PROBLEM STATEMENT
The major livelihood sustaining rural communities in the savannah ecological zone is agriculture. The adverse impacts of climate change on crop production in the Sakpa, Seripe and Wakawaka communities are daring. The shrinking growing season is characterized by dry spells and erratic rains. With declining soil fertility, crop yields are poor which translates to low incomes and poverty. Other environmental problems such as deforestation and forest degradation, unsustainable charcoal and fuelwood production and bush fires/fire hunting among others are rife in these communities. Climate risks to cropping are expected to increase in particularly low income countries where adaptive capacity is weaker. Like many communities in the Savannah ecological zone, Seripe and Wakawaka are under threat from climate change.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE
To empower livelihoods of local communities through the promotion of innovative agroecology models and mechanisms for conservation of carbon stocks within the savannah landscapes and enhanced adaptive capacity.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the project are;
? To stimulate the adoption of climate smart agriculture through field demonstrations.
? To increase the diversification of livelihoods of people in the communities.
? To enhance knowledge, trigger attitudinal and behavioral change through sensitization and awareness creation.
? To reduce risk of total loss of investment by providing crop insurance.
? To enhance carbon stocks (woodlots, trees on farms, trees on school compounds).

PROJECT RATIONALE
The effects of climate change on agriculture cannot be overemphasized. To be able to sustain an exponentially growing population in the face of the adversities of climate change, agriculture would need to integrate three dimensions of sustainable development (economic, social, and environmental) by jointly addressing food security and climate challenges. It is composed of three main pillars:
? Sustainably increasing agricultural productivity and incomes;
? Adapting and building resilience to climate change;
? Reducing and/or removing greenhouse gases emissions, where possible.

The promotion of climate smart agriculture among other interventions are mirrored on the ideals of GEF SGP in terms of contributing to its specific focal area objective(s). The project is well aligned with the objectives of the forest and wildlife policy of Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (promotion of agroforestry, trees on farmlands, biodiversity and afforestation) and the National Climate Change Policy of the Ministry of Environment Science, Technology and Innovation (Section 4. Agriculture and Food Security).

The project objectives are closely related to that of enhancing natural forests and agroforestry landscapes project (ENFAL) and the Engaging local communities in REDD+ project (ELCIR+) all currently implemented by the Forestry Commission. Other similar projects are the Resilient and Sustainable Livelihoods Transformation project (RESULT) implemented by ACDEP, Climate Change Adaptation in Northern Ghana Enhanced project (CHANGE) implemented by RAINS Ghana. The primary focal area the project focuses on is climate change. Secondary focal areas include conservation of biodiversity, land degradation, and sustainable forest management.

EXPECTED RESULTS
? 100 farmers supported to adopt and invest in climate smart agriculture
? 100 farmers increase carbon stock on farms and subscribed on daily mobile weather forecasts
? 100 farm families supported to invest in compost and organic pesticides preparation and tree on farms
? 50 women farm families supported to diversify livelihoods

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Output 1: Increased the adoption of climate smart agriculture among 100 farmers

Planned Activities
Promote climate smart agriculture among small holder farmers.

This activity involves training farmers on practices such as minimum tillage, Zai pits, mulching, zero burning in land preparation, trees on farms, and trees as farm boundaries using demonstration fields. Agriculture insurance would be employed to insure crops of selected farmers.

Train community agriculture extension agents in climate Smart Agriculture

The project will identify and train 20 community based agriculture extension agents and agriculture extension officers on climate Smart Agriculture, ISFM and climate change adaptation (early warning and crises mapping). Learning manuals would be developed for use by extension agents and officers. Beneficiary farmers, organized in groups according to proximity to each other would be subscribed on a mobile weather forecasting platform to receive daily or weekly weather forecasts on mobile phones and radio broadcasts.

Train farmer households in integrated soil management
At least 50 farmers would be trained in integrated soil fertility management practices such as the use of improved, quality, early maturing seeds/germplasm, use of organic manure with inorganic/mineral fertilizers coupled with good farming methods.

Organize community sensitization programmes on climate change, deforestation, bushfires and biodiversity conservation
Sensitization of communities on climate change, deforestation, bush fires and biodiversity conservation. The use of local radio programs would be engaged to promulgate awareness and sensitization of climate change, deforestation, bushfires and biodiversity conservation. Community talk shows and presentations would be given in schools, community groups (charcoal producers, hunters), religious groups and other communal associations to solicit support.

Output 2 100 farmers increase carbon stock on farms and subscribed on daily mobile weather forecasts

Organize farmers into trust groups
The project will organize the farmers into trust groups of 20 memberships each. It is expected that 10 groups would be formed

Train farmers on how to read weather information on the mobile phone and disseminate the information.
In collaboration with Esoko Ghana the project will train at least 100 farm families in how to read weather information form the mobile phone. Each famer would be facilitated to acquire a mobile phone. The project will facilitate a mobile alert to inform the farmers of wildfires.

Train farmers on how to develop market intelligence using the mobile marketing strategy

Enhance of carbon stocks through afforestation and community woodlots establishment at degraded landscapes.
Seedlings would be procured from the tree nurseries and planted at degraded fields, along roads and schools.

100 farm families supported to invest in compost and organic pesticides preparation and seed bank maintenance

The project will train each household to establish a compost pit and create a seed bank. The project will facilitate the distribution of improved seed varieties and organic fertilizers on loans to beneficiary farmers. This would empower the poor smallholder farmers who often do not have the financial wherewithal to purchase improved seeds and fertilizers, to access these seeds and fertilizers which would improve yield and income. The farmers pay back after harvests then access the loans again in the next planting season. The project will train farmers to prepare their own organic fertilizer and apply on their farms. However, they would be supplied with improved seed varieties on loan. The main activities.

Planned Activities
Train local farmers on the preparation of granules and folio compost fertilizers using farm manures and animal droppings

Train farmers on the preparation of organic pesticides with Neem extracts.

Support farmers to establish ecological farms

Set of supply of improved seeds on credit rotation basis through the trust groups

Support farmers insurance schemes the Ghana Agricultural Insurance Pool

Establish community tree nursery.

50 women farm families supported to diversify livelihoods
Women beneficiaries of the project would be trained in beekeeping, poultry farming (guinea fowl), small ruminant rearing, orchard cultivation (mango, pawpaw) and tree nursery establishment to allow other streams of income flow and reduce dependency on males. They would be provided with bee hives, beekeeping tools and gear, incubators, fertilized eggs, brooder houses, poultry sheds and seedlings for fruit farming.

Planned Activities

Organize the beneficiaries into activity groups.

Train and support the trust groups in beekeeping, poultry farming (guinea fowl), small ruminant rearing, orchard cultivation (mango, pawpaw) according to preference.

Set up and operate Village Savings and Loan schemes for the Groups.