This report marks the conclusion of a six-month research project commissioned by PTB in May 2015, exploring quality infrastructure (QI) in Ghana’s maize and pineapple value chains. It aims to identify existing QI services, assess their accessibility for smallholders, and evaluate potential improvements. PTB’s cooperation targets five QI components: metrology, standardization, testing, certification, and accreditation. Ghana’s key partners include the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), and the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD). Agriculture, employing 45% of Ghana’s labor force, is central to rural livelihoods and poverty reduction. The study focused on maize in Brong-Ahafo and pineapple in the Volta region, employing qualitative methods and analyzing 144 interviews. Findings revealed low QI utilization among smallholders. For maize, aflatoxin contamination due to poor drying/storage poses health and economic risks; moisture meters and aflatoxin tests are underused. For pineapples, QI services are mostly used for export certification; domestic markets lack strong quality demands. Barriers include lack of awareness, high costs, and limited access to services. Smallholders measure quality using traditional methods, leading to inefficiencies and product losses. Cost-benefit analyses showed economic gains from QI use. Recommendations include raising aflatoxin awareness, establishing rural QI hubs, enhancing vocational training, and integrating QI into district-level agricultural strategies. Emphasis is placed on consumer-driven quality demand and systematic partnerships with national institutions. The annex proposes five project ideas to promote QI use in rural Ghana.
Measuring gaps and weighing benefits
Analysis of Quality Infrastructure Services along the maize and pineapple value chains in Ghana with a focus on smallholder farmers
Authors
Pfeiffer, Thomas, David Bexte, Erik Dolch, Milica Sandalj, Edda Treiber, Nico Wilms-Posen
Type of publication
Study
Status
Type of projcect
Edition and year
2016
DOI
10.18452/3212
Language
English
Country
Ghana
Link to project
https://edoc.hu-berlin.de/items/8b3440e3-7ded-4df8-a52c-cba7e290d453
