The successful growing of foreign fruits such as apples, strawberries, pomegranates and grapes by many Ghanaians who practice backyard farming has challenged the age-old belief that such fruits could only do well in cold temperatures.
Some of these backyard farmers who spoke to The Mirror in Accra last Monday noted that the adoption of farming and specific care practices of these fruits has made it possible.
“The myth was that the country’s climate was too hot, the soil too harsh or the environment too unpredictable for such fruits to thrive. But some curious minds in the past experimented and cultured these plants, discovering that it was possible,” Retired Freight Forwarder, now backyard farmer, Mrs Faustina Alipoe, noted.
However, the large-scale farming of these fruits remains a dream as the farmers say it is cost-intensive and requires a lot of care.
Agriculturist and farmer, Abraham Akpakpavi Ahorsu, told The Mirror that one apple or strawberry seedling could cost about GH¢350.
This, he said, did not include the cost of soil treatment, fertilisers or irrigation systems, adding that there were no guarantees the plants would survive long enough to bear fruit.
“Now tell me, how many people will take that risk and buy a seedling for GH¢350? Talk less of buying large quantities for large-scale farming. It does not make business sense. Even we who sell the seedlings only sell on pre-order,” he said.
He observed that people were surprised when told the price and that there were people who called him a liar and social media clout chaser because they didn’t believe that he grew some of these fruits himself.
Why expensive?
Explaining why they were cost-intensive to grow on a large scale especially for strawberries, grapes and apples, Mr Ahorsu said the seedlings of these plants were imported from countries such as Kenya, India, USA or South Africa. He added that they sometimes came with a ball of already processed loamy soil.
He, however, noted that because of shipping costs, the seedlings often arrived without the soil.
“The importer then can decide if they want to plant directly and nurture in a pot or graft it with an existing plant of the same or similar species. Grafting is the method where a cutting from a budding plant (scion) is joined to a mature plant (mother plant) to help it bear fruit early,” he explained.
He added that grafting helped the plant to grow stronger and fruit faster, but it shortened its lifespan and reduced the number of harvests.
“Strawberries for example can take three to eight months or more to flower and fruit.
Many of these fruits also require specific types of soil mixtures, such as perlite and coco-peat, to improve water retention and aeration,” he noted.
He added that the same concept was applied to coconut trees, cutting down the fruiting time from 10 years to less than three years.
Another reason was that because Ghana’s climate was not best suited for growing these fruits, they needed special conditions like shade nets or greenhouses, which are expensive to build and maintain.
In addition, he noted that drip irrigation systems were needed to control water use carefully and avoid overwatering, especially during the dry season.
Mr Ahorsu, who has worked with the Forestry Commission and the Ministry of Agriculture, said soil quality was also a challenge. Many foreign fruits need soil that drains well and is rich in nutrients.
“In Ghana, the soil in many areas may need to be treated before it is suitable. This may involve changing the pH level of the soil, adding compost and manure,” he said.
“Compared to fruits grown locally, they require regular pruning, protection from pests and diseases, and sometimes special techniques for pollination. Even with the right care, there is no guarantee that the plant will survive or bear fruit. This makes growing them a risky investment,” he noted.
The agriculturist said another problem is that there are very few experts in Ghana who specialise in growing these foreign fruits.
“Anyone who wants to grow these fruits also would have to learn through trial and error or pay for advice from foreign consultants. This adds more to the cost and makes the process slower,” he explained.
He also noted the absence of support from the government, adding that there were no major efforts to help farmers grow apples or strawberries.
“This means farmers must handle all the costs on their own, including marketing. Since there is currently no strong market for these fruits yet, they fear they might not be able to sell them. The retail price will also be higher than the imported ones,” he added.
How they will thrive
For small-scale purposes, Mrs Alipoe, who is the owner of Satina Farms, explained how the fruits thrived.
She grows grapes, pomegranates, mulberries, cinnamon, dragon fruits, sweet apples and others in her home at Adenta in Accra and said attention and patience were the key.
“Strawberries for example need a lot of love; you can’t just leave them and expect them to survive. Shade netting and controlled watering to prevent sunburn are important. They will also do well in cold areas like Aburi or Kwahu.
Regular pruning is important to improve fruit production and control pests,” she said.