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CCLEAr AGRIBUSINESS INCUBATOR
CCLEAr AGRIBUSINESS INCUBATOR
CCLEAr Agribusiness Incubator
Map of Ghana showing CCLEAr presence
Greater Accra
Upper East Upper West
Northern
Central
Eastern
Western
Ashanti
Volta
Brong-Ahafo
iii
iv
Conte
nts
CCLEAr Agribusiness Incubator
MAP OF GHANA SHOWING CCLEAR PRESENCE ................................................... iii
LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................ vi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .............................................................................................. vii
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................. viii
CCLEAr CONSORTIUM PARTNERS .......................................................................... x
CCLEAr BOARD MEMBERS ....................................................................................... xi
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS ....................................................................... xii
STATEMENT FROM BOARD CHAIRMAN .................................................................. xiii
MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF CCLEAr ......................... xv
INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Background ................................................................................................ 1
1.2 About CCLEAr ............................................................................................ 1
1.3 The Value Proposition of CCLEAr .............................................................. 1
1.4 Incubation Products and Services .............................................................. 2
1.5 CCLEAr Clientele ....................................................................................... 2
1.6 Governance and Management Structure of CCLEAr ................................. 2
CCLEAr INCUBATEE SELECTION PROCESS ......................................................... 4
2.1 Client Engagement .................................................................................... 4
2.2 Due Diligence Process ............................................................................... 4
Value Chain Distribution of CCLEAr Incubatees .............................................. 4
Summary of CCLEAr Clients ............................................................................ 5
Gender Distribution of CCLEAr Incubatees....................................................... 5
A Parade of the Premier Cohort of CCLEAr Incubatees by Value Chain .......... 6
INCUBATION ACHIEVEMENTS ................................................................................. 7
3.1 Incubation Highlights .................................................................................. 7
Key Performance Indicators ............................................................................. 7
Gender Distribution of CCLEAr Clients by Value Chain .................................. 10
CCLEAr Impact Nationwide ............................................................................ 11
Income Segments from Incubation Activities .................................................. 12
Impact on consortium partners ........................................................................ 13
3.2 Capacity Building and Skills Development ................................................ 14
3.3 Technology Commercialization .................................................................. 18
3.3.1 Indigenous Micro-Organism (IMO) in Pig Husbandry ............................. 18
3.3.2 The ARIBRO Poultry Breed .................................................................... 19
3.3.3 Agro-Industrial By-Products Feed (AIBPs).............................................. 19
3.3.4 Pelletized Grasscutter Feed Technology ................................................ 20
3.4 CCLEAr Incubatee Investment Support ..................................................... 20
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3.4.1 Investment Support for Incubatees in the Meat Processing Value Chain.. 20
3.4.2 Investment Support for Incubatees in the Pig Value Chain ....................... 23
3.4.3 Investment Support for Incubatees in the Poultry Value Chain.................. 24
3.4.4 Investment Support in the Grasscutter Value Chain ................................. 24
3.5 Meet the Champions of CCLEAr .................................................................. 24
Farmers’ Day Award Winners ............................................................................. 24
Some Incubatees Speak about the CCLEAr Incubation Programme ................. 25
3.6 Business Mentorship and Coaching ............................................................. 27
3.7 Market Access and Branding ........................................................................ 28
GRADUATE INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME ................................................................... 29
4.1 Internship Outreach ...................................................................................... 29
COLLABORATION, PARTNERSHIPS AND NETWORKING ....................................... 30
5.1 Deepening the Partnership within the Consortium ....................................... 30
5.2 National and International Networking ......................................................... 31
5.3 Business Monitoring and Evaluation with MICS ........................................... 32
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES, LESSONS LEARNT AND THE WAYFORWARD ..................................................................................................................... 32
6.1 Implementation Challenges .......................................................................... 326.2 Lessons Learnt ............................................................................................. 336.3 The Way Forward/Future Plans .................................................................... 33
APPENDICES ................................................................................................................ 34
AEAs: Agricultural Extension AgentsAgBIT: Agribusiness Incubator TrustAIBPs: Agro-Industrial By-ProductsANAFE: African Network for Agriculture, Agroforestry and Natural Resources
Education ARI: Animal Research InstituteB2C: Business to Business
CCAFS: Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security CCLEAr: Creating Competitive Livestock Entrepreneurs in Agribusiness CORAF/WECARD: Conseil Ouset Centre Africain pour la recherche' le developpement/ West African Council for Agricultural Research DevelopmentCOTVET: Council for Technical and Vocational Education TrainingCSIR: Council for Scientific and Industrial ResearchDANIDA: Danish International Development AuthorityEWB: Engineers Without BordersFARA: Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa ICRISAT: International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid and TropicsKNUST: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology IUCN: International Union on Climate ChangeL4W: Learn for Work MICS: Management Information Collaboration SystemsMoFA: Ministry of Food and AgricultureNBAG: National Butchers Association of GhanaNFD National Farmers' DayPIMI: Progress Intern Mentoring InstituteSDF: Skills Development FundUCC: University of Cape CoastUDS University for Development Studies
UniBRAIN: Universities, Businesses and Research in Agribusiness Innovations
BPC: Business Plan Competition
UEW University for Education, WinnebaUG University of Ghana
vi
ACRON
YMS AN
D ABBREVIATION
S
CCLEAr Agribusiness Incubator
The
CCLEAr.
CEO and Board of CCLEAr AgriBusiness Incubator wish to acknowledge the role of UniBRAIN, FARA and DANIDA in setting up this facility in 2012. The incubator has since enjoyed the supreme attention and support of key stakeholders and technical partners on the UniBRAIN-FARA network focusing on research for business development. Management of CCLEAr cannot however overlook the contributions of the Technical and R&D Committee who tirelessly wrote and forwarded the convincing proposal to UniBRAIN, and also made the necessary follow ups and updates until the project inception in June 2012. The Technical and R&D Committee continues to support the incubator in its strategic thinking as well as support incubatee businesses in many ways.
CCLEAr is most grateful to the CSIR-Animal Research Institute (CSIR-ARI) for hosting the incubator despite all the initial challenges and di ff icult ies associated with any new establishment. We can also not leave out the contributions of Consortium Partners at various stages of the incubator, which have contributed significantly to how far we have come today.
Over the past couple of months CCLEAr has received massive support, both technical and f i n a n c i a l f ro m va r i o u s d eve l o p m e nt organizations such as the Skills Development Fund (SDF) of the Council for Technical and Vocational Training (COTVET), Engineers Without Borders (EWB) Canada, Business Development Service Africa (BDSA) and others, for which we are most appreciative. Last and not the least are the staff and clients of the incubator who have endured the difficult moments of the early days of business incubation at
ACKNOWLEDGEM
ENT
vii
CCLEAr, AgriBusiness Incubator is one of the six agribusiness incubators established in 2012 through the UniBRAIN Agribusiness Innovation Incubator Consortia (AIIC) under the UniBRAIN facility of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA); the apex platform championing economic development in Africa through the utilization of research results and innovations for the development of Africa. CCLEAr was officially given approval to implement a four year program in agribusiness incubation with a focus on c o m m e r c i a l i z a t i o n o f r e s e a r c h technologies in the livestock value chain to backstop the entrepreneurial deficit in managing livestock enterprises in Ghana in particular, and Africa as a whole. CCLEAr, the DANIDA-sponsored UniBRAIN facility, has five Consortium Partners with the CSIR-ARI as the lead institution; and the University of Ghana, the Animal Production Directorate, Ministry of Food and A g r i c u l t u r e ( A P D - M O FA ) , H e i fe r International, Ghana and Humbeg Farms (a private poultry business) as the other partners.
With a focus on the livestock value chain, the vision of CCLEAr is to become a leading and internationally recognized agribusiness incubator in Africa for the creation of competitive livestock enterprises. The mission is to use a market-first and science-based development approach to promote livestock agribusiness in a private-public p a r t n e rs h i p e nv i ro n m e nt , w h i l s t influencing the teaching and learning of agribusiness in Ghana's universities and agricultural colleges. This is to develop graduates who become job-creators rather than job-seekers.The core mandate of CCLEAr is to create avenues for practical training and business support services for livestock agribusiness start-ups and internship opportunities for
EXEC
UTIV
E SUM
MA
RY
trainees from the universities and agricultural colleges, and also to improve agribusiness teaching and learning to respond to industry needs. The aim of this is to improve the competitive edge for livestock agribusiness enterprises in the Ghanaian, regional and diaspora markets, as well as create opportunities for networking to facilitate knowledge-sharing and interactive platforms for CCLEAr incubatees and other actors in the livestock value chain.
During the period under review, CCLEAr implemented a number of projects and a c t i v i t i e s to wa rd s i n c u b at i o n o f agribusiness in the livestock sector. After certification, formal incubation started with public awareness creation and sensitization on the CCLEAr program, which was followed by client application and selection. Highlights of incubation activities for the period 2013-2014 centred on capacity building workshops and seminars, technology commercialization, investment support for business expansion, and mentorship and coaching sessions. Market access and branding activities, graduate internship opportunities and agribusiness promotion in universities and colleges also featured prominently in the operations of the incubator. CCLEAr has, in a little under two years of operations, attracted the attention of the business community and the general public, especially those in the livestock sector, with its technical training workshops and seminars, conducted fortnightly at the CSIR-ARI, receiving massive patronage.
In its short time of existence the incubator has travelled around the country with the UniBRAIN agribusiness incubation concept, providing incubation services to several livestock entrepreneurs in the various
viiiCCLEAr Agribusiness Incubator
livestock value chains. A significant number of institutions and organizations also visited CCLEAr during the period of reporting to engage the incubator in agribusiness development discussions. These activities have enabled the impact of CCLEAr to be felt throughout Ghana, with clients coming from 8 of the 10 regions of Ghana to participate in the incubation program.
The incubator also played host to a number of international business partners and development agencies, remaining widely connected to the rest of the world through the FARA platform, especially on the Management Information Collaboration Systems (MICS), an electronic wireless rapid monitoring and evaluation tool for the UniBRAIN project, and through its website:
and social media platforms ( )
A number of competitive entrepreneurs who were supported by CCLEAr during the period, have been champions in the livestock value chains, evidenced by six incubatees of CCLEAr emerging as award
www.cclear.orgfacebook, twitter, linkedIn and google+
ix
winners during the 2014 Farmers' Day celebrations.
Future incubation and CCLEAr's work plan for 2 0 1 5 a r e f o c u s e d o n a g g r e s s i v e commercialization of the Indigenous Micro-Organism (IMO) technology of pig production, pelletized grasscutter feed production, and the promotion of livestock marketing innovations to strengthen the value chains. CCLEAr in the coming years is determined to position the livestock industry as a key player in wealth creation, food security and job creation in Ghana, and effectively contribute to the sustainable transformation of the national economy. It is envisaged that the UniBRAIN agribusiness incubation model would unlock the complexities of agribusiness opportunities in the livestock value chain for rapid sustainable national development.
CCLEAr CONSORTIUM PARTNERS
CCLEAr AgriBusiness Incubator was established and overseen by a cand private partners listed below with their value pr
Value PrPartner
CSIR - Animal Research Institute
University of Ghana, Legon
Ministry of Food and Agriculture
Heifer International (NGO)
PARTNERS
x
Provide the leadership roles expected to drive the smooth opera of CCLEAr.
Provide office space and land for establishment of other f crucial for the opera of the incubator.
Avail the services of CSIR–ARI's laboratories, and other fto CCLEAr.
Provide technical backstopping to incubatees and other clients of CCLEAr.
Facilitate research to provide to new challenges that may
emerge from the of the incubator.
P ate in the iden ca raining of incubatees (start-
ups), SMEs and interns in agribusiness management.
P ate in the development of improved agribusiness
curricula. Specifically ate in the teaching and
learning approaches, methods, tes valida
agribusiness curricula.
P ate in helping agribusinesses with their growth plans (by
providing analysis of financial procedures, assis with the
development of Strategic Plans, assis with the development
and ex of a bankable Business Plans)
Liaise with the relevant government to influence policies that will facilitate the rapid development of the livestock sector.
Provide linkages through the provision of the network of
Extension Agents to disseminate CCLEAr's ideas to the wider
livestock community in Ghana, and act as a partner in
technology dissemina commercializa
Facilitate access to improved breeds of livestock from the Ministry's livestock breeding sta
Share experiences in building clusters of entrepreneurs and
developing farmers associa and enables CCLEAr to access
established groups of entrepreneurs to offer resources and
services.
Share knowledge and pr used on large-scale commercial
livestock pr with CCLEAr's community of entrepreneurs.
Provide mentorship to incubatees that have the capacity and
va to become large-scale agribusiness pr rs.
Humbeg Farms (Private)
CCLEAr Agribusiness Incubator
CCLEAr-ABI BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dr. B. A. Salifu
Ms. Margaret Sumah
Nana Owusu Afari Board Chairman
Mr. Jonas Osafo Adamu Manager, Humbeg Farms
Mr. Baba Mahama Private Financial Consultant
Dr.(Mrs) S. Irene Egyir Dr. K.Boa-Amponsem Sen. Lecturer, Univ. of Ghana, Legon
Chief Research Scientist,CSIR-ARI
Dr. N. KarboDirector, CSIR-ARI
Mrs. Vera Dodoo Mr. Roland KanlisiOps. Manager, Prudential Bank
Country Director, Heifer Int.
Mr. Alhassan AdaniMD. Stanbic Bank Ghana
Director General, CSIR
xi
Dr. E.K Adu CEO of CCLEAr
DIR
ECTO
RS
Director, APD-MOFA
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS
The institutional structure of CCLEAr embodies a seven member Technical and R&D Committee to oversee the development, commercialization and dissemination of livestock agribusiness innovations and technologies.
Name
Dr. Charles Domozoro
Mrs. E. Marfo- Ahenkora
Mr. Vincent Botchway
Mrs. Patricia Aboe
Dr. Fred Obese
Dr. Mensah Bonsu
Dr. E.K. Adu
Designation
Chairman
Secretary
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Organization
CSIR-ARI/CCLEAr
CSIR-ARI
CSIR-ARI
CSIR-ARI
CSIR-ARI
University of Ghana
University of Ghana
Professional Background
Research Scientist
Senior Research Scientist
Senior Scientific Secretary
Senior Research Scientist
Senior Lecturer
Senior Lecturer
Chief Executive Officer
xiiCCLEAr Agribusiness Incubator
On behalf of the Board of CCLEAr AgriBusiness Incubator, and on my own behalf, I am delighted to present the first annual report of the incubator covering the period 2013-2014.
CCLEAr AgriBusiness Incubator which was established in 2012 under the UniBRAIN programme on the FARA platform, has come a long way in the development and promotion of livestock agribusiness incubation in Ghana. The period between 2013-2014 have been eventful with experiential learning in agribusiness incubation anchored on the vision of CCLEAr which is “to become a leading and internationally recognized agribusiness incubator in Africa for the creation of competitive livestock enterprises” With a market-first and science-based development approach to livestock production in a private-public partnership environment CCLEAr is creating competitive enterprises ready to transform the livestock industry. We are tackling the issues or agribusiness right from the base by influencing the teaching and learning of agribusiness in Ghana's universities and colleges. We aim to develop graduates with innovative ideas for job creation. Our graduates need not become job-seekers! CCLEAr thus recognizes the role of youth and the graduate in enterprise development and the need to promote the establishment and growth of profitable livestock businesses capable of generating jobs and employment opportunities for national development.
During the past two years of incubation CCLEAr has made significant strides in the
From The
BOARD CHAIRMAN
capacity building of agripreneurs, provision of investment support for business expansion, promotion of youth entrepreneurship under the graduate internship program, and marketing and business networking. The incubator has progressively scaled up operations to cover 8 regions of the country, with startups and SMEs rethinking their agribusiness models. Technology commercialization and agribusiness innovation promotion are critical for the industrialization of the livestock sector. Our young people are not looking to doing agriculture the way our fore fathers did. They are looking to apply te c h n o l o g i e s t h at wo u l d m a ke agribusiness more attractive and lucrative to be attracted into the sector. CCLEAr is happy to champion a science-based agribusiness model with the infusion of technology into agriculture.
Nana Owusu Afari Board Chairman
xiii
With effective sensitization on the economic potential of the livestock industry, it has become evident that CCLEAr can effectively lead in creating elite entrepreneurs to establish sustainable businesses delivering high value livestock products and services for economic development. The business model of CCLEAr under the UniBRAIN initiative, which links universities and research institutions to businesses offers a unique opportunity to our teeming unemployed youth, especially graduates, to become business owners.
CCLEAr is proud to be associated with six award winners during the 2014 National Farmers' Day celebrations held throughout the country, owning to the top-notch agr ibus iness t ra in ing and incubation services offered to them. Many clients have given testimonies to the impact of our incubation services on their operations.
To our development partners, especially the UniBRAIN partners, COTVET/SDF and DANIDA, we say we are very grateful. To all stakeholders and our numerous development partners including our consortium partners and all our business friends, we salute you all. It is expected that going into the future, we will continue to develop together.
I thank my colleague CCLEAr Board members, members of the Technical and R&D Committee, staff and management of the incubator for the effort they put in towards this great milestone within a short period of incubation in CCLEAr. The future is bright for the livestock agribusiness community and I invite all to come on board.
The incubator has progressively scaled up operations to cover 8 regions of the country, with startups and SMEs rethinking their agribusiness models
xivCCLEAr Agribusiness Incubator
Many developing countries all over the world are looking for models that would unleash the creative power of its citizenry for high-value, knowledge-based jobs for wealth creation. One of the smartest ways of promoting the growth of small innovative firms by creating value based on knowledge, which is being promoted worldwide, is the concept of business incubation. Business incubation in the agriculture sector is however confronted with a number of challenges as a result of the complex environment of the sector due to the management of more severe risk factors.
In spite of the difficult terrain and the many challenges that confront many new agribusiness incubators, and within the livestock sector where CCLEAr operates, we have successfully pioneered our incubation activities for 2013-2014. We have come a long way with many experiences and lessons over the past few years of stumbling into the business of agribusiness incubation and are better positioned now to make realistic contributions to the development of the livestock sector.
For CCLEAr, 2013-2014 have been very eventful. They have been the years when we have fought hard to overcome many tough issues to lift our heads above the rough waters of business development in Ghana.
CCLEAr recognizes the importance of the entrepreneur, innovative ideas and a vibrant market. We are therefore at the forefront of looking for and working towards a very good match between entrepreneur, ideas, technology and the market for economic growth.
MESSAGE
xv
Dr. E.K Adu
From The
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF CCLEAr
As an agribusiness incubator focused on a sector with very few large-scale companies, CCLEAr is determined to go into the future with the view to transforming the sector by creating champion enterprises, competitive entrepreneurs, and to promote value addition and market-driven businesses. The vision is to design a well-connected business chain that can automatically respond to the demand and supply needs in the livestock industry. We therefore call on like-minded individuals and groups to join with us in this noble march to modernize this all important sector to make it respond to its potential for high-value job and product creation in Ghana.
1
1.1 BackgroundCCLEAr AgriBusiness Incubator (CCLEAr) was established by one of the six Agribusiness Innovation Incubator Consortia (AIIC) being piloted by FARA under the UniBRAIN facility, which is being sponsored by DANIDA, in five African countries namely Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, Mali and Ghana. As an agribusiness incubator implementing a livestock-biased business model, the main goal of CCLEAr is to create agribusiness champions in the livestock value chain to significantly contribute to job and wealth creation in Ghana, in particular, and Africa as a whole.
1.2 About CCLEAr CCLEAr is a public-private partnership agribusiness incubator jointly owned by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Animal Research Institute as the lead institution, with University of Ghana; Animal Production Directorate, Ministry of Food and Agriculture; Heifer International, Ghana and Humbeg Farms as the other partners.
The vision of CCLEAr is to become a leading and internationally recognized agribusiness incubator in Africa for the creation of competitive livestock enterprises. CCLEAr's mission is to use a market-first and science-based development approach to livestock production in a private-public partnership environment, whilst influencing the teaching and learning of agribusiness in Ghana's universities and colleges. This is aimed at developing graduates with entrepreneurial and business skills rather than graduates who become job-seekers.
1.3 The Value Proposition of CCLEAr The business concept of CCLEAr is essentially utilizing a value chain incubator model with the objective of supporting the development of innovations and commercialization of livestock technologies within a public-private partnership environment to support the growth and long-term success of livestock agribusiness enterprises. Currently the activities of CCLEAr are geared towards the development of the following value chains:
INTRO
DUCTIO
N
Cattle (beef & dairy)
Grasscutter
Pig
Poultry
CCLEAr Agribusiness Incubator
1.4 Incubation Products and Service Delivery Key incubation products offered include improved livestock breeds, investment support, livestock facility rentals and access to bootstrap capital. Services provided to entrepreneurs, students and relevant stakeholders include:
§ Training and advisory services in livestock production, processing, marketing
§ Technology commercialization services
§ Internship and training opportunities for the youth
§ Support for the in development of agribusiness curricula
§ Access to investment capital and credit support services to incubatees.
§ Meat van rental services
§ Livestock infrastructure support, including equipment and other key inputs
§ Feed formulation and milling services,
1.5 CCLEAr Clientele§ Startups & SMEs in the livestock sector§ Graduate interns from the universities§ Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies§ Foreign companies in the livestock sector seeking soft-landing opportunities
1.6 Governance and Management Structure of CCLEAr CCLEAr is governed by a 12-member Board of Directors which consists of professionals from academia, the scientific and business sectors who provide support for the management and operations of the incubator. The board also provides strategic recommendations to CCLEAr staff. There is also a seven-member Technical and R&D Committee comprised of experienced professionals who advise the Chief Executive Officer on business, agricultural, and scientific issues relating to the activities of the incubator. Thus, while the Board of Directors guides the organization's strategic planning, the Technical and R&D Committee shapes the incubator's operational standards and processes, ensuring a consistent level of excellence.
and business development
2
ANNUAL REPORT2013-2014
Laboratory services Meat packaging
The Board has three statutory committees, viz: The Governance Committee, the Finance Committee and the Advisory Committee. One important working group of the Board of Directors is the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Committee, which was set up specifically to guide the implementation of CCLEAr's activities and assist in developing and executing an effective M&E strategy.
There is also an Editorial Committee which oversees the publication of CCLEAr's newsletter and other promotional documents. This group is charged with ensuring that the content and format of the newsletter remain relevant to the wider community of livestock industry players.
Staff and SkillsThe ManagementManagement of CCLEAr is headed by a CEO who is supported by the Operations Manager and the Finance Officer. The organization's MICS and M&E Coordinator, Office Manager, and Market Access and Branding Officer report to the Operations Manager. As depicted by the organogram above, all members of CCLEAr staff are accessible to incubatees and provide direct services to entrepreneurs. The staff has diverse professional experience and skills in managerial, administrative, technical issues relating to livestock production, processing and marketing, gender mainstreaming, monitoring & evaluation, procurement, finance, etc. Currently, a member of Engineers Without Borders, Canada, who serves as an Advisor to CCLEAr, supports the incubator's staff in growing and enhancing the organization's activities.
3
CCLEAr Organogram
CCLEAr Agribusiness Incubator
4
2.1 Client Engagement The incubation program started in 2013 with the first cohort of 13 entrepreneurs selected from over 100 prospective applicants through a rigorous due diligence process. The second cohort of 62 incubatees received their engagement letters in July and September, 2014.
Clients applying to participate in the incubation process at CCLEAr go through a process which can be represented diagrammatically as shown :
2.2 Due Diligence ProcessAn important component of the incubation process is the due diligence process. This involves visits to business sites of prospective incubatees to ascertain the veracity of claims in the applications. It also involves interviews with the view to prioritizing and the re-orientating client's requests to ensure that CCLEAr support would make the greatest impact to the applicant's business.
Value Chain Distribution of CCLEAr Incubatees
CCLEAr INCUBATEE SELECTION PROCESS
Screening &Shortlisting of Applicants
Elevator Pitching
Due Dilligence Process
Selection for Incubation
Issurance of Engagement Letter
Client Application
ANNUAL REPORT2013-2014
5
Summary of CCLEAr Clients
Gender Distribution of CCLEAr Incubatees
Male
11
47
300
23
7
388
Total
13
62
300
28
10
413
Incubatees
cohort 1
Cohort 2
National Butchers Association of Ghana
Abokobi Grasscutter Assoc.
Koforidua Grasscutter Assoc.
Total CCLEAr Clients
Female
2
15
0
5
3
25
CCLEAr Agribusiness Incubator
Joseph O. Mensah Ekow Addae
6
A Parade of the Premier Cohort of CCLEAr Incubatees by Value Chain
Grasscutter Entrepreneurs
Adotei Brown Moses F. Adu-Agyei Ben Doe Agbeko
Andrew Asamoah Eunice Dindori Kwame D. Appiah
Osman Alhassan Gomda
Pig Entrepreneurs
Cattle Entrepreneurs
Ezekiel Donkor
Grace Okai Christopher Anang
Poultry Entrepreneurs
Samuel Tufour
3.1 Incubation Highlights
In 2013-2014 incubation and operational activities of the incubator concentrated on commercialization of agribusiness innovations, graduate internship and youth in agriculture programs as well as business networking and collaboration with the wider business community both locally and internationally. Incubation was essentially directed towards achieving results and impact in the three UniBRAIN output areas.
Key Performance Indicators
7
INCUBATION ACHIEVEMENTS
Commercialization of agribusiness innovations supported and promotedGraduates with potential to become efficient entrepreneurs produced UniBRAIN's innovative outputs, experiences and practices shared and upscaled
Key Output Areas
UniBRAIN
NUMBER OF INCUBATEES NUMBER OF STARTUPS CREATED
NUMBER OF ASSOCIATION MEMBERS IN PRE-INCUBATION
CLIENT ENGAGEMENT FOR INCUBATION
75
413
10
338
STARTUPS
8
TOTAL INVESTMENT SUPPORT TOINCUBATEES
CAPACITY BUILDING AND BUSINESSES TRAINED
PERCENTAGE OF NEW JOBS CREATED FOR WOMEN
INVESTMENTS AND JOB CREATION
$73,567.84
NUMBER OF JOBS CREATED BYSUPPORTED BUSINESSES
276 36%
727
9
NUMBER OF STUDENTS REACHED
NUMBER OF STUDENTS TAKING PART IN INTERNSHIP
NUMBER OF INTERNS RECEIVING BUSINESS SUPPORT
STUDENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
1607
NUMBER OF STUDENTS APPLYNG FOR INTERNSHIP
92
24 2
10
Gender Distribution of CCLEAr Clients by Value Chain
11
CCLEAr Impact Nationwide
Greater Accra Region No. of Incubatees: 45Consortium Partners: 4Business Engagement
National Butchers Association: 300Abokobi Grasscutter Association: 28
Graduate Internship outreachUniversity of Ghana: 2 InternsAshesi University: 1 Intern UPSA: 1 Intern
Eastern RegionNo. of Incubatees: 19 Consortium Partners: 1Business Engagement
Grasscutter Farmers'AssociationsKoforidua: 10Suhum: 15
Central Region No. of incubatees: 5University of Cape Coast: 13 Interns
Western RegionNo. of Incubatees: 1No. of SME Engaged: 1Farmers' Day celebrations in Sefwi Wiawso
Upper East RegionNo. of Incubatees: 1Due Diligence on Livestock Marketing with Acumen Foundation
Ashanti Region No. of Incubatees: 3Graduate Internship Outreach
KNUST: 4Kwadaso Agric. College: 2 InternsUEW-Mampong: Internship SeminarEjuraAgric College: Business Plan Competition (BPC)
Northern RegionDue Diligence on Livestock Marketing with Acumen FoundationGraduate Internship Outreach
UDS: 1 InternDamango Agric. College: BPCPong-Tamale Vet. College: BPC
Greater Accra
Upper East Upper West
Northern
Central
Eastern
Western
Ashanti
Volta
Brong-Ahafo
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Output 1: Commercialization of Agribusiness Innovations
3.2 Capacity Building and Skills DevelopmentCCLEAr completed two cycles of the capacity building and customized technical training program during the reporting period. Due to the unique design and business-tailored training workshops and seminars, the CCLEAr training program received wide patronage with agripreneurs and livestock related business managers coming from all over the country to attend. The training which covered relevant topics in livestock agribusiness has effectively exposed entrepreneurs to innovative livestock management practices and business opportunities within the sector. Many entrepreneurs who participated in these training programs have admitted shortcomings in the business approach to their work.
Within the incubation period CCLEAr has trained 727 agripreneurs from 8 regions of Ghana, made up of livestock producers, processors, marketers, input suppliers, as well as distributors of various products and services in the value chain. The CCLEAr workshops have brought entrepreneurs closer to business realities on how to maximize returns from livestock enterprises; and many participants who lamented their poor records and bookkeeping practices, immediately put in remedial measures to change their attitudes towards record and book keeping in their business operations.
Topics treated in the various value chains included the following:
Relevant Training Topics Covered
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Grasscutter training topics
Grasscutter housing and equipmentNutrition at different stages of production and water managementGrasscutter breeding Grasscutter health management and disease control Waste management and environmental protection
Piggery training topics
Piggery housing & equipmentPig breeds and reproductionNutrition at different stages of pig development Piggery health and hygiene (disease & vaccinations)
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General and business topics
Farm records keepingBasic computer skills IMarketing 1: Business to Consumer marketing (B2C)Mentor to mentee relationshipEntrepreneurshipSelf-management, personal growth and networkingVeterinary and livestock laboratory servicesMarketing 2: Business to Business marketing (B2B)Business monitoring and evaluation requirementsBusiness plan developmentPitching to investorsBasic computer skillsLivestock slaughter and packaging
A training evaluation at the end of every training session showed that more than 80% of participants rated the CCLEAr training topics 'highly relevant' for
their business operations
Poultry training topics
Poultry training topicsPoultry housing and equipmentNutrition at different stages of poultry production and water managementPoultry health and hygiene (diseases & vaccinations)
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Participants at CCLEAr business training
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Group Picture after a training workshop Participants at CCLEAr workshop
Training on pig production
Meeting with grasscutter farmers Military officers at CCLEAr training
3.3 Technology Commercialization
Four technologies programmed for commercialization in 2013-2014 included:Ÿ Indigenous Micro-organism (IMO) technology for raising pigsŸ ARIBRO poultry birdŸ Agro-Industrial-By-Products (AIBPs) feed for pig productionŸ Pelletized grasscutter feed.
3.3.1 Indigenous Micro-Organism (IMO) in Pig Husbandry
This technology, which is an improved method of producing pigs, was introduced from Uganda through the UniBRAIN partnership and networking as part of knowledge sharing andinnovation dissemination. The indigenous micro-organism method of producing pigs eliminates the stench associated with pig production, thereby making it possible for pigs to beraised in urban communities. The technology was introduced to mitigate the threat posed by increased urbanization on the pig industry in Ghana. Pig producers are often forced intothe outskirts of communities due to frequent confrontations and conflicts with neighbors and city authorities over issues of sanitation only to be caught up by rapidly growing cities.
So far more than 100 agripreneurs have visited the maiden IMO Commercialization Centre at the CSIR-Animal Research Institute, whilst many more pig farmers continue to contact CCLEAr from all over the country. News of the IMO technology has excited pig entrepreneurs in the country and some have travelled from as far as Tamale and Kete Karachi in the Northern and Volta Regions respectively, to CCLEAr to learn more about the technology.
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Merits of IMO:
reduced cost of feed by 20-30%
reduced labour cost
cleaner animals
reduced disease outbreaks
.
3.3.2 The ARIBRO Poultry Breed
The ARIBRO is a tropically adapted breed of broiler poultry bird, developed by the CSIR-Animal Research Institute, with fast growing and high feed conversion ratio. The ARIBRO has the potential to significantly reduce Ghana's dependence on imported day old chicks, which are usually poorly adapted to our environment and management conditions. So far CCLEAr has facilitated the delivery of 5000 ARIBRO day old chicks to 4 clients from the local hatchery at the CSIR-ARI.
3.3.3 Agro-Industrial By-Products Feed (AIBPs)This innovation makes use of agro-industrial waste to formulate well-balanced diets for pig production. The technology relies on scientifically determined proportions of the various feed ingredients in formulating the diet. Agro-industrial by-products such as palm kernel cake, cassava peels, rice and wheat bran are used to formulate well-balanced,least cost diets.
Widespread adoption of this technology has the potential of not only reducing feed cost in pig production, but also the potential of convertingagro-industrialwaste to wealth, with the attendant benefit of improved environmental health.
Ten pig farmers who adopted the technology, received practical training in how the technology works
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Pig farmers training in the formulation of AIBP diets
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3.3.4 Pelletized Grasscutter Feed Technology
The number one constraint to grasscutter production is the drudgery associated with feeding, especially during the dry seasons. The pelletized grasscutter feed is well-balanced to meet the nutritional requirements for growth in the grasscutter. CCLEAr is seeking to commercialize the technology by supporting some grasscutter incubatees to produce the feed on commercial basis. Arrangements have been finalized with the Abokobi Grasscutter Farmers Association and some individuals to promote this innovation. Grasscutter rearing is increasingly becoming a profitable business, and a significant number of small-scale farmers are actively employed in the value chain..
3.4 CCLEAr Incubatee Investment SupportProvision of bootstrap capital and infrastructure support for startup businesses and SMEs constituted a major operational activity in the CCLEAr incubation process. A total of 18 incubatees in the various livestock value chains received investment support to expand their businesses.
3.4.1 Investment Support for Incubatees in the Meat Processing Value ChainTwo incubatees, Mr. Osman Gomda of OAG Farms from the first cohort and Mr. Alex Osei Kwame of Gonja Meat from the second cohort, have received investment support to expand their businesses.
Technology commercialization generated a combined total income of USD 3,723.73 in 2014, and it is projected that scaling
up the commercialization of current technologies and promoting additional ones in the coming years will generate substantial
incomes for CCLEAr and entrepreneurs
OAG Farms Received Support for Mechanized Borehole
CCLEAr provided support for a fully mechanized borehole for OAG Farms to improve the water supply to his abattoir. Inadequate and unreliable source of water had constrained operations of the slaughterhouse, leading to underutilization of the facility. With adequate and regular water supply system now in place, the abattoir has doubled its operations, increasing the weekly slaughter of 150 to 350 animals. The company has also employed 10 more workers and engaged 3 livestock suppliers. An unintended benefit of this support is that the borehole is now a source of portable water for over 20 households in the community.
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Rehabilitation of Cold Room Facilities for Gonja Meat Company Ltd
Gonja Meat Company Ltd operates an abattoir and meat processing centre in Kumasi, with the capacity to handle 400 cattle and 5,000 birds per day, but operated below 25% of its capacity due to infrastructure and financial challenges. With support from CCLEAr Gonja Meat Company has rehabilitated its cold room facilities, and is now able to handle a daily slaughter of 4,000 birds and 50 other animals. It has also employed more than 80 permanent workers and 22 casual workers, 66 of them women. It is projected that when fully operationalized, the company can employ close to 200 permanent workers and more than 300 casual labourers.
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About 300 butchers belonging to the Greater Accra Butchers Association are undergoing pre-incubation with CCLEAr with the view to modernizing their operations in terms of meat handling, packaging, transportation and
supply of live animals
3.4.2 Investment Support for Incubatees in the Pig Value Chain
Thirteen out of a total of 41 incubatees in this value chain received investment support to expand their businesses, including 10 females and 31 males:
ŸMr. Andrew Asamoah of Western Premier Farms in the Western Region received financial support to expand his facilities which has enabled him to increase his flock size of 86 to 211 pigs. The incubatee has also adopted the IMO technology of pig production as a result of his association with CCLEAr. Due to the increased business following CCLEAr investment support, 3 additional workers have been added to his staff strength, bringing to 7 the number of permanent workers.
ŸMrs. Grace Okai, owner of CONAIH Farms has also received support to expand the housing facilities by about 30 stys, which can accommodate additional 300 pigs. The incubatee who was linked to higher value markets in the Accra Metropolis through CCLEAr network now has great demand for her pork due to the quality of meat produced on her farm. According to Mrs. Okai, the Marina Mall has a weekly demand of 1,500 kg of pork, valued at USD 5,666.00 but she can only supply 50% of that. Increased business at CONAIH Farms increased the number of permanent workers from 4 to 7, and additional casual labour of 6 workers.
ŸMr. Kwame Appiah Danquah of Kaddie Farms located at Afienya in Accra has been supported with improved breed of pigs (2 sows and 1 boar), and a commercial freezer to enhance distribution of quality meat to customers.
ŸTen pig farmers in the Greater Accra Region also received support to enable them expand their businesses. The support package included improvement in their infrastructure, 5 weaner pigs for fattening, a package of AIBP feed and a weighing equipment. The incubatees, together with their respective Agricultural Extension Agents (AEAs) from MoFA, have been trained in the formulation of the AIBP feed formulation for pigs at different stages of growth. Collaboration with MoFA is to ensure further up-scaling of the innovation in the pig value chain
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With CCLEAr support
Before CCLEAr support
3.4.3 Investment Support for Incubatees in the Poultry Value ChainIncubatees in the poultry value chain include 3 from the first cohort and 7 in the second cohort. Two incubatees: Mr. Omani Mensah of K.C Organic Farms and Mr. Samuel Tuffour of Delcos Farms, both took delivery of day old layer chicks from a local hatchery, Akate Farms, through support from CCLEAr. The two incubatees received a total of 5,850 birds. CCLEAr investment support increased the layer size of K.C. Organic Farms from 500 to 2,550 birds, and that of Delcos Farms from 1,500 to 3,300 birds.
3.4.4 Investment Support in the Grasscutter Value ChainCCLEAr has adopted a cluster model to incubate two grasscutter Farmer Based Organizations viz: the Abokobi and Koforidua Grasscutter Farmers Associations, with a total membership of 38 entrepreneurs. The grasscutter industry is characterized by numerous individual SMEs of variable scales of operations, with different investment support requirements. The cluster model of incubation for this value chain is in response to the production and business dynamics in the sector. Poor housing structures, challenges of feeding animals according to the required standards are among the constraints confronting entrepreneurs in the grasscutter industry in Ghana.
CCLEAr is also reviewing the business plans of 2 incubatees to provide support for the construction and supply of well-designed cages. Two other incubatees have also submitted business proposals to undertake commercial production of pelletized grasscutter feed for supply to farmers. Commercialization and supply of grasscutter cages and the commercial production of pelletized grasscutter feed could greatly enhance sustainability of businesses in this value chain and subsequently generate jobs and incomes for key actors.
Six incubatees of CCLEAr who won awards at the 2014 National Farmers' Day Celebrations from various parts of the country attested to the benefits of CCLEAr's workshops, especially the emphasis on market-first and science-based approach to business operations.
They are (from left to right):Mr. Philip Annoh, Best Regional Grasscutter Farmer, Eastern RegionMr. Foster Danso, Best Municipal Grasscutter Farmer, SuhumMr. Jacob Amaning Mensah, Best District Grasscutter Farmer, Birim North.
Meet the Famers' Day Award Winners
Mr. Samuel Anyrator, Best Regional Pig Farmer, Central RegionMrs. Grace Okai, Best National Pig Farmer Mr. Andrew Asamoah, Best Regional Pig Farmer, Western Region
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Western Premiere Farms
said Mr. Asamoah.
Mr. Asamoah holds a Master's Degree in Business Management (MBA) from University of Ghana. His livestock operations include production, processing and supply and distribution of pork in the Western, Central and Greater Accra Regions.
CONAIH Farms
This is the story of Mrs. Grace Okai, an incubatee of CCLEAr.
Delcos FarmsMr. Samuel Tuffour is a poultry entrepreneur of CCLEAr, and Manager of Delcos Farms located at Medie-Amasaman in Accra. Mr. Tuffour is one of 3 poultry incubatees in the first cohort of CCLEAr AgriBusiness Incubator and has this to say.
“I started the piggery business 6 years ago and ran into difficulties with marketing of my products. CCLEAr linked me to the Accra Mall and now I have to outsource pigs from my colleagues in the CCLEAr network to meet the demand because of the quality of my pork.”
“I am a happy woman today. I nearly stop my piggery business, but having met CCLEAr in the past two years, things have improved. I have learned a lot about agribusiness, and even emerged best National Pig Farmer in 2014”
“Before my association with CCLEAr my business profitability was around 40-50%, but with CCLEAr assistance, my returns are around 60-70% of my investment. The CCLEAr incubation and innovation promotion has done the trick for me”
Grace Okai Andrew Asamoah
Some Incubatees Speak about the CCLEAr Incubation Programme
According to the award winners, the CCLEAr incubation program contributed significantly to their becoming award winner, especially the emphasis on record keeping and business approach to their operations.
Farmer Brown
Joseph Adjetey, Pig Farmer
Augustina Tawiah, Pig Incubatee
“CCLEAr has been of great assistance to me in my business, especially linking me up to sell my products to higher-value markets in Afrikiko in the Accra Metropolis, and also giving me technical training to improve the quality of my products. Now with an average annual production of 600 grasscutters, 2,400 rabbits and 250 turkeys/ducks I make annual sales of USD 80,000.00 representing a monthly cash flow of USD 6,667 and approximately a monthly salary of USD 4,000 after taking my cost of operations. This vindicates my resignation from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture as a Director to undertake full time agriculture”.
“My piglets were dying of diarrhorrea, but when I came to CCLEAr and was trained to parboil the Agro-Industrial-By-Products (AIBPs) before feeding to my pigs, the problem stopped immediately. I am really grateful to CCLEAr for the training”
“I started my piggery business 5 years ago, but I did not appreciate the value of records keeping, but when I came to CCLEAr they taught us alot about record keeping and I started keeping records. Now I can see the difference in my profitability analysis. I am proud of CCLEAr”
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3.5 Business Mentorship and CoachingThe Progress Intern and Mentorship Institute (PIMI), the agency responsible for providing mentorship and coaching services to CCLEAr clients, has over the period rendered services to incubatees through a number of seminars, breakfast meetings, site visits, personal contacts by phone or email. For many of the incubatees, the mentorship and coaching sessions provided a unique opportunity for them to have a professional perspective to their businesses. Due to the effective mentorship and business coaching, some incubatees immediately took steps to have their businesses registered, whist others have intensified their records and book keeping practices. As compared to the pre-CCLEAr era, most entrepreneurs in the livestock business have shown an obvious paradigm shift in their business practices.
An important aspect of the CCLEAr mentorship program has been the peer-mentorship relationships, which has been given a significant place under our incubation process. Feedback from incubatees on this aspect of the incubation process has been encouraging, especially in marketing of their products where incubatees have pulled resources together to meet contract demands and also to minimize transactions costs.
Highlights of Mentorship & Coaching
Creation of company names
Company registration
Design of company logos
Business plans development and reviews
Partnership and networking
Competitive business advertising
Product branding
Marketing plans
Goal and target setting
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3.6 Market Access and BrandingOver the years entrepreneurs have hardly paid any attention to branding within the livestock sector, predominantly trading in the sale of raw carcasses. In 2014, 13 incubatees were assisted to design their company logos and to develop their company vision and mission statements. This has resulted in two incubatees, Mr. Joseph Adjetey and Rev. Kwadwo Nkrumah both of the second cohort, developing their business proposals, and also being linked to some credit institutions for investment support.
In July, 2014 Acumen Foundation in collaboration with CCLEAr conducted due diligence on the prospects of livestock market access in Northern Ghana and neighbouring Burkina Faso to advance support to OAG Farms with the view to increasing supply of animals for efficient utilization of its abattoir facilities. This initiative was part of the due diligence process to attract an equity investment of USD 666,000.00 from Acumen Foundation into the operations of OAG's abattoir
Marketing ServicesCold van rentals service provided by CCLEAr is expected to increase the operations of clients in the meat distribution and supply value chain.
OUTPUT 2: Graduates with Potential to Become Efficient Entrepreneurs Produced
4.1 Internship OutreachThe UniBRAIN concept highlights graduate internship in the agribusiness incubation program, with the view to producing graduates capable of becoming job owners, rather than job seekers. Since the beginning of CCLEAr's incubation program over 1,600 students in 5 universities and 5 agricultural colleges in Ghana have been introduced to the graduate internship opportunities within CCLEAr. So far 92 students followed up with applications. However, only 24 students made up of 20 males and 4 females, actually participated in the program. During the internship period students are taught how to develop business plans and to pitch their businesses to investors. Of those participating in the program two students, a male and a female, have been supported to establish their own businesses.
A Breakdown of Outcome of CCLEAr Internship Drive
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Institution No. of student sensitized
Applications Received
N\o. of Interns
University of Ghana 165 6 2
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and
Technology (KNUST)
210 8 4
University of Cape Coast (UCC) 67 15 13
Ashesi University 105 16 1
University of Education-Mampong Campus 400 0 0
Agric. Colleges (i.e. Kwadaso, Ejura, Ohawu,
Damago, Kpong-Tamale)
650 38 2
University for Development Studies (UDS) - 1 1
University for Professionl Studies and
Accountancy (UPSA)
10 8 1
Total 1,607 92 24
GRADUATE INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME
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Registration of student interns during ACSU Games, Ohawu, April 2014
COLLABORATION, PARTNERSHIPS AND NETWORKING
OUTPUT 3: UniBRAIN's Innovative Outputs, Experiences and Practices Shared and Up-scaled
5.1 Deepening the Partnership within the Consortium The importance of knowledge and experience sharing through collaboration and networking with partners and business stakeholders is well articulated by the UniBRAIN agribusiness model. The active participation of CCLEAr in programmes organized on the FARA platform over the past year has afforded the incubator the opportunity to establish strong working relationships with partners within the UniBRAIN network. CCLEAr equally enjoyed strong collaboration and effective partnership with key stakeholders. CSIR-Animal Research Institute, apart from hosting CCLEAr and providing infrastructure facilities, has implemented projects in collaboration with CCLEAr e.g. SDF/COTVET. Scientists and technical personnel from the institute also provided backstopping on technology commercialization and assisting
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incubatees with technical support in livestock production and processing. The Animal Production Directorate of MoFA, on the other hand, has been the central partner and link between the incubator and agribusiness stakeholders, especially key policy institutions. Heifer International, Ghana, is the lead agency in facilitating the dairy cluster development. Heifer International, Ghana, has also collaborated with CCLEAr in securing a grant from the Learn4Work project to develop businesses along the grasscutter value chain for out-of-school children in Ghana. Humbeg Farms provides technical support on commercial poultry production and remains one of the most readily available principal consultant and mentor to CCLEAr clients.
5.2 National and International Networking The incubator received several visits from prominent officials and dignitaries from both private and public organizations and interest groups including CORAF/WECARD, ICRISAT technical support teams, First Avenue International business group (FAI), Canadian MPs and officials from Engineers Without Borders (EWB). CCLEAr also participated in the 2014 National Farmers' Day celebration and mounted an exhibition to showcase products and services of the Incubator. More than 100 people signed onto the CCLEAr community during the function.
Six CCLEAr incubatees who received awards during the Farmers' Day celebrations across the country included Mrs. Grace Okai an incubatee in the first cohort who emerged the Best National Pig Farmer. The others are Mr. Philip Annoh and Samuel Anyrator, Best Regional
Grasscutter Farmer for the Eastern and Central Regions respectively. Mr. Andrew Asamoah won the Regional Best Pig Farmer for the Western Region. Mr. Foster Danso and Jacob Ananing, won the Suhum and Birim-North Districts' Best Grasscutter Farmers respectively. Other important events CCLEAr participated in in 2014 included FARA@15, the Youth in Agriculture Agribusiness Promotion Fanfare in Accra on 26th May 2014, and the SDF Fanfare on 3rd November 2014.
President Mahama inspects CCLEAr exhibition Dr. V. Mama and Juilliene Kusieu with CCLEAr incubatees
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5.3 Business Monitoring and Evaluation with MICS Use of the Management Information Collaboration Systems (MICS), the electronic M&E tool, provided a platform for effective monitoring and evaluation of CCLEAr implementation process. Regular monitoring and updates of the portal provided relevant business information for progressive incubation management decisions. The MICS also provided a platform to foster partnership and collaboration with partners on the UniBRAIN-FARA network and the global business community. The website and social media platforms of CCLEAr received regular updates and a boost in networking and connectivity and also provided feedback to visitors' comments.
6.1 Implementation ChallengesThe concept of agribusiness incubation in the livestock sector presented a new business direction for livestock agripreneurs. Rolling out the CCLEAr business model suffered some initial difficulties, which slowed down the journey of incubation, and some crucial activities. Some programs have therefore had to be postponed, and in some cases several times e.g. the official launch of the incubator. The newness of the concept of incubation sounded too good to be true to most prospective incubatees when they were first introduced to the program. Most applicants were therefore slow in their responses. Most prospective incubatees had had previous experiences with government agricultural programs which gave grants to them. The concept of paid for services within the incubation program therefore did not sound right to them Many applicants for the graduate internship could also not turn up for the programme due to lack of accommodation.
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES, LESSONS LEARNT AND THE WAY FORWARD
Best National Pig Farmer Dr. E.K. Adu in a chart with Canadian MPs
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6.2 Lessons LearntThe approach used at CCLEAr ensures that each entrepreneur receives tailor-made services to suit their needs. Developing personalized plans for each agribusiness located across the country involves time and finances. Adoption of the mix-model of both business accelerator and business incubator model made it possible for CCLEAr to increase its reach to many more entrepreneurs.
The bootstrap support to incubatees will continue to remain a major attraction to incubatees, and can be a major pull factor to the incubator. There is therefore the need to perfect it to serve many more entrepreneurs in need of such support. The infrastructure rental is a major need for most young livestock entrepreneurs and must be given more emphasis in subsequent years. It also has the potential of building a cluster around a particular value chain, thus improving delivery to markets.
To increase its revenue stream CCLEAr is diversifying its operations to include a horticulture park, which will make use of the manure from the livestock operations. This also has the potential of attracting many more youth who want to go into vegetable production.
6.3 The Way Forward/Future PlansOver the next 5 years, CCLEAr aims to achieve the following outcomes
Expanding Technology Commercialization
Increase Number of Youth Entrepreneurs in Livestock Agriculture
Strengthening Livestock Value Chains
Greater Reach, Diversity, and Social Impact of Incubation Activities
Continuously Enhance Operations and Organizational Effectiveness
CCLEAr Man happy with Award WinnerStudents surround CCLEAr at Farmers' Day
Dr. E.K. Adu talking to students of KNUST National Farmers' Day Wards
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APPENDICES
APENDIX 1: TOTAL DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS
EXPENDITURE BREAKDOWN (USD) CASH CONTRIBUTIONS (USD)Operational Expenses – 363,381.64 UniBRAIN - 791,113 Skill Development Fund - 640,000
Administrative Exp. - 229,159.40 Internally Generated Fund - 13,570.20
Capital Exp. - 61,537.29 TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS:
TOTAL EXPENDITURE:
$1,444,683.20
$654,078.3
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OPERATIONAL EXPENSESOutput 1 - 109,143.88Output 2 - 5,495.83Output 3 - 1,693.66
APENDIX 2: TOTAL CASH CONTRIBUTIONS AND DISBURSEMENTS BY THEMATIC AREAS
Percent Breakdown by Expenditure
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UniBrain partners meeting in Accra
CCLEAr incubatees
Ms Aba Eshun, CCLEAr welcoming Dr. V. Mama of CORAF
CONTACT INFORMATION
Dr. E. K. AduCCLEAr AgriBusiness IncubatorC/O CSIR-ARIP.O. Box AH20,Achimota-Accra
Office Location:Foster Home Down Fafraha, off Adenta-Dodowa Highway,10 minutes drive from Adenta Barrier
Office Line: +233(0)302983362+233(0)264783992+233(0)244037103
www.cclear.org
MICS: www.cclear.incubatorportal.com
www.facebook.com/CclearAgriBusinessIncubator
CCLEArAgri-Business@CCLEAr_gh
CCLEAr Agribusiness [email protected]
20142013
