Newsletter: 14th Edition Published
February 20, 2024
UNIDO and Global Shea Alliance – Transforming Shea Cosmetics through Quality Formulation and Standards
March 7, 2024Newsletter: 14th Edition Published
February 20, 2024UNIDO and Global Shea Alliance – Transforming Shea Cosmetics through Quality Formulation and Standards
March 7, 2024
Qualipine Cluster: A Growing Actor in Ghana’s Fruit Industry
We are a group of 11 pineapple cooperatives located at Nsawam Adoagyiri, Akuapim South and Upper West Akim Municipalities in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
Registered in the year 2017 with a total membership of 273 to produce pineapples that meet quality standards for both domestic and international markets, we struggled to meet the demand of supplying larger quantities to factories to produce fresh cut, dry pineapples, and fresh juice for export. Export intermediaries used to buy from us and then export to the EU and to the Moroccan market.
Mechanization of our farms, introduced by UNIDO-WACOMP Ghana increased our production by 120% and we now sell our fruits directly to multinational fruit processors such as HPW, Blue Skies, Bomart, Agropal West Africa and Nanofood, known for processing fresh cut, canned and dry fruits for the export market.
“WACOMP – Ghana has been a transformative force in our pineapple farming journey, offering us invaluable support through comprehensive training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). We were supported to implement sucker multiplication from the demonstration sites. This helped us to acquire 168,000 suckers from the 72,000 suckers planted, translating into a 233% increase in plating materials, covering the needs for the members in the 2023 planting season.”
In parallel to the increase in the planting material available, our yield surged up remarkably to approximately 80%, thanks to the practical knowledge gained from the demonstration sites UNIDO supported us to implement. “The yield from our members increased from 1.3kg to 1.9kg per fruit translating to a 46% increase in revenue in the 2021/2022 planting season per member. The guidance and hand holding coaching received have not only enhanced the quality of our produce but have also empowered the Qualipine Group with the skills and expertise needed to thrive in the ever-evolving agricultural landscape.
“The raw material produced at the cluster level now ‘feeds’ most factories in the Eastern region and we can supply the national major exporters and processors, such as HPW, Bomart, Blue Skies and Nano foods.”– Mr. Edward Ntow Adjei, Chairman of Qualipine Union in Fotobi
WACOMP – Ghana also helped us in solving several challenges. Over the years members of the Union were faced with critical production and marketing challenges including members’ inability to meet quality standards, production volumes and other market certification requirements. We also faced managerial issues and lacked administrative support tools.
WACOMP–Ghana trained the executives from various groups in group dynamics and organizational development, to help improve general participation and increase total group empathy. They also helped set up a modern office to coordinate activities and manage the data and records of all members and provided desktop computers, printers, filing cabinets, office desks and chairs.
Members of the Union depended on tractor service operators, within the catchment area, to undertake their land preparation activities. As the pineapple planting activities often coincide with the general farming season, members were unable to secure the services of the tractor operators when needed and had often to compete with other farmers to get access to their services. For these reasons, the group was supported with a 4-wheel drive Massey Ferguson combo tractor with an 18-harrow discs for land preparation. This has contributed to a 30% increase in the area under cultivation. The area under pineapple cultivation increased from 852 acres in the 2021/2022 planting season to 1106 acres in the 2022/2023 planting season.
“This strategic investment has importantly impacted the production capacity of the cluster and therefore its competitiveness.”
The tractor is now rented out to members at subsidized rate to help in land preparation which hitherto was a major challenge, significantly contributing to an increase of about 1,200,000 million fruits and an additional 30% revenue.
Credit Access:
WACOMP-Ghana boosted the capacity of Qualipine through training in financial management and group dynamics. The project also linked the group to a microfinance company, Maroon Capital, to mobilize over GHS 441,000 needed to purchase inputs to increase capacity to supply off-takers. One of their major off-takers, HPW, has subsequently recommended the group for financing support from a major bank, Republic Bank, to further boost the group production capacity, in line with HPW demands.
Based on these successful results, the Union executives can now negotiate prices for members and have signed off-taker agreements with the major local fruit processors such as Bomarts, Blue Skies and recently with AGROPAL West Africa Limited.
“Our production capacity has increased to about 25% annually as a result of the technical support received from WACOMP-Ghana and UNIDO.“
Market Access Opportunities for Qualipine:
“Thanks to this successful collaboration, there has been a substantial increase in the volume of pineapples sourced from the Qualipine Union. This not only bolsters the livelihoods of local farmers but also ensures a consistent supply of fresh, high-grade pineapples for AGROPAL West Africa Limited, making the company competitive in the international markets.”
Before we encountered UNIDO, we were not visiting international fairs. WACOMP – Ghana linked our members to the international markets. The Union participated in the 2023 Fruit Logistica Fair in Berlin, Germany and has set up a partnership with KOBS farms, another WACOMP in Ghana beneficiary. We are currently providing fresh pineapples to KOBS farms, and they are exporting to the EU and Morocco. Last year 80 tons of fresh pineapples from the group were exported through the partnership.
Managing Post Harvest losses:
“WACOMP-Ghana also provided the Union with the foundation to effectively manage post-harvest losses. With what we have achieved with UNIDO, we are currently setting up a fruit processing company to minimize post-harvest losses,” says Abigail Amponsah Addy, Financial Secretary of Qualipine Union
The project also introduced the use of plastic mulch and GAPs, reducing the amount of fertilizer applied on the plant all year round from 10 to 6 rounds of liquid fertilizer. This has translated into 40% savings on fertilizer purchases. The plastic mulch cover keeps the ridges humid and retains water for the plant which further reduces the gestation period of the pineapple from the usual 18 months to 14 months.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude for this partnership that goes beyond mere assistance – it is a catalyst for positive change and growth.”
