Chairman of ISP, Africa, Dr. Shermal Perera
Ghana is on a path to generating billions of dollars in revenue through plantations. However, this can only be achieved when properly trained and certified experts take the lead in the plantation sector.
This was highlighted at a news conference organized by the Incorporated Society of Planters, Africa (ISP Africa) in Accra.
Addressing the media, the Chairman of ISP Africa, Dr. Shermal Perera, emphasized that knowledge sharing and technology transfer are critical to promoting sustainable agriculture.
He stated that the focus of ISP Africa is to advance the knowledge of planters while enhancing their technical and managerial expertise.
“Sustainable agriculture is the key to providing food security for the African population. The plantation sector played a vital role in Malaysia’s economy, creating vast employment opportunities and contributing significantly to foreign exchange earnings,” Dr. Perera stated.
ISP Africa also aims to promote and propose appropriate legislation and publications relevant to the plantation sector.
The Incorporated Society of Planters (ISP), headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was founded in 1919 and serves as the parent body for the ISP Africa chapter.
The society also seeks to promote trade, investment, and economic cooperation among African countries while improving the plantation industry’s environment.
Membership of the society includes business leaders, entrepreneurs, and agribusiness professionals.
The society recognizes Ghana’s pivotal role in plantation development within Africa, particularly as the second-largest producer of cocoa in the world, the fourth-largest producer of cassava, and a competitive player in oil palm, cashew, rubber, rice, and tomatoes, among others.
The news conference formally announced that Ghana will be hosting the inaugural First Year Anniversary Symposium and Initial Technical Training of the African Regional Chapter of ISP from May 22 to May 23 this year.
This event is expected to attract delegates from around the world, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Europe, the USA, and various African countries.
The Vice Chairman of ISP Africa, Dr. Fatai Afolabi, stressed the importance of identifying who, what, where, when, and how to plant. He noted that without the appropriate responses, there cannot be any meaningful returns from planting.
Christian Foli, who was introduced as the Chairman of the Ghana Branch of ISP, criticized the ad hoc approach in which policies aimed at promoting agriculture and plantations had been introduced in the past.
He emphasized that for such policies to achieve the desired results, the government must be intentional about them and engage the right people with the requisite skills and expertise.
He expressed regret that while Malaysia obtained its first oil palm from West Africa and now generates about 40 billion dollars from the crop, Ghana, Nigeria, and other countries in the sub-region have not been able to make significant gains from oil palm.
According to him, with the support of ISP, that narrative is set to change—not only in relation to oil palm but also for other crops such as cashew, cassava, and rubber.
Individuals and companies are encouraged to join the society to enhance their skills and improve their chances of attracting international funding.