By Dennis Peprah
Techiman, (B/E), Aug. 25, GNA – The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has rolled out a project to train 500 farmer leaders in five regions on agro-ecological concept, an indigenous and traditional knowledge of farming, to improve soil fertility and quality crops.
According to Mr Ben Kwadwo Sarfo, a farmer, and Project officer at the PFAG, 11th Hour, an international Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) was funding the implementation of the three-month project which covered farmers in the Bono East, Bono, Ahafo, Ashanti and Western Regions.
11th Hour works with farmers and food systems workers to develop technology that is responsive to the needs of small-holder producers.
The beneficiary farmers would be trained to properly prepare and apply organic fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides and also expected to pass the knowledge they would acquire to other farmers in their respective localities.
Additionally, the project would further train them on alternative livelihood support, including livestock keeping, rabbit rearing, mushroom production, snail rearing and poultry to enhance their socio-economic livelihood.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the side-lines of the closing session of a two-day capacity training for the beneficiaries in the Bono East at Techiman, the regional capital, Mr Sarfo said the project would greatly reduce the application of chemical fertilizers by farmers.
That would enhance sustainable farming practices and soil fertility and thereby improve crop quality yields and further address farmers’ over-reliance on chemical fertilizers too.
The 50 beneficiary farmers were selected from Tuobodom, Akumsa Domase, Kintampo and other farming communities in the region.
Mr Sarfo stressed that proper application of organic fertilizer enhanced soil nutrients, saying besides affordability, it also contributed to environmental sustainability.
Mr Stephen Aidoo, the Techiman Municipal Director of Agriculture, lauded the training and commended PFAG and assured that the directorate would also support the farmers to apply the knowledge.
He said the directorate had also prioritised agro-ecology because it remained one of the best ways to sustain the nation’s agriculture, preserve the environment and improve crop productivity too.
Nana Ameyaw Manu, a Former National Vice President of the PFAG and a farmer, expressed worry that some bad farming practices were contributing to climate change, whose impacts were now being felt in the region.
He said erratic rainfall and unpredicted weather patterns were having a huge toll on commercial farming, saying most of their crops did not do well this year because of uneven rains.
Nana Manu advised the farmers to avoid felling trees, farming along water bodies, and bush burning, and entreated them to plant and nurture trees around their farms.
Mrs Regina Deberi, the Regional Focal Person, PFAG, said he was highly excited about the participation and expressed the hope that the farmers would go back and apply the knowledge acquired to bring about positive change in their various communities.
Mr Agyei Mensah, an Agriculture Extension Agent, also urged the farmers to prepare and apply the organic fertilizer on their crops and engage the agents whenever they faced challenges.
GNA