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\hypersetup{pdftitle={Effect of Innovation on the Production and Marketing of Fresh Pineapples for Export in Ghana},pdfauthor={Kwamina Banson},pdfsubject={Tropentag 2010: Abstract},pdfkeywords={, farmers, Horticulture, International market, MD2, pineapple, resource, Smooth Cayenne},pdfpagemode=None,colorlinks=true}
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\parbox[b]{13.4cm}{\centering \large{\textbf{Tropentag, September 14-16, 2010, Zurich}}\\[1ex] \Large{``World Food System  ---\\A Contribution from Europe''\\[2ex]}}
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\Large{\textbf{Effect of Innovation on the Production and Marketing of Fresh Pineapples for Export in Ghana\footnote{\textbf{Contact Address:} Kwamina Banson, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Biotechnology and Nuclear Agricultural Research Institute, Box Lg80 Legon, Accra, Ghana, \mbox{e-mail}: \email{asskeroo@yahoo.com}}\\[0.8ex]}}
\normalsize{\textsc{Kwamina Banson}}
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\begin{itemize*}
\item[]{\small{\textit{Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Biotechnology and Nuclear Agricultural Research Institute, Ghana}}}
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\index[author]{Banson, Kwamina}
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\textbf{Abstract}
\begin{abstract}
\normalsize{
In Ghana, pineapple export accounts for more than 50 percent of the total horticultural exports and is a source of income and employment for many people. However, the introduction of the new MD2 has resulted in a rapid squeezing out of Smooth Cayenne from the international market. MD2 has gained a share of about 70 percent of the international market for fresh pineapples within the last few years. Ghana belongs to the latecomers in the adoption of this new variety. This has caused a major threat to resource poor producers who cannot easily catch up with this innovation properly and to the pineapple industry as a whole.



In the study, the dynamic Structure, Conduct and Performance (SCP) model is used as a framework for analysing the effects of the introduction of the new pineapple variety MD2 into the production and marketing system of the pineapple sector in Ghana. The study was carried out in the peri"=urban areas of the Greater Accra Region, an area in the proximity to the ports of export. Producers and exporters were interviewed using standardised questionnaires.



The results show that the change in product variety from Smooth Cayenne to MD2 has decreased competitiveness and farm income of producers due to limited access to planting materials, other inputs, credits, and know"=how. In addition, producer production involves high levels of uncertainty concerning marketing risk, rejection of produce and late- and non"=payment by exporters. The production of other crops is one way producers adopt to reduce their dependence on pineapple cultivation and the associated vulnerability to price declines or excess supply. The research also shows that innovative firms in Ghana are not markedly more profitable in terms of rates of return on sales or assets. However they do have much higher rates of sales growth, which means that the absolute amount of profits grows faster than in less innovative firms. As hypothesised the study confirms that innovations in product variety from Smooth Cayenne to MD2 have worsened the plight and competitiveness of the small scale resource poor farmers in Ghana. 



}

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\noindent \textbf{Keywords:} , farmers, Horticulture, International market, MD2, pineapple, resource, Smooth Cayenne
\index[key]{}
\index[key]{Farmers}
\index[key]{Horticulture}
\index[key]{International market}
\index[key]{MD2}
\index[key]{Pineapple}
\index[key]{Resource}
\index[key]{Smooth Cayenne}
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