GhanaVeg – Update on Program Progress Business Platform – 19 June, 2014 Joep van den Broek GhanaVeg Program Leader

Introduction  GhanaVeg: to support the private sector in further investing in and innovating Ghana’s vegetable sector.  Our motto is ‘Healthy and quality vegetables from Ghana through new ways of doing business’.  The GhanaVeg Business Platform aims to be: ● The meeting place for Ghana’s vegetable sector ● Setting the agenda for future investments ● Preparing strategy and market studies ● Driving the public-private dialogue for the vegetable sector.

The GhanaVeg Program  Focus: ● High-value domestic market and exports ● Commercial vegetable crops: tomato, chili peppers, bell peppers, onions, Asian vegetables, eggplant, cucumber, squash, melons and spices. ● Private sector: entire chain from input supply to retail and from logistics to private extension. ● At farm level the project focuses on: the commercial smallholder farmer, the small investor farmers as well as large-scale farming (with outgrowers). ● period

Program structure and activities GhanaVeg Business Platform Business to Business Activities Business Opportunities Fund R&D Innovation Fund Consultancy Fund Public-Private Dialogue GhanaVeg Secretariat

Update 1. MoTI Collaboration  Horticulture priority sector in MoTI’s strategy  Emphasis on: ● Input supply (subsidy/vouchers) ● Farmer group models (outgrowers/FBOs) ● Logistics (pack & coolhouses) ● Certification (TRAQ) ● Grants and loans (EDAIF) & ● Land (medium-term)  MoTI and GhanaVeg to develop a joint action plan

Update 2. EU-COLEACP-PIP  Export study advises on need for certification; which becomes prerequisite for all EU markets in a few years  EU-COLEACP Program can assist in certification (GlobalGAP, HACCP, BRC)  Still some room for new applications till 2015 ● Large farms / exporters ● Group certification (small-scale farmers)  If interested GhanaVeg can assist with application  Applications:

Update 3. B.O. and R&D Funds  Call closed 6 May; 11 applicants  4 approved, two presented today  7 were rejected because incomplete (e.g. budget, targets or M&E Framework missing) or not eligible (e.g. no seed company or wholesaler/retailer/exporter)  An adapted fund guideline comes out focusing on: ● Intake meeting GV team to discuss feasibility ● More detailed form for applications ● Additional support from GV for proposal dev’t ● Longer time for application (> 2months)  The extended call (deadline 9 June) will be assessed soon

3. B.O. and R&D Funds (2)  New B.O. Calls with deadline for 1 September will start soon. Proposed topics: ● Chain integration (continued) ● Greenhouse / Nurseries (design & local construction) ● High-end exports  R&D Call for Proposals most likely to continue on innovations in input supply: seed, irrigation, fertilizers and crop protection products

Contact details Joep van den BroekEnam Gbekor Program LeaderSnr Business Advisor Hanson Arthur Fund Manager

Thank you!