BACKGROUND TO THE PROJECT AREA

The project is to be implemented in Tsetsekpo and Sayikope in the North Tongu District in the Volta Region. These communities are located along the River Volta System in the Lower Volta Basin.

Evidence shows that agriculture is the leading sector in the economy in the project area. The sector is dominated by small scale unorganized farmers who depend mainly on simple labour intensive production techniques and are involved mainly in maize and vegetable production. It is characterized by low productivity resulting from the continuous usage of indigenous farm implements and adoption of indigenous farming practices. Reports indicate high level of post harvest losses particularly in maize and vegetable production. Cattle rearing is a major dominant occupation and this has brought about massive over-grazing resulting in soil erosion and degradation the situation is also worsened by poor farming practices adopted by the people which include over-cultivation and bush burning. The escalating spate of deforestation in the area is also due to charcoal burning, fuel wood collection, bushfires, farming and small scale mining of oyster shells.

It also noteworthy that creation of the Akosombo and Kpong dams has adversely affected the ecology of the area in several ways, which include;

? No deposition of silt on the flood plains to improve soil fertility due to the cessation of the annual flooding of the Volta.
? Siltation of much of the lower Volta and the presence of river weeds has caused extinction of oyster and destruction of the fishing industry.

DEFINITION OF THE PROBLEM

The Volta River Basin is the ninth largest river basin in Sub-Saharan Africa and remains one of the few trans-boundary river basins in Africa with no formal institutional arrangements for managing its water resources. The riparian countries, made up of Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, and Togo are currently working towards identifying areas of cooperation for integrated multipurpose development and management of the shared water resources.

In Ghana, two hydroelectric dams have been constructed on the Volta System and this has regulated the flow regime of the water, creating ideal conditions for the rapid growth of aquatic plants due to easy penetration of sunlight and the introduction of nutrients from activities of the riparian communities. Consequently, most of the shoreline of the river is covered by luxuriant vegetation dominated by grasses (Vossia sp and Echinochloa sp.) and the submerged plant, Ceratophyllum sp. For effective management of the weeds, an integrated and regional approach has been adopted by ECOWAS governments to control the weed. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency of Ghana has embarked on the ?Integrated Management of Invasive Aquatic Weeds Project? with funding from the African Development Fund to control the spread of aquatic weeds on the Volta river system.

Adidome and surrounding villages are a few of the communities that have been impacted significantly by these aquatic weeds. The existence of the aquatic vegetation is gradually becoming one of the prime factors attributed to the level of poverty in these communities. The vegetation is gradually denying the riparian communities of the effective utilization of aquatic resources. The aquatic plants serve as refuge for hosts of bilharzias, a water borne disease, and this contributes to the high incidence of the disease in the basin communities, with its attendant debilitating results.

River fishing which is another main source of income generation for the people in the project area has currently become risky due to the number of fatalities caused through drowning within the weeds. Further, the reduction in fishing activity has resulted in the extensive farming activities with its concomitant application of agro-chemicals. These agro-chemicals are gradually finding their way into the water body leading to algae bloom evidenced by the green colour, seen in the waters of these shorelines. Sites for boat landing and water collection have been reduced drastically, especially at Adidome. Thus, in spite of its important contributions to the aquatic ecosystem, the aquatic vegetation is posing problems and this has been a subject of discussion under various forums by the locals.

The management and control of aquatic plants could be done in 3 major ways: biologically, chemically and physically. Globally, physical methods are considered the most cost-effective and environmentally acceptable means, thus mostly favoured. The Volta Basin Research Project (VBRP) of the University of Ghana in a report on studies conducted in the Lower Volta Basin proposed a ?harvest and use? method, which emerged from preliminary results of biochemical analysis of some dominant members of the vegetation. Biochemical analysis of these dominant forms showed appreciable levels of nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) as well as crude protein. These indicated the potential of the aquatic plants for economic purposes, especially composting and fodder for animal feed. The quality of the final product was enhanced by the addition of waste materials of livestock and wood ash. Again, the viability of using areas cleared of aquatic weeds for cage aquaculture to reduce the dangers of fishing as well as the over exploitation of the fish resource was demonstrated. Utilisation of areas cleared of aquatic weeds for cage aquaculture is a big potential on the Volta System that should be pursued vigorously to reduce the current over exploitation of the fish resource.
Currently, within the Lower Volta Basin in the Manya Krobo District, the youth has formed the Atimpoku Victory Cooperative Services Society and are using locally made long pole hooks, rakes and cutlasses to draw floating weeds to the shoreline which are then left to dry up and then cut into pieces and sold to the Volta River Estates Limited Organic Farm for compost production. A 25m3 truck of the weeds is sold at GH ¢70 or US $76.0. Further, various cage aquaculture projects using areas cleared of weeds are now being pursued by some well to do community members in Adidome. Information on the economic potential of such cage aquaculture indicates that a 50m x 50m square area can yield an amount of GH¢30,000 or US $33,000 per annum from sale of tilapia.

Drama Network has undertaken various reconnaissance surveys to the project communities to discuss the intended project and to seek opinion from the community leaders/assembly-persons of their views to help ensure community input and participation for effective collaboration. The issue of the management of the weed was of great concern to all the communities visited. The District Authorities and the community persons have lamented that lake transportation is increasingly becoming very difficult due to the weed cover in the area. In all, it was agreed that training in manual clearing of weeds as well as compost production from the weeds and the use of cleared areas for cage aquaculture is a very effective means of achieving an integrated approach in weeds management to ensure sustainability.

The current arrangement of the Volta River Estates Limited Organic Farm with the youth in the Manya Krobo District and issue of cage aquaculture were discussed and the team realised that the people in the project area even though were aware of these potentials were virtually ignorant of its economic opportunities. The issue of marketing the compost was also discussed. It was largely accepted that the establishment of a Model market for compost in the project areas as well as advertising such areas to the general public would help in the marketing of the compost.

If these strategies are introduced in these communities and replicated within the Lower Volta Basin, it would enhance soil nutrients and agricultural lands and rejuvenate such lands/soils for increased food production in an environmentally ? friendly manner, improve fisheries in a very sustainable manner which shall result in the reduction of pollution activities of the Volta River System by the riparian communities. In the larger context, it shall boost the socio-economic status of the people and help reduce migration to the upper parts of the basin.

PROJECT GOAL, OBJECTIVES & OUTPUTS

Goal

The goal of the project is to contribute to the reduction of the pollution of Lower Volta River system and ensure efficient utilization of the water resource.

Specific Objectives

The specific objectives to be achieved by the end of the project period are:

i. To create awareness among the community members on the economic potential of the aquatic weeds.
ii. To build capacity in the effective management of the aquatic weeds through training in compost production and cage aquaculture.
iii. Establish a revolving microfinance scheme to community members to embark on cage aquaculture.

Project Outputs

Expected project outputs are as follows:

? Capacities of fisherman and farmer groups developed in efficient management of aquatic weeds and international waters
? Skills of farmers in compost production and aquaculture developed.
? Improved access to credit to engage in compost production and cage aquaculture developed

Activities
1.1 Consult with North Tongu District Assembly and traditional chiefs and local authorities of Sayikope, and Tsetsekope to formally launch the project.
1.2 In consultation with all relevant stakeholders form six-membersProject Management Team and orient them on roles and responsibilities.
1.3 Organize farmers into groups at community levels and orient them on the roles and responsibilities
1.4 Develop and produce IEC and BCC materials on cage aquaculture and compost production for distribution to community members.
1.5 Arrange and organize a Stakeholders Forum at Adidome for the Project Management Team (PMT) to introduce the project and to educate and sensitise on composting, cage aquaculture and on bilharzias.
1.6 Arrange and undertake three (3) radio discussion programs on the project on local FM station
1.7 Arrange and undertake a TV discussion program on national television station on the project outcome and its importance.

2.1 Arrange and hold consultation meeting with Project Management Team to discuss modalities for selecting 60 trainee farmers for the training programme.
2.2 Organise 2No. training programmes on compost production and cage aquaculture at the Adidome Farm Institute for 60 trainee farmers.
2.3 Establish two (2) demonstration farms in the utilization of the compost for crop production
2.4 Establish two (2) cage aquaculture demonstration farm
2.5 Construct relevant marketing structures/outlets in selected areas for the sale of compost.
2.6 Produce press print outs of compost sales outlets in the national media to boost sales.
2.7 Construct relevant marketing structures/outlets in selected areas for the sale of compost.
2.8 Produce press print outs of compost sales outlets in the national media to boost sales.
2.9 Organise field visitations for stakeholders to the established compost and cage aquaculture demonstration farms.

3.1 Establish a cooperative of compost producers with core membership coming from the trainees.
3.2 Utilise proceeds from cage culture demonstration farms to establish a revolving micro-financing scheme to members of the cooperative for cage aquaculture.
3.3 Provide credit micro-financing scheme