SECTOR CAPABILITIES - Papaya from Ghana

Papaya production and export in Ghana have gone through various phases. From a humble beginning in the early 2000s, production and export increased significantly to reach on average, US$ 1 million between 2005-2007. Exports however declined between 2008 and 2009 but regained its strength in the ensuing years. Currently, production of Papaya is being stepped up to meet growing market demand. A number of papaya farmers are GLOBALGAP certified and are actively exporting to Europe and other emerging markets.

The Papaya sector has adopted general norms and standards which have served as the basis for training of farmers, exporters, pack-house operators and all other actors along the value chain to ensure high quality papayas at all times.

Today, there is a growing trend and shift towards organic production, accompanied by the required certification through certifying bodies such as Agro Eco Louis Bolk Institute.

The preferable export variety from Ghana is the solo dwarf papaya, which is highly demanded on the international market.

Buying Ghanaian papayas will give you several great certainties and advantages, such as:

• At least annual review of all process related activities to confirm GLOBALGAP and traceability.
• Production of the highest quality papayas because of on farm pre-shipment inspections at various locations.
• Increasing number of farms are producing organic papaya thereby enhancing its health benefits to the consumers.
• Fruits are harvested at the optimum time of maturity.
• Ghanaian solo papaya fruits are more preferable in the market than those from competitor countries.
• Availability of fruits all-year round.
• Proximity of Ghana to Europe, the main market enables Ghanaian papaya to arrive at destination in best conditions.