Project Ghana seeks to undertake various projects in Agriculture, real estate and manufacturing. However, PGI is starting with Agriculture, specifically vegetable production, due to its low start-up and great profitability. Ghana’s economy thrives as a result of agriculture. The Agric sector is the biggest sector of the economy due to its high demand. The exciting element about this project is that there is already an existing market for all of our produce. PGI has done all the research to prove that this venture is highly profitable. Almost 200 percent profit if we have all logistics in place. This is exciting!!! We are pumped and we hope you are as well. With a million dollars over a period of a year, we are more than sure of making at the least a 50 per cent return on our investment.

We know that all things are possible. We want you a part of this great idea. A shareholder who will be proud of great accomplishments in the agri-industry in Ghana.

VEGETABLE PRODUCTION

Vegetables are parts of plants that are consumed by humans or other animals as food. It also refers to the edible plant matter including the flowers, fruits, stems, leaves, roots and seeds.

All vegetable and fruit exporters from Ghana will be required to belong to the VEGETABLE EXPORTERS AND PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION OF GHANA(VEPEAG) before being allowed to export their produce from the country.

All vegetable farmers are required to follow the standard ways of farming and the application of chemicals.

SWEET POTATOES

The sweet potato crop is of high economic importance due to its short cycle (3-4months) with the possibility of multiple planting cycle in a year. Market for sweet potatoes include Germany and other parts of Europe. The variety which is booming and having high international recognition is the orange fleshed variety of potato.

• Orange fleshed

Just like its name, this kind of potato is orange in colour with a sweet aroma when cooked. Apart from being delicious, the potato is extremely rich in vitamins A. The planting materials which is called vines can be sourced from VEPEAG.

The cost of vine for 1 acre is GH¢900

The expected number of tonnes harvested per acre is between 7-9 tonnes but 7tonnes is usually what is used in calculating for revenue

A kg of harvested potato is sold at GH¢3

1tonne = 1000kg

7tonnes =7,000kg

7tonnes of harvested potatoes will amount = 7*3

                                                                     = 21 which will be GH¢21,000

EXPENSES IN CULTIVATING AN ACRE OF POTATOES

Land preparation

Clearing = GH¢560 – GH¢360 for fuel, GH¢200 for operator

Harrowing = GH¢200

Ploughing = GH¢200

Ridging = GH¢200

Planting material (vine) = GH¢900

Planting = GH¢400

Good agricultural practices including weeding, spraying, watering etc = GH¢1,000

Transporting workers, farm tools and equipment, water, and produce to and from the farm

= GH¢1,160

Harvesting = GH¢400

Total expense = GH¢5000

NB: THE ABOVE VALUES ARE ALL ESTIMATED, THEY CAN EITHER GO UP OR DOWN.

• If a decision is taken to plant 10 acres of orange fleshed potatoes from the beginning, then it takes our expenses to GH¢50,000
• And revenue to be GH¢210,000
• And our total profit to be GH¢160,000

CHILI PEPPER

Chili pepper is produced in Ghana all year round. The crop grows in all the regions of the country. It is currently the most leading vegetable export from Ghana with the main market being the U.K., France, Netherlands and Germany. The length of time it takes chili pepper to mature vary from pepper to pepper, though most mature in 60 – 150 days. Sweeter peppers mature in 60- 90 das. The exportable varieties of chili from Ghana include the following:

• HABANERO PEPPER

The habanero pepper is a hot variety of chili pepper. Unripe habaneros are green and they colour as they mature. The most common colour variants are orange and red. Typically, a ripe habanero is 2-6cm long. Habanero seed are nursed for about two weeks before planting them in the field. Growing habanero peppers requires bright sun, warm temperatures and well drained soil. Good agricultural practices like deep watering, fertilizer application, fungal disease control and insect control are very important in the cultivation of habanero peppers.

EXPENSES IN CULTIVATING AN ACRE OF HABANERO PEPPER

Land preparation

Clearing = GH¢560 – GH¢360 for fuel, GH¢200 for operator

Harrowing = GH¢200

Ploughing = GH¢200

Ridging  = GH¢200

Planting material (seeds) = GH540

Planting = GH¢400

Good agricultural practices including weeding, spraying, watering etc = GH¢1,000

Transporting workers, farm tools and equipment, water, and produce to and from the farm

= GH¢1,160

Harvesting = GH¢400

Total expense = GH¢4,660

REVENUE

The cost of pepper seeds for 1 acre is GH¢540

The expected number of tonnes harvested per acre is 5-6tonnes but 5tonnes is usually what is used in calculating for revenue.

Harvesting of habanero pepper is done on weekly basis till the plant stops bearing.

A kg of harvested habanero is sold at GH¢6

1tonne = 1000kg

5tonnes =5,000kg

5tonnes of harvested habanero will amount = 5*6

                                                                      = 30 which will give you GH¢30,000

Total income = revenue – expenses

                       = GH¢25,340/acre

• If a decision is taken to plant 5 acres of habanero pepper from the beginning, then it takes our expenses to GH¢23,300
• And revenue to be GH¢150,000
• And our total profit to be GH¢126,700

OKRA

Okra can be produced anywhere in Ghana but as a warm season crop, it does best in warm moist soils. Low lying areas with evenly distributed annual rainfall are most suitable. The crop can withstand extreme temperatures as occurred in the dry season. Okra seeds are planting directly and do not need to be nursed.

Fertilizers like NPK 15:15:15, Sulphate of Ammonia and Urea are usually used during fertilizer application. Adequate soil moisture, weed control, pest and disease control, nematode control and major disease control are necessary for optimum growth and yield.

Pods are harvested whiles its still tender, usually between 5-6 days after flowering. Then harvesting continues every 2-3 days till its stops bearing.

Yields of okra is dependent on cultivar, time and frequency of harvest

EXPENSES IN CULTIVATING AN ACRE OF OKRA

Land preparation

Clearing = GH¢560 – GH¢360 for fuel, GH¢200 for operator

Harrowing = GH¢200

Ploughing = GH¢200

Ridging  = GH¢200

Planting material (seeds) = GH¢600

Planting = GH¢400

Good agricultural practices including weeding, spraying, fertilizer application, pest and disease control, nematode control, watering etc = GH¢2,000

Transporting workers, farm tools and equipment, water, and produce to and from the farm

= GH¢1,160

Harvesting = GH¢400

Others = GH¢280

Total expense = GH¢6,000

REVENUE

The cost of okra seeds for 1 acre is GH¢600

The expected number of tonnes harvested per acre is 7-8tonnes but 7tonnes is usually what is used in calculating for revenue.

A kg of harvested okra is sold at GH¢3.50p

1tonne = 1000kg

7tonnes =7,000kg

7tonnes of harvested habanero will amount = 7*3.5

                                                                      = 24.5 which will give you GH¢24,500

Total income = revenue – expenses

                       = GH¢18,500/acre

• If a decision is taken to plant 5 acres of okra from the beginning, then it takes our expenses to GH¢30,000
• And revenue to be GH¢122,500
• And our total profit to be GH¢92,500

NB: EXPENSE COST SHOULD INCLUDE TRANSPORTATION OF RAW MATERIALS TO THE FARM AND TRANSPORTATION OF PRODUCE FROM THE FARM.

An estimated expense amount of GH¢2,000 will be used

TOTAL EXPENSES =50,000+30,000+23,300+2,000

                                   = GH¢105,300

TOTAL REVENUE = GH¢482,500

TOTAL PROFIT = GH¢377,200

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL THE ABOVE FIGURES AND NUMBERS ARE ACCURATE NUMBER COLLECTED FROM VEGETABLE EXPORTERS AND PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION OF GHANA(VEPEAG). THIS IS AN ASSOCIATION WE NEED TO JOIN IF WE ARE LOOKING INTO VENTURING INTO THE VEGETABLE BUSINESS.

VEPEAG IS READILY AVAILABLE TO BUY ALL OUR PRODUCE TILL WE ARE FIT AND CERTIFIED ENOUGH TO DO ALL OUR EXPORTS ON OUR OWN. VEPEAG IS ALSO READILY AVAILABLE TO GIVE U A MARKET ONCE YOU ARE REGISTERED UNDER THEM AND CERTIFIED ENOUGH TO DO YOUR OWN EXPORT.

REGISTRATION FEE FOR VEPEAG IS GH¢750 A YEAR AND GH¢200 IN THE SUBSEQUENT YEARS.