By Philip Tengzu
Duong, (UW/R), Nov. 15, GNA – The Resilient Against Climate Change (REACH) project of the European Union Ghana Agricultural Programme (EUGAP) is making strides in impacting the lives and economic activities of the project beneficiaries.
The EUGAP REACH project had introduced some women farmers at Duong in the Nadowli-Kaleo District to Conservation Agriculture (CA) as part of efforts to enhance community resilience against the climate crisis through promoting climate-smart agricultural practices.
As part of the efforts the project, implemented by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) had established a CA demonstration farm at the community to train the women on the CA practices and principles.
The demonstration farm at Duoung was one of 200 CA demonstration plots that had been established by the project to serve as platforms for equipping farmers with practical knowledge on climate-smart and environmental-friendly farming techniques that enhanced agricultural productivity.
Some beneficiaries of the project said it had impacted greatly on their lives and helped to transform their livelihoods and enhance their economic fortunes through agriculture.
Madam Francisca Bagbene, a beneficiary at Duong, said: “From the demonstration farm, I have seen a difference between the crops here and the ones on my farms.”
“I have seen that this one has high yield compared to my farm, so the next farming season I will also do it on my farm”, she added.
The women were introduced to the zero-tillage principle of CA and intercropping with groundnuts and maize.
Madam Evelyn Kukpee, also a beneficiary, indicated that they had witnessed from the demonstration that inter-cropping assured guaranteed proceeds from the farm.
She thanked the EU-GAP for introducing them to the improved and cost-effective farming practice as that would enhance their farming activities and income statuses.
The EUGAP, through the REACH project, also supported the Duong community to develop a community action plan with focus on environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
The CA demonstration project was in partnership with ProNet North, a Non-governmental Organisation in Wa.
Madam Catherine Amissah, Head of Programmes at ProNet North, noted that the women had been organised into Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) to enable them maximise the finances from VSLAs to help implement the CA knowledge they were learning.
The GIZ also implemented the Youth in Agribusiness (YiAB) programme under the EUGAP to empower young agribusiness entrepreneurs in North-West Ghana to thrive including enhancing their knowledge and skills to sustain their businesses.
Through the YiAB, the project supported Apex Peanuts, a groundnut oil extraction company in Lawra to improve its operations.
Mr Emmanuel Bayi Boro, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Apex Peanuts, said the mentorship support and business development training he had from EUGAP had helped develop his business.
He explained that through the training he had gained the skills in packaging, business financial management and access to market among others which had positively impacted on his business.
The GIZ also engaged a section of the media in Wa on its activities under the EUGAP.
GNA