Problem Statement

Ghana is ranked second on the use of agrochemicals and imports in West Africa. Agrochemical (or agrichemical), a contraction of agricultural chemical, is a generic term for the various chemical products used in agriculture. Their increase in yield, shelf life and among others cannot be over emphasized. That notwithstanding, their uses over the years have had negative effects on both human and plants in the environment. The major problems that the people are facing in the project areas are:

a. Lack of or inadequate knowledge in the proper application of agrochemicals resulting in the following:
1. Reduction of biodiversity from direct poisoning and from habitat and species losses.
2. Increased levels of agrochemical residues on surface, ground and sea water resulting in the death of livestock and useful aquatic organisms.
3. Atmospheric pollution including the destructions of the ozone layer.
4. Long term harmful effects on beneficial soil microorganisms and crop health.
5. Accelerated development of resistance to pesticides by pest populations leading to pest resurgence.
6. Destruction of natural predators.
b. Another big problem is that there is no alternative form of livelihood for farmers in the project areas.

HUCAM?s conducted survey in the Techimantia, Derma and Techimantia Subiriso communities in the Tano South District and the results showed that, there are high uses of agrochemicals on the vegetables that they grow without any technical supervision by MoFA personnel. These communities cultivate vegetables like tomatoes, pepper, garden-eggs and okro and these farmers? use agrochemicals to fatten the growth of the vegetables. Because the farmers do not have enough knowledge on the application of these agrochemicals, they do it any how thereby affecting the land and nearby rivers. The survey revealed that the public?s ignorance about the laws on agrochemicals accounted for the high use of agrochemicals in the communities that this project will be implemented. Moreover, poverty or low income levels also motivate most of the farmers to apply the chemicals for their produce to come early. Though in some cases, these farmers have positive motives of applying the chemicals on the land to get enough money to assist the family?s sources of livelihood, they end up rather harming the environment and the water bodies around them.

Increasing evidence of mutilation to human health, poverty and the environment have made government and development partners focused attention at international community to eliminate a group of substances referred to as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) which are being used by farmers on crops, soils and living organism including man.

Agrochemicals/Pesticide use has unspecified an increasingly significant role in the production of food, vegetables and prevention of vector borne diseases in Ghana. The situation is very high in the Techimantia, Derma and Techimantia-Subiriso in the Tano South District of Brong-Ahafo Region.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND INTENDED RESULTS

Objectives of the project

The main objective of this project is to raise public awareness on the negative effects of wrong use of chemical and Persistent Organic Pollutant and build the capacities of the local vegetable farmers in the use of integrated pest management techniques in vegetable production in order to safeguard the health, safety and the welfare of the people in the project area.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

The specific objectives of the proposal are:

1. To raise awareness on the effects of the of wrong use of chemicals and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs),
2. To build the capacity of the vegetable farmers in the use of Integrated Pest Control Methods in farming
3. To support farmers to adopt organic farming in the production of vegetables for domestic and export market.

OUTPUT/RESULTS

o All agro-chemical sellers, Law Enforcing agencies School children and 200 vegetable farmers in Tano South District are sensitized on POP and the proper use/disposal of approved agro-chemicals
o 200 vegetable farmers trained in safety agro-chemical application education and integrated pest management techniques
o 60 farmers supported in integrated pest management and production of organic vegetables for sale in the major cities

PLANNED ACTIVITIES

OUTPUT 1.0: ALL AGRO-CHEMICAL SELLERS, LAW ENFORCING AGENCIES, SCHOOL CHILDREN AND 200 VEGETABLE FARMERS IN TANO SOUTH DISTRICT ARE SENSITIZED ON POP AND THE PROPER USE/DISPOSAL OF APPROVED AGRO-CHEMICALS

Planned Activities
1.1 Form and train Project Management Committees in project area
1.2 Identify and all agric-chemical sellers in the Tano South District and in collaboration with EPA organize sensitization workshop for them.
1.3 Identify and register all vegetable farmers in Techimantia, Derma and Techimantia-Subiriso and give them identification numbers.
1.4 Form and train a Task Force to enforce the ban on the use of contraband chemicals and the indiscriminate disposal of waste (plastic and used chemical containers) especially into the RiverTano
1.5 Liaise with Environmental Protection Agency and Ministry of Food and Agriculture to organize series of training workshops on the proper handling of chemicals for all vegetables farmers in Techimantia, Derma and Techimantia-Subiriso and exposed them to identification and isolation POPs.
1.6 In collaboration with EPA and Chemical Sellers Association, organize weekly radio discussions on major FM stations in the district to educate the general public on the harmful effects in the wrong use of chemicals.
1.7 Form Environmental Education Club in all basic schools in Techimantia, Derma and Techimantia-Subiriso to raise awareness on POPs and wrong use of chemicals.
1.8 Organise focus group discussions for vegetable farmers on organic farming, the proper use of agrochemicals, bush fire management, agro forestry schemes suitable in the area and sound environmental practices.

OUTPUT 2 200 VEGETABLE FARMERS TRAINED IN SAFETY AGRO-CHEMICAL APPLICATION EDUCATION AND INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES

Planned Activities

2.1 Develop information, Education and Communication materials
2.2 Complete Agreement with other NGOs to train farmers.
2.3 Organize the interested registered vegetable farmers to form Selected Agrochemical Application Educators (SAAEs). Each group would be represented by not more than 10 members with consideration of gender fairness, non-tribal barriers and discrimination.
2.4 Together with Crop Science Department organize training workshops in integrated pest management techniques (organic farming practices) for the registered groups.
2.5 Support SAAEs to undertake peer-to-peer education among the vegetable producers in the Tano South District and lobby for the disuse of POPs chemicals.

OUTPUT 3 60 FARMERS SUPPORTED IN INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT AND PRODUCTION OF ORGANIC VEGETABLES FOR SALE IN THE MAJOR SUPPER MARKETS IN ACCRA.

Planned Activities

3.1 Support each trained group to set up integrated pest management demonstration farms to produce organic products
3.2 Collect relevant data on the outcome, analyze and document them into IPM into manuals and video for teaching
3.3 Support 60 selected farmers with adequate seeds, tools, organic agricultural knowledge and distribution of inputs to farmers as revolving loans to undertake IPM.
3.4 Liaise with Crop Science Department of Legon and MOFA Extension Unit to provide farm extension services
3.5 Liaise with MOFA and hoteliers in Accra to identify markets for organic products
3.6 Supply organic products to designated market
3.7 Monitor the performance of farmers in organic vegetable production.



First Quarter

1. 12 members project committee was formed and they began their work.
2. 97 agro ? chemical sellers in the Tano South District identified
Sensitization workshop organized to 97 agro- chemical sellers.
3. 625 vegetable farmer identified and registered.
4. 13 members Task Force formed with mandate to steer the affairs in the Tano South District.
5. Workshop training has been organized for the two FBO?s to train the farmers.


a) Formed and trained 10 member Project Management Committee in project area.

b)Organised sensitization workshop for42 agrochemical sellers in the district.

c) Three (3) farmer associations strengthened and registered with the District assembly and department of co-operatives.

d) Formed and trained a 15- member Task Force to enforce the ban on the use of contraband chemicals and the indiscriminate disposal of waste (plastic and used chemical containers) into the River Tano.

e) 1,000 copies of IEC materials prepared for the project.

f) Organised training workshop for two FBO?s to train farmers in the district.


SECOND QUARTER

a). Liaise with Environmental Protection Agency and Ministry of Food and Agriculture to organize series of training workshops on the proper handling of chemicals for all vegetables farmers in Techimantia, Derma and Techimantia-Subiriso for ninety four (94) males and twelve (12) female vegetable farmers.

b)In collaboration with EPA and Chemical Sellers Association, organized weekly radio discussions on major FM stations in the district to educate the general public on the harmful effects in the wrong use of chemicals.

c). Organize focus group discussions for vegetable farmers (30 men and 20 women) on organic farming, the proper use of agrochemicals, and sound environmental practices.

d)The contractor (Xtrym Consortium) has completed the contract of 1,000 copies of IEC materials for distribution to beneficiary?s communities.

e)The organization collaborated with Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and two (2) training workshops were organized to give 95 farmers (25 women and 70 men) the knowledge in organic farming practices.

f)The organization collaborated with Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and two (2) training workshops were organized to give farmers the knowledge in organic farming practices. During these workshops 95 people were present. Out of that 25 were women and 70 were men.

g). Supported each 3 trained farmer groups to set up integrated pest management demonstration farms to produce organic products.


THIRD QUARTER

a)The Project Management Team (PMT) with collaborations from Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) used relevant information that was organized into manuals and videos for the teaching of organic farming to organized series of training workshops for farmers.

b) Supported 60 selected farmers with adequate seeds, tools, organic agricultural knowledge and distribution of inputs to farmers as revolving loans to undertake IPM.