When asked about their favorite fruits, most people invariably mention mango—a fruit that 94% of people worldwide love to eat. A fruit that has earned the title of “king of fruits.” 

The mango market size reached a value of nearly $57,332.9 million in 2021. In Ghana, the mango market is also big. It ranks in 11th position among the world’s mango-exporting countries. Ghana accounts for nearly 1.7% of the global market demand. In this blog, we will talk about Ghana’s Mango sector.

The mangoes from Ghana are unbeatable in terms of flavor and quality. Many types of mangos grow in Ghana. Among these, the Kent, Keitt, and Palmer varieties grown here have sweet, juicy, aromatic flesh. 

Kent Mango: Known for their sweet, rich flavor, tang, and smooth, non-fibrous texture. People typically prefer them fresh or in desserts and smoothies. The Keitt variety of mangoes is slightly tangy with sweetness, and fiberless, making them just right for fresh eating and culinary purposes. 

Palmer Mango: Palmer varieties are large, very sweet, and nearly fiberless. It is one of the most famous for fresh eating and juicing. Tommy Atkins mangos, with their low sweetness, hold a special place in the market due to their long shelf life and cooking versatility. 

Haden Mango: The Haden variety boasts a rich, aromatic flavor and a somewhat fibrous texture, making it a popular choice for salads and salsas.

There is also a shorter mango season from November to January. The primary mango season in Ghana spans from April to August, marking the harvest and peak availability of mangoes in the markets.

Ghana has many mango farms, with the Eastern, Brong-Ahafo, and Volta regions being the most prominent. Farmers range from smallholder plots to large-scale commercial farms. They serve a significant market not only for the consumption of the local population but also for the exportation of their products.

The country’s mango cultivation covers over 31,000 acres of land. Approximately 47,000 to 50,000 people are working in this industry. This vast and expansive farming area fosters a robust mango cultivation industry, thereby creating employment opportunities. However, Ghana has recently faced some difficulties in the cultivation process.

Let’s hear from a farmer who has worked at a mango farm in Ghana for eight years. Despite owning a mango farm, Monhilian, a Ghanaian farmer, actively participates in various activities with other farmers. 

Monhilian demonstrates his commitment to maintaining his farm by fostering connections with everyone and involving himself in every task, no matter how small.

“I am deeply committed to the upkeep of my property.” 

Despite the favorable condition of his farm, he believes that resolving certain issues could significantly boost Ghana’s overall mango production. Monhilian expressed that the most significant challenge he currently faces is obtaining certification. His farm’s mangoes are pure and organic. However, he is unable to provide documentary proof because he does not possess certification. 

According to Monhilian, the process of obtaining the requisite export certifications is difficult and expensive for him, and he feels that its implementation would be impossible for farmers working on a smaller scale.

• Pest and Disease Management: Particularly the fruit fly and mango seed weevil remain the primary challenges for mango farmers. These harmful organisms severely destroy mangoes, increasing export market rejection. Implementing effective management methods against these harmful organisms can reduce losses.
• Post-harvest Losses: Post-harvest losses due to poor storage and transportation are another issue. Poor handling, limited cold storage, and poor shipping have caused maximum post-harvest losses. A decrease in quantity affects farmers’ earnings and mango supply.
• Competitive Market: Exporting and entering the market are difficult. International markets need high-quality standards due to sanitary and phytosanitary conditions, which are difficult to achieve and require significant quality control and certification investment. Shipping mangoes is expensive due to freight charges.
• Climate Change: Climate change problems, which lead to unpredictable weather patterns such as sporadic rainfall and prolonged drought, reduce mango production. Farmers must embrace climate-resilient techniques.
• Infrastructure and logistics: Infrastructure and logistics complicate mango production and exports. Poor road networks delay mango transportation, increasing expenses. 
• Financing: Mango farmers also struggle with financing. Farmers struggle to invest in modern agriculture, pest control, and post-harvest infrastructure due to high interest and restricted credit.

Shiwanka, a young individual and close nephew of Monhilian, recently graduated from a renowned university. He aspires to pursue a career in the agriculture sector, and he has decided to focus on mango farms as a platform for innovative and novel approaches. Monhilian informed Shiwanka about the most challenging problem he faced. 

Although Ghana boasts a number of farms producing certified mangoes, their quantity is relatively small. Therefore, Shiwanka decided to establish an organization that would provide training to farmers, establish a large storage facility for mangoes, and establish a research center to gather data on the purity and organic status of each mango. 

Let’s delve into his detailed business plan. In essence, he intends to establish a flexible organization. If farmers wish to form a partnership with their organization, the organization will offer a wide range of assistance to address their issues. such as- 

• For effective pest and disease management, Shiwanka’s organization will implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices to control pests like fruit flies and mango seed weevils. 
• By providing training and education on pest identification, monitoring, and control methods, Shiwanka aims to enhance their ability to manage pests effectively.
• Additionally, his organization will invest in research and development to create pest-resistant mango varieties and effective biopesticides, offering long-term solutions to these challenges. 
• Shiwanka plans to establish cold storage facilities at key points in the supply chain to address post-harvest losses and ensure mangoes’ quality during storage and transportation. After completing the harvesting and storing process, he will also give a proper confirmation of how much sanitation or cleaning has taken place in the whole harvesting process. In addition, Shiwanka plans to provide cold storage facilities to those who cannot afford them. 
• This organization will set up a microfinance system for farmers, enabling them to purchase necessary equipment, chemicals, and products. Finally, after tasting each tree’s mangoes, he will issue a genuine certificate, and the mango’s packaging or labeling will accurately reflect its nutritional value, enabling people to identify it as organic.

This comprehensive model not only solves a single problem, but it also effectively addresses nearly all issues. So, like Shiwanka, other investors or entrepreneurs should come and build this type of organization.

Between 2020 and 2021, mango exports from Ghana increased by 28 percent. This was in monetary value terms, amounting to USD 64.6 million in 2021 from USD 50.3 million in 2020. This represents growth that elevated the country’s ranking to the 11th largest mango-exporting country in the world. 

Currently, mangoes from Ghana are shipped to 32 destinations, including key markets such as Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom. In these countries, the demand for Ghanaian mangoes continues to rise. Other emerging fast-growing markets with enormous potential are Russia, Spain, and Hong Kong. 

The demand for mangoes worldwide is on the rise, paving the way for Ghana’s mango industry to grow. Ghana’s climate and soil are unquestionably conducive to successful harvesting, and its farmers have received extensive training over the years. 

Therefore, it would be a wise decision for investors to establish such an organization. With comprehensive plans in place, many farmers would be eager to collaborate with this future organization. This approach not only benefits the community but also offers successful business ideas. Therefore, investors can take initiatives like Shiwanka’s and contribute to the development of the Mango sector.