The MD2 pineapple variety was set to turn around the fate of Ghana's farming community but instead has caused huge losses and misery; this is said to be because when the MD2 was introduced, no proper training was given to farmers in Ghana on how to manage the crop, and they were not told that it was capital intensive.
According to Pulse.com.gh news editor Betty Kankam-Boadu, farmers switched from the Smooth Ceyene variety to the MD2 variety. The new variety was supposed to turn around their failing pineapple businesses, but instead with heavy investments in time and money, farmers have been forced to abandon farming altogether or flee the country because their creditors are chasing after them.
Agronomist at Blue Skies Limited, the largest market for pineapples in Ghana, Ernest Ablor tells pulse.com.gh, that on a weekly basis the 18 year old company processes between 200 to 250 tons of pineapples.
Before MD2, Smooth Cayene was the main variety of pineapple in Ghana, followed by Sugarloaf which was mainly for the local market.
When MD2 came Ablor says farmers were practically forced to go into production.
“The banks will not loan you any money if you were going for Smooth Cayene, farmers destroyed all their farms.” He says.
Until recently both the MD2 and Smooth Cayene variety were in short supply and Blue Skies has to import from neighboring Ivory Coast, defeating the whole purpose of setting up the company in Doboro - the hub of pineapple.
But, the farmers found out the MD2 variety is not an easy one to plant.
“Our eco system does not support the MD2 as compared to that of the Smooth Cayene,” to Gameti says, “we also realised that it is capital intensive and you need much attention and you have to be applying the chemical on time. When you fail the time you are definitely failing the plant.”
The switch would not have been necessary if government had ensured that farmers kept the quality standard of the Smooth Cayene required on the international market.
“Smooth Cayene quality couldn’t compete on the international market, because there wasn’t any standard in the country, there wasn’t any serious institution controlling the quality of fruit going out of the country. So farmers were cutting corners and doing what they liked,” says Ablor.
Again farmers did not have the necessary support from government to ensure that they succeeded with the MD2 variety.
So with the failed venture farmers have had to switch back to Smooth Cayene, but this also requires support.
Source: pulse.com.gh