PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES OF CHILLI PEPPER VALUE CHAIN DEVELOPMENT IN THE TOLON-KUMBUNGU DISTRICT OF THE NORTHERN REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

Value chains (VC) have been identified as one of the methods of improving agriculture and sharing gains. It is one of the major policies of the MoF A. The IFDC and MOAP have been promoting the development of the chilli pepper VC in the Tolon-Kumbung District of the Northern Region of Ghana, hence the need to study the prospects and challenges of the development of this VC in the District. Semi-structured questionnaire were administered to 188 respondents who were purposively sampled from the groups working with IFDC and MOAP to collect data on issues such as market accessibility, upgrading strategies, constraints and prospects of the VC. The respondents cut across all the actors in the chain. FGD were also held in some of the communities. Key informants from implementing partners provided useful information. Data gathered were analysed using descriptive statistics and rankings. The study found that producer groups had limited access to market due to the lack of group cohesion. There was no bulking and collective marketing and limited market information. The study also found the lack of financial credit to actors; lack of requisite processing equipment and storage facilities; inability of actors to adopt improved production methods; and high cost of agricultural inputs ranked in that order as challenges. The prospects associated with the chilli pepper VC development include; high quality chilli pepper and products and the existence of functional VC Committee. It is recommended that a chilli pepper business platform be established in the district, link actors onto the IFDC Mobile-farm platform; and involve the District Assembly in the chilli pepper VC.