Growth Green Agriculture (GG Agriculture) | Giant African Land Snail Agricultural Threat

They are slimy, they eat just about everything in their path and experts say the Giant African Land Snail is the next invasive species wreaking havoc in South Florida.

Snails might be slow, but the pest could quickly spread to Palm Beach County with the help of commuters without them even knowing. Most at risk according to the Florida Department of Agriculture, are the vital crops that flourish in the region.

Growth Green Agriculture (GG Agriculture) | African Agriculture Has Real Potential

Although structural impediments such as poor logistics render the search for new avenues of deeper intra-African trade challenging' there is an immediate and compelling growth potential in the trade of agricultural products' Standard Bank research analyst Simon Freemantle said last week.

Growth Green Agriculture (GG Agriculture) | Severest drought in the U.S. since the 1930s

Severest drought in the U.S. since the 1930s

Glencore International Plc (GLEN) and Bunge Ltd. (BG) expect lower prices for agricultural commodities in the coming season after the most severe drought in the U.S. since the 1930s drove corn and soybeans to records last year.

Growth Green Agriculture (GG Agriculture) | Small scale farming in Kebbi

Nigeria: Bank of Agriculture will partner with Kebbi State Government to boost small scale farming in the state by expending 1 to 2 billion naira as funding support to assist small scale farmers in collaboration with Kebbi State Government.

Full story: allAfrica.com
Growth Green Agriculture (GG Agriculture) 

Growth Green Agriculture (GG Agriculture) | Making Agricultural Investments Work for Africa

AWEPA is collaborating with the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) to organize a two-day seminar on "Making Agricultural Investments Work for Africa: the Role of Parliamentarians" in Kigali, Rwanda, on 26-27 April 2013.

Growth Green Agriculture (GG Agriculture) | $80bn in Agricultural Investments

Growth Green Agriculture (GG Agriculture) | Arab World needs US$ 80.65 billion in agricultural investment to close the widening food gap, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, said today.

In his keynote address today to the Annual Meeting of Arab Financial Institutions and the Fourth Meeting for the Council of Arab Finance Ministers, Sheikh Hamdan stressed that the UAE's initiative to enhance economic stability in the Arab region, which it presented in September 2011 in Abu Dhabi, considers an important step in the march of joint Arab economic.

Small growers 'big role' in hunger reduction

Small-scale producers, local production and consumption circuits and recovering traditional crops have a major part to play in reducing hunger, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva told professors and students at the University of Gastronomic Sciences recently, also noting the many possibilities of cooperation between FAO and the university to fulfil the vision of a hunger-free and sustainable world.

He said that the Green Revolution of the 1960s had increased per capita availability of food by over 40 percent, but at the cost of a loss of food diversity because of a focus on a few crops and significant impact on the environment from intensive use of chemical inputs.

Italy to support Ghanaian SMEs with €20m

The government of Italy will support Ghanaian Small and Medium and Enterprises (SMEs) with 20 million Euros, under the Ghana Private Sector Development Facility (GPSDF).

The two countries have also pledged to deepen economic ties between them, and to remove all outstanding bottlenecks to ensure rapid disbursement of the amount to beneficiary SMEs.

India to Invest in Ghana Sugar Factory

The Indian government, through the EXIM Bank of India, last year agreed to grant a loan of US$35 million to Ghana to fund the construction of a new sugar factory at Komenda in the Central Region of Ghana.

The project, which is expected to create around 400 jobs as well as benefiting more than 2,000 farmers, is due to commence in July.

Rakinder Bhagat, the Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, during a visit to Trade and Industry Minister Haruna Iddrisu in Accra recently said that an initial 30% of the funds would be released as soon as the contract is finalized. Mr. Bhagat said that India was committed to strengthening bilateral relations with Ghana.

Foreigners Confident to Invest in Ghana

Confidence is high among foreign investors looking to invest in Ghana. The country’s economy is showing strong growth, and the number of registered investments grew by 6.42% in the first three quarters of last year, totaling 305 projects valued at $4.97 billion.

VP Calls on Italians to Invest in Ghana

Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, 61, the vice president of Ghana since 2012, last week called on Italian businesses to invest in Ghana, saying that the country’s economic prospects are high.

The economist and politician, who has previously worked as Governor of the Bank of Ghana, made the call as Laura Carpini, the new Italian Ambassador to Ghana visited him at the Flagstaff House in the capital Accra to introduce herself.

Ukraine increases agricultural export by 40%

In 2012, Ukrainian agricultural export increased by nearly 40 percent, reaching USD 17 billion, according to the Ukrainian Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Mykola Prysyazhnyuk. Additionally, he noted that Ukrainian agricultural industry produces twice as much as is consumed by the domestic market. Comparably, the UK produces only 60 percent of the food consumed in the country.

Ukrainian agricultural export in January – October 2012 included meat, fish, dairy, poultry, vegetables, vegetable oils, sugar, wine, nuts, apples, as well as 6.7 million tons of wheat worth nearly USD 1.8 billion, according toukrstat.gov.ua. Major buyers of Ukrainian agricultural products in 2012 were the EU and CIS countries.

Ghana - a successful African nation

Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has twice the per capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa. Even so, Ghana remains somewhat dependent on international financial and technical assistance as well as the activities of the large number of Ghanaians living and working abroad. Gold, timber, cocoa, diamond, bauxite, and manganese exports are major sources of foreign exchange. An oilfield which is reported to contain up to three billion barrels of light oil was discovered in 2007.This discovery may not only help offset the current high cost of oil imports but may in time generate large revenues for the country.

The domestic economy continues to revolve around subsistence agriculture, which accounts for 50% of GDP and employs 85% of the work force, mainly small landholders.

Ghana has made good economic progress under a three-year structural adjustment program in cooperation with the IMF. Ghana remains one of the more economically sound countries in all of Africa.

Agricultural Commodities Looking Strong

Agricultural commodities can be strong in both the short and long run, and are currently being driven by a rash of bad weather. This comes as a stark contrast to the likes of base and precious metals, which are relying heavily on QE3. Corn and soybean prices, as well as other commodities, have spiked due to a record drought, and forecasts look bleak for the remainder of the year. If the drought persists into 2013, supplies will remain strained, and prices could go even higher. The S&P GSCI Agriculture Commodity Index is up 18% year to date.

For fiscal year 2012, the USDA projects U.S. agricultural exports to decline 1% from 2011, and imports to be up as much as 13%; resulting in a decline of 30% in the favorable trade balance in 2012, to $30 billion.

Investing in Agriculture can Help Feed the World

As food prices soar in response to growing demand and crops fail in the US after the worst drought since the 1930s, investing in agriculture, or agribusiness if you want to diversify along the value chain, is becoming more and more popular.

There is plenty of scope for the money to be usefully invested. According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation, “it is estimated that net investments of $83bn a year must be made in the agriculture sector of developing countries if there is to be enough food to feed the world population of 9.1bn in 2050”.

Agriculture Looking Increasingly Attractive

The global financial markets have experienced significant growth and expansion in recent times, both in terms of total trading volume and the choice of financial instruments available to investors. This evolution cannot be ignored, as it enhances the liquidity of the market while also increasing the subsequent range of risk management products available. 

Despite this influx of new options, however, some long-standing investment opportunities remain enduringly popular among traders. Take agriculture, for example. Agricultural investments are offering an increasingly attractive proposition to investors against the back drop of global warming and significant climate change. In particular, there has been a surge among American farm exports during the last three years, with the outlook forecasted to be even brighter for fiscal year 2013.

Wheat production enjoys growth in 2013

First forecasts for the 2013 wheat harvest point to production increasing to 690 million tonnes - 4.3 percent up on 2012. This would be the second largest crop on record, according to the latest issue of FAO's quarterly Crop Prospects and Food Situation report.

EU, FAO support food security in Malawi

EU Commissioner Piebalgs and FAO Director-General Graziano da Silva in high-level visit

5 March 2013, Brussels/Rome/Lilongwe - During a high level visit to Malawi, EU Development Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, and José Graziano da Silva, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), will meet today with President Joyce Banda to discuss the country's challenges on nutrition and food security, and to underline ongoing EU and FAO support in this area.

India firm to invest $65m in Ghana

Indian firm Harrisons Malayalam is reportedly considering plans to develop rubber plantations on 4,000-5,000 hectares of land in Ghana on long-term lease basis.

The R.P.-Sanjiv Goenka group-owned tea and plantations company says it would invest nearly Rs 300 crore which is equivalent to about $65 million to set up the plantations, said N. Dharmaraj, Executive Director of Harrisons Malayalam, the Hindu BusinessLine reported February 22, 2013.

UN celebrates Andean “super food”

Quinoa can play an important role in eradicating hunger, malnutrition and poverty, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva said yesterday at the official launch of the International Year of Quinoa at UN Headquarters.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, President Evo Morales of Bolivia and First Lady Nadine Heredia Alarcón de Humala of Peru were among the high-level participants in a day-long series of events celebrating the Andean "super food", a highly nutritious, cereal-like crop that is rich in protein and micronutrients.

KPMG Report Highlights Reasons to Invest in Ghana

World Bank projections indicate that Ghana, which began exporting oil in 2011, will have the
fastest growth rate on the continent, estimated at 13.4% in 2011 and 10.4% in 2012 (World Bank Global Economic prospects 2011).

Andre Rafnsson, director of Growth Green Agriculture, an agricultural investment company, highlights the findings of an in-depth report published by KMPG titled "Doing Business in Ghana" as strong reasons to invest in Ghana.

Growth Green Agriculture Asks: Why Invest in Ghana?

With strong, broad-based economic growth for close to two decades, Ghana today has reason to be optimistic. The country has enjoyed two peaceful democratic transitions, with a strong civil society and media playing active roles. Ghana also remains on course to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of halving poverty by 2015, with economic growth averaging 6–7 percent since 2005. (World Bank)

Investment opportunities in Ghana are 'growing exponentially'

The stable democratic atmosphere and the discovery of oil reserves in 2010 have made Ghana the fastest growing economy in the West African Sub region. "Millions of dollars are being realised by private entrepreneurs...and in the past decade there has been an improvement in Ghana's infrastructure with better prospects for growth still to come." says Kenneth Ofori, business manager for Devtraco Plus, a luxury real estate company in Ghana.

UN food agencies staff in Mozambique receive an Award of Excellence

Rome – In acknowledgement of the importance of partnership in tackling global issues, the staff of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have today been recognized for their outstanding work together in Mozambique.
Over the past several years, the UN food agencies’ country teams have collaborated effectively to help improve the country’s food security situation.

Agricultural Investment needed to promote Agro-Forestry, says FAO

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says millions of people could escape poverty, hunger and environmental degradation if countries put more effort into promoting agro-forestry, an integrated approach combining trees with crop or livestock production.
The agro-forestry sector is a significant source both of local commodities such as fuel wood, timber, fruit and fodder for livestock as well as global ones such as coconut, coffee, tea, rubber and gum.

Successful Democratic Election in Ghana attracts French Investment

This coming May Ghana will be hosting many top business executives from France, who will be visiting the country to explore new business opportunities.

Growth Green Agriculture: Dutch company set to invest in Ghana

Louis Dreyfus Commodities, a global merchandiser of commodities and food processing, said it would invest in Ghana to ensure food sufficiency and create jobs.
“With more than 160 years of experience, our portfolio has grown to include oilseeds, grains, feed, rice, freight, finance, juice, cotton, coffee, sugar, metals, dairy and fertilizer,” Mrs Margarita Louis-Dreyfus, Chairman of the Group of Companies, said.

New GIPC boss hired to encourage companies to Invest in Ghana

Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama on January 20, 2013 named Ms Mawuena Dumor Trebah, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC).

She replaces Mr George Aboagye who resigned late last year. Ms Trebah, was a former head of Corporate Services at MTN Ghana.

The GIPC is a government agency that seeks to encourage, promote and facilitate investments in the country.

Ghana’s development partners asked for more direct investments

Ghana Business News » Ghana’s development partners asked to undertake more direct investments

Growth Green Agriculture Plc is a UK based agricultural investments company specialising in emerging markets offering lucrative opportunities to invest in Ghana. +Growth Green Agriculture acts as consultant on green and socially responsible investments to the private and institutional investor community in Europe.

Oil Giant Has Big Plans to Invest in Ghana

Global oil giant KOSMOS Energy has announced plans to invest in Ghana with over $275 million being allocated from it's planned capital program for its operations in Ghana and other parts of the globe.

KOSMOS is one of the partners on Ghana’s Jubilee oil field. Their plan to invest in Ghana centres on development activities offshore and amounts to approximately 55% of the total budget, with a further $225 million allocated for exploration and appraisal activities across KOSMOS’ global exploration portfolio.

Growth Green Agriculture - UN: invest responsibly in agriculture to beat global poverty

Ramped up responsible investment into agriculture could help tackle poverty and hunger across the world, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

It says that around 870 million people globally – primarily in developing countries – currently have insufficient access to food, and that investment strategies that put farmers at their heart should be lauded by governments.

Growth Green Agriculture - Agriculture Investment Summit Europe 2013

Europe's leading conference for investors looking to invest in agriculture as an asset class.

Investments and Strategy for producers and investors 26 - 27 June 2013

Agriculture Investment Summit Europe 2013 is an event designed to bring investors and agribusinesses together under one roof. The conference will focus on the value which agri-focussed investments can bring to a portfolio, and outline how to take advantage of what has been described as the “greatest opportunity on earth”.

The Agriculture Investment Summit is a 2 day event which will consider the role agriculture investment should take within a portfolio, the various benefits of the differing access methods, and where the greatest opportunity for real return on investment lay.

For more information about this event click here