Abstract:
The study assessed the value and supply chain of kola nuts in Ghana
through key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions
(FGDs) in eighteen communities. Key actors, flow of products and
product information, and relationship among actors were assessed
using content analysis. Results suggest that the nuts are picked or
harvested from either wild or cultivated kola trees by farmers or
pickers. The nuts are then processed or cured for storage by either
the farmers, pickers or brokers who buy harvested kola pods for
assemblers. The assemblers either sell to local consumers or on large
markets in neighbouring countries like Nigeria. The business model for
the kola nut industry in Ghana is such that transactions are usually on
mutual trust and verbal agreements without any documented evidence.
There is limited market information, which often hinders price
negotiation, and this affects especially producers and processors. For
improving the value chain for mutual benefit among the actors, especially
for producers, we recommend the formation of a strong horizontal
linkage through avenues, such as associations as well as strong
vertical and consistent linkages between the actors.
