production: the world rubber demand is expected to increase by 48% from the year 2000 to 2020 (3% per annum increase for natural rubber). The rubber prices are forecast to increase from the level of $60 cents/kg in 2003 to about $2.5/kg in 2020 (the higher trigger being $4/kg).

Other benefits include:

a) Additional 8,100 ha of rubber plantations established. b) High yielding and disease resistant clones of rubber introduced. c) Installation of new processing facilities d) Enhanced extension and training available to rubber producers e) Diversification of the production base for small holder farmers f) Increased incomes for small holder rubber farmers g) Creation of rural employment and reduced rural-urban migration, h) Enhanced foreign exchange earnings

(i) Enhancement of capacity for rubber research, and production.

KHUMBANYIWA Andsone Grandsone - OSAN4

Montant
11.500.000