cari_pb5_jiaoyangagribusinessghananigeria-a459c5c0b6dea74c.pdf

This policy brief by the Johns Hopkins SAIS China-Africa Research Initiative (CARI) examines two distinct models of Chinese agricultural investment in Africa through case studies in Ghana and Nigeria. It contrasts a small-scale, private entrepreneurial model in Ghana with a large-scale, state-backed public-private partnership in Nigeria, analyzing their motivations, land acquisition challenges, and social impacts.

• Chinese agricultural investment in Ghana is characterized by small-scale private entrepreneurship, primarily serving the local Chinese community. As of 2012, at least four such farms existed, focusing on Chinese vegetables like cabbage and winter melon. These enterprises often integrate production with distribution, as seen with Mr. Lee, who owns two farms and three of the eight Chinese grocery stores in the country.
• The Green Agricultural West Africa Ltd. (GAWA) in Nigeria represents a collaborative model involving a Chinese state-owned enterprise (SOE), the China Geo-engineering Construction Overseas Corporation (CGCOC), and the Nigerian government. Established in 2006 on a 99-year lease of 2,025 hectares in Kebbi state, GAWA focuses on seed production, processing, and marketing, and is registered as a certified seed company under Nigeria's National Agricultural Seeds Council as of 2010.
• GAWA operates three primary business models in Nigeria: selling rice seeds to Kebbi state (which then provides them for free to registered local farmers), conducting research and breeding for hybrid rice, maize, and millet, and marketing Chinese agricultural processing equipment to help Chinese firms achieve their "Go Global" goals.
• Land acquisition in Ghana is fraught with risk due to unregistered titles and fraud. One investor, Mr. Lee, initially leased a 13-acre plot for GHS 20,000 from an individual who was later revealed to be a fraud, as the land was government property. To mitigate these risks, Chinese companies may verify ownership through the Land Commission, prefer 'stool land' (chief's land), or build perimeter walls to flush out the genuine owner.
• Chinese agricultural investment in Ghana has remained limited despite a long history of aid. Between 2000 and 2008, investment totaled US$4.7 million, accounting for only 3% of Ghana's total foreign direct investment and 2% of China's total investment in the country. This is attributed to the high capital requirements and long turnover periods, which only SOEs can manage, and a lack of consistent government support compared to Nigeria.
• The Nigerian model (GAWA) has a significantly larger social and regional impact than the Ghanaian model due to its integration into government programs, such as the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES). This public-private partnership facilitates job creation, technology transfer, and the export of Chinese agricultural technologies, with the goal of replicating the model in other African countries.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (n.d.). cari_pb5_jiaoyangagribusinessghananigeria-a459c5c0b6dea74c.pdf. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/CARI_PB5_JIAOYangAgribusinessGhanaNigeria.pdf

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. cari_pb5_jiaoyangagribusinessghananigeria-a459c5c0b6dea74c.pdf. n.d. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/CARI_PB5_JIAOYangAgribusinessGhanaNigeria.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=cari_pb5_jiaoyangagribusinessghananigeria-a459c5c0b6dea74c.pdf |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/CARI_PB5_JIAOYangAgribusinessGhanaNigeria.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairsndcaripb5jiaoyangagribusinessghananigeriaa459c5c0b6dea74cpdf, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{cari\_pb5\_jiaoyangagribusinessghananigeria-a459c5c0b6dea74c.pdf}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/CARI_PB5_JIAOYangAgribusinessGhanaNigeria.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }