Impact of COVID-19 on SMEs in Agri-Business Introduction ABOUT AB - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Impact of COVID-19 on SMEs in Agri-Business

Introduction ABOUT AB OUT ME Family Man § Entrepreneur § CEO Omnifert § AB ABOUT OUT OM OMNIF IFERT Omnifert is a wholly owned § Ghanaian company focused on improving the crop production of Africa by providing affordable fertilizers to farmers using our state-of-the art fertilizer blending facility

Impact of COVID-19 on Agriculture in Ghana Generally, impact on agricultural sector less severe than other § sectors and areas such Trade, Tourism, the Financial markets However; Reduction in food production at farm level (reduced labour) due § to fear / uncertainty– potential to depress market for input distributors Access to markets for farmers volatile. Initial bulk purchases § leading to scarcity for some produce. High price of commodities affecting affordability for some segments of the market. Reduction in volume of key agricultural exports §

Positive Government Interventions All food value chain players § permitted by Gov. to operate at 100% levels during the lockdown Stimulus package for SMEs § has given these businesses an opportunity to continue to supply the market (farmers)

General Market Challenges for Input Suppliers Border restrictions slowed § down receipt of inputs for many SMEs Delay in distribution as § transporters didn’t operate for a while – lockdown restrictions allowed them to operate but there was some unease at the beginning

Omnifert Interventions Early orders of supplies pre- § season ensured sufficient supply of inputs during this period Albeit with a slight delay at the § onset, due to onward distribution challenges, have caught up and are able to fulfill all orders Still have sufficient stock to § cover the next season

Scaling up our solid distribution and logistics network to cater to market needs

Providing Community Support & Building Capacity Outreach to 3,000 § Small Holder Farmers to educate about safety / prevention of spread of COVID-19 Continued education § about best practice for inputs application to help with increased yield and better value for farmers

Medium to Long-term Opportunities Reduction of demand on imports § Acceleration of production efforts § Increase in local processing and developing the market for § increased future exports Public-private sector collaboration to develop industry § Increased demand and potential for E-commerce / structured § trading Increased intra-regional trade – increased access to markets for § farmers and to both inputs (seeds, fertilisers) and outputs (food products) Improved capacity to respond to possible future crises §

Thank You