Developing the capacities of the farmers in household and farm waste management to prevent waste burning by learning how to collect waste from homes, segregating the waste into degradable and non-degradable; recycling the degradable waste into organic compost, using the compost to produce organic vegetable and establishment of agroforestry farms; focusing on preparation and use of POPs alternatives natural pesticides to control pests and establishing apiaries to assist pollination and produce honey. The main project business involves building the capacities of Youth as enviro-entrepreneurs to invest in compost preparation using the aerobic process to produce organic compost. The business involves collecting waste from the house to house and sorting them out; preparation and packaging of liquid fertilizer (folio) and granules (pellets) and pesticides using organic materials. Famers will invest in a tree nursery, beekeeping, dry season vegetable, and agroforestry using the compost produced from the project. The agriculture inputs are supplied to the farmers on the credit system and the profits are reinvested in the business. Farmers? training schools have been set up to train farmers on farms.
The farmers would be trained to reduce the costs of pesticides and pests in agrarian production. The project addresses the gaps in rural development, by focusing on conservation, organic production, social entrepreneurship, and marketing hubs. Agro-Eco farmers entail key features including but not limited to: seeds and plant genetic conservation, farmer-led and participatory plant breeding, community-based seed banks and learning farms, training of young farmers in organic product processing.
The entry point of this study will be to introduce innovations and the purpose of these models would be made clear to the communities. This meeting will be a community interaction. The opinion leaders and the local authorities will be officially informed prior to the implementation. The project will carry out an inception project workshop with all key stakeholders at a location within the project site and the framework of activities outlined. The results of the project will be presented at another three-day workshop to validate the results at the project site. This validation report will also be presented at a major workshop in Accra to solicit support for the sustainability of the project. A comprehensive report with video documentary will be develop and submitted to the donor, governing council, District Assemblies, communities and other key relevant stakeholders.
Inovative Financial Mechanisms
The four- cell mixed method of data collection will identify the gender and youth perception and engagement in the sustainability strategy. The interactions with the various categories (youth-male and female under 35 year and adults ? males and females above 35 years helps to gather relevant information and in mainstreaming. The livelihood study of the various categories will also reveal the potential that exist and are not being exploited. The study will meet with all the community?s groups that benefited from the implementation of phases one and two, the NGOs that implemented these projects, opinion leaders, and heads of institutions that have been involved in the project phases. These participants will share their experiences and lessons learnt. They will then contribute their knowledge on sustainability approaches. These shared knowledge will be collated, synthesized and conclusions drawn. After the initial mass consultation with all stakeholders, the project will interact with selected representatives of the various groups at validation workshops to review all the information captured during the workshops.
Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods
The project will concentrate on the production of soya beans, tigernuts, groundnuts and ginger, integrated into cashew or mango plantations. Depending on the interest of the farmers, it will also diversify into areas such as bee keeping, so as to improve quality and add value to the local production. The projects should ideally strengthen negotiations skills, of the women in increase bargaining power and reduce levels of intermediation that erode margins for the small producers.
Notable Community Participation
The project will promote social inclusion and equity by working and engaging with women, youth, indigenous peoples and the disabled. The project will work with the youth and persons with disabilities to enhance and strengthen their organizational capacity and leadership to access dedicated resources in climate smart agriculture. It will champion and advocate for the involvement and active participation of women and youth as key constituencies for this project.
The project will take the following gender specific actions by providing training to key leaders in gender competence and provide equal access to and control over resources and information, such as gender and age-appropriate training and communication material. The project will give equal voice and representation in decision making, such as quotas for women in community level group formation and consciously reduce women?s workload, including labor-saving technologies and tools; and engaging at policy level, actions to support women?s empowerment.
Gender Focus
The project will take the following gender specific actions by providing training to key leaders in gender competence and provide equal access to and control over resources and information, such as gender and age-appropriate training and communication material. The project will give equal voice and representation in decision making, such as quotas for women in community level group formation and consciously reduce women?s workload, including labor-saving technologies and tools; and engaging at policy level, actions to support women?s empowerment.
Project Results
1 Duration: May ? October, 2021 Activities planted and implemented were:
1. Project inception meeting.
2. Fortnight radio talk show organized.
3. Formation and launched of project management team.
4. Identified, surveyed and selected site for irrigation.
5. Organized women into 4 trust groups.
6. Training workshops on soil and water conservation management compost preparation, mulching and cultivation of crop resistance.
7. Supported (60) women with equipment for composting and climate smart farming.
8. Sixty (60) women involved in digital savings.
9. Sixty women trained and Water source for irrigation.
10. Project monitored and managed.
On the 5th - 7th June, 2021
? Ten (10) women were selected from Tesalema, Kyingakrom, Tainno, Odumase and Jama all within the black Volta basin were trained on how to do awareness creation on the local radio.
? Mr. Bismark Amoako a radio presenter from Wenchi took the women through the process. He also advised them to be competent, loud and clear to introduce themselves first before they start to talk. He did practical work with them in class to test their confidence. `
? The ten women selected are; Diana Anane, Gifty Kansore, Odiel Togo, Mavis Manu, Salamatu Afia, Mercy Mensah, Ophelia Osei, Mary Mansuro, Helen Mandare, Sophia Akua. The workshop was successful and participants were happy to go air.
On the 30th May 2021
The project management team (PMT) was formed and launched
On the June 21st 2021
A team of a surveyor and agronomist visited the identified, surveyed and selected site for irrigation gardens. The chief gave a portion of land totaling 10 acres for the women groups to work on it. The surveyor and agronomist tested the soil, water content and approved that site.
On June 30th ? 2nd July 2021
80 women were organized into four trust group of 20 members each and trained in water, soil management, compost preparation, mulching and cultivation of crop resistance. They were taking through the process by Mr. Nsiah, who measured the length and breath of the hole for compost, items for compost included dry leaves as well as fresh leaves, cow dung, yam peels, cassava peels, groundnut shells, goat and sheep waste. He did it in layers whilst sprinkling water on it. he covered it and told them to uncover it after 40 days. After the training all the participants were able to narrate how to prepare compost. Most of the participants have prepared their own compost and using it. they said they are saving money to take care of other things instead of using it to buy chemical fertilizer.
On the 8th ? 10th August 2021
Sixty (60) households were introduced and trained on village savings and credit scheme. They were supported with savings box, passbooks and notebooks for keeping records. They have been given a seed capital to contribute and add to get funds to support their farming activities.
madam Victoria Zeini took them through the needs to build saving culture against disaster or trade, build, send their children to school or in times of sickness. She again taught them how to enter savings and credit, how to calculate interest and the need to stop borrowing from traders.
Participants were happy to made to understand that saving everyday or weekly or fortnight doesn?t mean you need big money. Small monies can give a farmer a capital if you save regularly, she explained. Participants pledge to go home and actively get involved which each group is doing well.
On 12th September 2021
Farmers were trained on the form on the application of organic fertilizer and pesticide. Mr. Christopher was the facilitator applied niem leaves and pepper mixed with water to spray pests on vegetables. He also said ash can also be used to control pests and showed them how to apply organic fertilizer on vegetables.
On September 20th ? 25th October 2021
A monitoring team of seven (7) women paid a working visit to the groups, household and other communities to observe what the farmers are practicing on what have been trained. The farmers were able to explained, showed their physical evidence on what they are doing as a result of the training they have had.
They were proud to tell the team their first-time experience on air and the respect their husbands accord to them as a result of been able to speak on the radio
Activities planned and completed this reporting period and results achieved in the second phase of the project.
December 2021
Purchased two water tanks, pumping machine, water holes, and erection of platforms for the poly tanks.
January ? March 2022
January 15th ? 18th
Training of fifteen (15) women on Scrip drip irrigation technology by Mr. James Owusu Yeboah.
The three days workshop was organized to let the women know how and when to open and close the water holes for watering the vegetables. Mr. James taught them the importance of the drip irrigation as well as the benefits of dry season vegetables. The vegetables were divided into portion for the women to water every day in turns. They have harvested cabbages, onions, okra and tomatoes. They still have cucumber and pepper to harvest.
In addition, they have cultivated three acres of maize.
February 10th ? 13th
Training on organic fertilizer and pesticide was organized for twenty (20) women. During the training, five (5) women came to learn the preparation of organic fertilizer and how to apply it on crops especially vegetables. The officer in charge Mr. Daniel Fosu taught them how to use neem tree leaves and pepper to prepare pesticides. The management of cucumber using small sticks to grow vertically for more yield was also taught.
Many communities have benefited from the training, and has enabled them to establish their own dry season vegetable farms
March 20th 2022
Four selected women were on market linkages tour to Techiman, Wenchi, Kintampo and Bamboi to find market for their products.
Two of the market women were located and are those who buy from the farms. It has been a great experience to practice dry season vegetables farming as it has fetched us a great market and money. We as individuals also have our own dry season vegetable farms. Many people are practicing organic manure as a good and healthy form of farming. We are now ambassadors of eating fair, good, and clean food and vegetables to live long.
April Establishment of wood lot and folder banks river near the Tano river has been done on one acre.
April 25th ? 27th
Training of twenty-five (25) women and youth on appropriate farming methods and alternative livelihoods.
Twenty women supported with goats. It is ongoing to get pass for other women to also get their turn. Harvesting is ongoing. We can now get money to support our husbands, pay children fees, send our children to hospitals, eat good food and actively involve in village credit and saving scheme. This product has helped us a lot. Our husbands no longer beat us.
We are grateful to UNDP for the support. We are always on the radio educating, teaching, and creating awareness and sensitizing more women to improve their lives.
Activities planned but not completed in this reporting period and reasons for delay
All activities planned during this reporting period were all completed.
Activities planned to be completed in the next reporting period.
To consolidate best practices and handover project to women groups.
Experience, lessons learnt and issues in this reporting period.
The project has introduced good agriculture practices, organic fertilizer, and reduced post-harvest losses. The farmers are investing in dry season farming and livelihood activities by themselves.
