10 ha of degraded under rehabilitation

300 ha of land earmarked for CREMA
3 communities in involved in the SLM
60 people trained by Ghana National Fire Service in Rural Fire management.
30 farmers invested in SLM
One community nursery has been established
55 farm families trained in agroforestry. Two (2) training organized for the committee and all members.
120 farm families are involved in the project.


Eight (8) farmer field schools established in the two communities.
One (1) PMT formed for the project.
One 20,000 capacity community nursery established
One (1) group formed
Two (2) separate training workshops organized for Eleven (11) member committee.
Two (2) farmer trust groups formed and trained.
20 farm families supported and trained as trainers in Agroforestry

1. Launching of the project
The beneficiary communities and other stakeholders were invited to launch the project. The launching was done concurrently with Save Humanity Foundation, an NGO working on similar project under the same funding agency. This collaboration was to coincide with the working visit of the UNDP/GEF/SGP?s Country Director and the National Coordinator. The occasion was also graced by the Honourable DCE of Banda District Mrs. Mary Konneh, traditional leaders, the district fire commander, AEAs and the district director of Agric. The Executive Director of Alliance for Community Development on behalf of the staff of SAHUF welcomed members and wished them well. The project coordinator of SAHUF also briefed participants on the project deliverables and expectations. The DCE was very grateful to both organizations for choosing to work in her district. She also thanked UNDP/GEF/SGP for the funding support. She, on behalf of her people, pledged to practice what they would be taught. She however requested that the district is deprived of many things including a weekly market to bring many people to the district capital for trading activities. Also, as a farming district, they only rely on rainfall which most of the time is very erratic. She therefore requested that the farmers in the district should be supported with an irrigation facility to enable them practice irrigation farming. The National Coordinator of UNDP/GEF/SGP entreated members to be very serious with the project and that on their next visit, members? farms shall be visited to ascertain whether they are practicing what they were taught or not. The Country Director of UNDP/GEF/SGP advised the members to take the project very seriously as it will not increase their incomes, but also protect the environment for continuous use and benefits. He also encouraged them to take the project as their own as ownership is very important and that is what will ensure sustainability. He also addressed the issues raised by the Hon. DCE and said that they would support the district to get a market, give them an irrigation facility and get them a small factory that can process cashew fruits into fruit drinks as majority of the farmers are cashew growers. A representative from the traditional council, fire commander and the director of Agric took turns to address the participants. Seven members were elected to form the Project Management Team (PMT).

2. Establish farmer field schools in the project communities to integrated crop livestock
This activity was done with help of the AEAs in the two communities. Now all the farmers have been grouped into clusters were AEAs visit them in their farms to give them education and also take them through new ways in farming. Now farmers get feel of practical work at their farms.
3. Form and Train Project Management Team (PMT) for the Project
The eleven member PMT was invited for a day?s training on the project. The PMT was updated on the details of the project activities. The research results were discussed with the PMT. They were charged to see to the proper implementation of the project. It is composed of representations from the district assembly, farmers, district fire service, nananom and the implementing organization.
4. Establish community nursery.
25 members were selected from the two communities and trained on how to establish tree nursery. Among the things they were taken through include type of nursery, site selection, accessibility, regular source of water, type of soil, among others. Simple farm tools for making nursery such as tape measure, rake, mattock, hoe, watering can, etc and their uses were discussed. Bare root and containerized seedling types were also discussed.
5. Facilitate the formation of sustainable land management committee.
With support from the Project Management Committee some community volunteers were selected to form the sustainable land management committee. These committee members were then trained by the district director for Ministry of Food and Agriculture at the Banda Ahenkro. They were taking through new techniques and technologies in managing our land.

6. Organize training for farmers on intensive wildfire prevention and management.
This quarter also saw farmers being educated on bush fires. The district Fire Safety Officer, Mr. Osman Abubakar was the facilitator for the training of farmers on bush fires. His presentations centered on the types of bush fire, causes of bush fires, their effects, preventive and control measures and training of volunteers. Some types of bush fires that were discussed are Surface fires, Ground fires and Crown fires. Numerous causes of bush fires were brainstormed including the following: Cooking on farm Grouping hunting, Early burning practice, Charcoal production, Palm wine tappers/honey extractors, Cigarette smokers, Chain Saw operation and Falling stones from mountains. The ceaseless of bushfires continue to affect living organisms. Some of the effects are: Hunger, Poverty, Premature death, Low development, Drying up of water bodies, Low productivity, Changes in the rainfall patterns and Negative effect to human health. Some preventive and control measures that were also discussed include: Charcoal producers were advised to contact the GNFS to help them, the use of green belts or paths/roads around farms, avoid cooking in the farm, avoid smoking on the way to or in the farm and also group hunting should be stopped. Eleven (11) members were selected to form the fire volunteers and were later trained on the effective means of fighting fire. The volunteers were advised that the annual devastating bushfires in the District usually begins in the month of December and intensifies in February every year. The practice usually results in destruction of not only tree vegetation but also both harvested and non harvested farm products, thereby causing food insecurity among the already existing problems in the Banda communities. Members were therefore advised to avoid as much as possible the rampant annual fires in the district.
7. Form farmer trust groups and train them.
Farmer trust groups were formed to support community farmers on seeds and other materials that they will need. The farmers were trained on how to take loans and the plan they should put in place to pay back. Moreover, group dynamics were one of the topics farmers were thought.
8. Train farmers on simple book-keeping.
The beneficiary farmers were invited to a-1 day training on simple book keeping. This was to enable farmers prepare simple budgets and keep proper farm records. Participants were taken through the keeping of farm records. The facilitator advised participants to note down some vital information regarding their farm operations. For instance a simple financial record can be kept by just writing down date, name of item and cost of items of any purchases made. Proceeds from sale of items were also to be recorded and the difference in the cost and income of the farm shall be the profit or loss gained. They were advised to cost the labour and land used for farming even if they had them free of charge. This will enable them quantify their services in monetary wise.