Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 1
SUPPORT SYSTEMS IN AGRICULTURE
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SUPPORT SYSTEMS IN AGRICULTURE
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Subject: Agricultural Science
Class: SHS 1
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 18
Grade code: 2.3.2.LI.2
Strand code: 3
Sub-strand code: 2
Content standard code: 2.3.2.CS.1
Indicator code: 2.3.2.LI.2
Theme: MOBILI SATION OF RESOURCES AND NETWORKS
Subtheme: SUPPORT SYSTEMS IN AGRICULTURE
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Welcome, students. Today, we are going to discuss a very important topic: Support Systems in Agriculture. Think about building a house. Can one person do it all alone? No! You need a mason, a carpenter, an electrician, and someone to supply the cement. Farming and agriculture are the same. A farmer, a market woman (trader), or a gari processor cannot succeed all by themselves. They need a team of supporters providing money, advice, good seeds, and fair rules.
A. What is an Agricultural Support System?
An agricultural support system is a network of organisations, institutions, and services that provide assistance to people involved in agriculture. Their goal is to make agriculture more productive, profitable, and sustainable. B. Who are the Key Actors in Agriculture?
The support systems help several people along the agricultural value chain. The main ones are: Farmers: The people who cultivate crops (like maize, cocoa, cassava) or raise animals (like chickens, goats, fish). Example: A cocoa farmer in Sefwi Wiawso. Traders: The people who buy agricultural produce from farmers and sell it to consumers or processors. Example: A market woman at Makola or Kejetia Market who sells tomatoes. Processors: Individuals or companies that transform raw agricultural produce into finished or semi-finished goods. Example: A company like FanMilk that turns milk into ice cream and yoghurt, or a local woman who processes cassava into gari and agbelima. C. Categories of Support Organisations and Their Services
We can group these support organisations into different categories based on the type of help they provide. Financial Institutions These organisations provide the money (capital) needed to start or expand an agricultural business. Services: Providing loans (credit) to buy inputs like seeds, fertilizers, and machines. Offering savings accounts for farmers to keep their profits safely. Providing insurance for crops and livestock against disasters like floods or diseases. Examples in Ghana: Agricultural Development Bank (ADB): A bank specifically created to support agriculture. They offer "farmer loans" at specific times of the year. Rural and Community Banks: These are located in farming communities and are designed to give small-scale farmers easier access to loans. Microfinance Companies: They provide very small loans (micro-credit) to small traders and processors, especially women. Research and Extension Services These organisations develop new technologies and knowledge and transfer them to farmers. Services: Research: Developing new, high-yielding, disease-resistant crop varieties (e.g., "obiligili" maize). Finding better ways to control pests and diseases. Researching improved animal breeds. Extension: Taking the research findings from the laboratory to the farmer in the field. Extension agents teach farmers modern farming techniques through demonstrations and workshops. Examples in Ghana: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR): This is the main research body. It has many institutes: Crops Research Institute (CRI) in Kumasi - Works on crops like maize, cassava, yam. Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) in Nyankpala, Tamale - Focuses on crops suitable for the northern savanna zone like sorghum and cowpea. Animal Research Institute (ARI) in Accra - Works on improving livestock. Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) Extension Agents: These are government workers in every district who visit and advise farmers directly. Regulatory and Policy Bodies These are government agencies that set the rules, standards, and policies for the agricultural sector. Services: Setting quality standards for produce (e.g., what makes cocoa Grade 1). Controlling the importation and quality of agro-chemicals. Setting guaranteed prices for certain key crops. Implementing national agricultural policies like "Planting for Food and Jobs." Examples in Ghana: Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA): The main government ministry responsible for the entire sector. Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD): A very powerful body that regulates the entire cocoa industry, from pricing and purchasing to quality control and disease control (e.g., through mass spraying). Food and Drugs Authority (FDA): Ensures that processed foods are safe for human consumption. A pineapple juice processor needs FDA approval. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Ensures that farming practices do not harm the environment. Input Suppliers and Marketers These are businesses that provide the physical items farmers need and help them sell their produce. Services: Selling essential inputs like certified seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, weedicides, and farm machinery. Buying produce from farmers for onward sale or processing. Examples in Ghana: Agro-chemical Companies: Wienco, Chemico, Yara Ghana (for fertilizers). Seed Producers: The Grains and Legumes Development Board, private seed companies. Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs): Companies licensed by COCOBOD to buy cocoa directly from farmers (e.g., Kuapa Kokoo). Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and International Bodies These are non-profit and international organisations that implement projects to support farmers, often focusing on specific communities or challenges. Services: Providing training on sustainable farming practices. Giving grants or seed money to farmer groups. Connecting farmers to new markets. Advocating for farmer-friendly policies. Examples in Ghana: Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA): Works across Africa to improve seeds, soil health, and market access for smallholder farmers. United States Agency for International Development (USAID): Funds many agricultural projects in Ghana, focusing on value chains like maize and soya. GIZ (German Development Cooperation): Supports projects in areas like cocoa sustainability and agricultural finance. Farmer-Based Organisations (FBOs) and Cooperatives These are groups of farmers who come together to achieve a common goal. Services: Collective Bargaining: A group of 100 farmers can negotiate a much better price for their maize than a single farmer. Input Sharing: They can buy fertilizer in bulk at a cheaper price. Knowledge Sharing: They learn from each other's experiences. Example in Ghana: Kuapa Kokoo Farmers' Union: A large cooperative of cocoa farmers that not only sells cocoa but also provides its members with training and social amenities.