Analysis of Quality Infrastructure Services along the maize and pineapple value chains

182 Pages·2016·4.3 MB·English

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Seminar für Ländliche Entwicklung Berlin
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pineapple value chains in Ghana with a focus on smallholder farmers
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T Thomas Pfeiffer, David Bexte, Erik Dolch, Milica Sandalj, Edda Treiber,
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ISSN: 1433-4585 ISBN: 3-936602-72-7 S

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
Seminar für Ländliche Entwicklung | Centre for Rural Development

SLE has been offering practice-oriented vocational education and training for fu-
ture experts and managers in the field of international development cooperation
since 1962. The courses range from Postgraduate Studies to Training Courses for
international experts in Berlin to practice-oriented research and Consultancy for
Organizations and Universities active in the field of development cooperation.

Thomas Pfeiffer (Team Leader)
Degree from the Technical University of Darmstadt in Mechanical Engineering
E-mail: [email protected]
David Bexte
M.A. Global Studies
M.A. Human Development and Food Security
E-mail: [email protected]
Erik Dolch
M.Sc. Biobased Products and Bioenergy
E-mail: [email protected]
Milica Sandalj
M.Sc. Organic Agriculture and Food Systems
E-mail: [email protected]
Edda Treiber
Diploma Applied Biogeography (M.Sc. equivalent)
E-mail: [email protected]
Nico Wilms-Posen
M.Sc. Agricultural Development
E-mail: [email protected]
SLE Postgraduate Studies on International Cooperation
SLE PUBLICATION SERIES S 266

Study commissioned by
Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt PTB

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

Thomas Pfeiffer
David Bexte
Erik Dolch
Milica Sandalj
Edda Treiber
Nico Wilms-Posen

Berlin, April 2016

Supported by

SLE PUBLICATION SERIES S 266

Editor Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
SLE Postgraduate Studies on International Cooperation
[Supervisor of Team]
Hessische Str. 1-2
10115 Berlin
Germany
Tel. [phone]
FAX: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.sle-berlin.de
Backstopper Wolfram Lange
Dr. Karin Fiege

Print Zerbe Druck&Werbung
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16537 Grünheide
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Distribution SLE
Hessische Str. 1-2
10115 Berlin
Germany

Cover photos Thomas Pfeiffer

Copyright 2016 by SLE
1st Edition 2016 (1-150)
ISSN 1433-4585
ISBN 3-936602-72-7

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Foreword
Foreword
For 53 years, the Centre for Rural Development (Seminar für Ländliche Ent-
wicklung, SLE) at the Humboldt Universität zu Berlin has trained young profes-
sionals in the field of German and international development cooperation.
Three-month practical projects conducted on behalf of German and interna-
tional organisations in development cooperation form an integral component of
the one-year postgraduate course. In interdisciplinary teams and with the guid-
ance of experienced team leaders, young professionals carry out assignments on
innovative future-oriented topics, providing consultant support to the commis-
sioning organisations. Involving a diverse range of actors in the process is of great
importance here, i.e. surveys from the household level to decision-makers and
experts at national level.
The studies are mostly linked to rural development (including the management
of natural resources, climate change, food security or agriculture), the coopera-
tion with fragile or less developed countries (including disaster prevention, peace
building, and relief), or the development of methods (evaluation, impact analysis,
participatory planning, process consulting and support). Over the years, SLE has
carried out over two hundred consulting projects in more than ninety countries,
and regularly publishes the results in this series. In 2015, SLE teams completed
studies in Ghana, the Philippines, Mozambique and Namibia.
The present study is the synthesis of the development and testing of a meth-
odology on the systematic field research in two of Ghana’s rural provinces to what
degree quality infrastructure (QI) is utilized by smallholders. The two value chains
maize and pineapple were studied with a focus on QI providers, their QI services
and what obstacles lay in smallholders’ way to increase utilization of QI.
The study was commissioned by the Federal German agency for standardiza-
tion and metrology Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB). In the field,
PTB’s implementing partner the Ghana Standards Authority was supporting and
involved in the detailed performance of this study.
The full report is available from the SLE and downloadable from the SLE web-
site.
Prof. Dr. Richard Lucius Dr. Susanne Neubert
Dean Director
Faculty of Life Sciences Centre for Rural Development (SLE)
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
ii
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
The research team – or “SLE Ghana Crew” as we call ourselves – would like to
express first and foremost their gratitude towards the donor of this study. Not
only did the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) make funds available,
but its support with regards to the content and topic was remarkable. PTB’s flexi-
bility was very helpful in enabling the SLE Ghana Crew to adapt to various situa-
tions, particularly in the field.
In Ghana, we were warmly received and welcomed by so many people, organi-
zations and companies that we can only mention a few. The Ghana Standards Au-
thority (GSA) is not only PTB’s main implementing partner, but was also our host.
In particular, the GSA’s Metrology Department managed by P. Date provided us
with a steady counterpart. GIZ’s MOAP program was so kind to provide us with a
vehicle, partially finance two drivers and contribute to our study – through its
countrywide staff – with extremely helpful insights in their work and the situation
of Ghanaian smallholders. The University of Ghana in Legon not only hosted us,
but also made a crucial contribution to the study by offering their agricultural ex-
pertise. In addition, the university facilitated our contact with five of their gradu-
ates who helped us understanding the smallholder farmers. In particular, we are
thankful to the crop science department managed by Dr. C. Amoatey who dis-
cussed practical details with us throughout the project. The German Embassy
kindly gave this project clout by opening the recommendation workshop.
Our gratitude also goes to members of Ghanaian Ministries such as the MoTI
and MoFA at the national and regional levels and the GSA’s executive manage-
ment and staff, who we had the privilege to meet and interact with.
We encountered a great deal of
interest for and commitment to
the topic and an earnest wish to
make progress in this rather com-
plex topic of QI utilization. We
hope that this report is found help-
ful by its most important users:

PTB and the GSA. From the outset,
Photo: T. Pfeiffer
this research was intended to be an
open research with many more stakeholders.
In order to be accessible to as many stakeholders as possible, this report is
written in English.