This project was in response to the declining soil fertility in the Lawra-Nadowli areas of the Upper West Region. It sought to build the capacities of 160 local farmers in the Lawra and Nadowli districts of the Black Volta Basin to adopt business practices in agroecology. The main objective was to green the agricultural supply chains through an incentive-based agroecology model that supports the smallholder farmers. Beneficiary farmers were selected in 10 communities across the target districts and registered on a database. These beneficiaries were sensitized on climate change, environmental degradation, and the role of farmers in commodity-based deforestation. They were trained and supported through farmer field schools and demonstrations in agroecology practice to invest in cashew maize, soya beans, groundnuts, and millet. The beneficiary farmers followed a set criterion for green farming and had their farms certified to become green farmers. The project provided Agro inputs (improved seeds, fertilizer) to support the resource-poor smallholder farmers on credit, payable in cash or kind after the harvest season. Tree seedlings of various species including cashew, mango, avocado, cassia, mahogany, and rosewood were distributed free of charge to the beneficiaries to be integrated with annual crops. A tailor-designed extension service was provided to beneficiary farmers throughout the season on cropping, pest control, and post-harvest management.

The main project activities implemented included:

1) The project conducted beneficiary baseline survey in Nadowli District to response to the declining soil fertility in the areas to select communities within the district for the project and to help them to adopt business practices in agroecology. In all five district communities were selected.
2) The project established five (5) community tree seedling nurseries to supply seedling to selected farmers in the Goli, Goriyiri, Sa Gie, Wogu, and Natodor communities
3) 100 local farmers were selected, sensitized, and trained on climate change, environmental degradation, and the role of farmers in commodity-based deforestation. The training sessions were facilitated through farmer field schools and demonstrations undertaken to build the capacities of the selected beneficiaries in agroecology practice.
4) The project provided tailor made extension services to the selected farmers. The beneficiary farmers who followed the set criteria for green farming were registered for certification to become green farmers. The project provided agro input (improved seeds, and seedling) support to the resource-poor small holder farmers on credit, payable in kind after the harvest season. Tree seedlings of various species including cashew, mango, avocado, cassia, mahogany, and rosewood were distributed to the beneficiaries to be integrated on farms. Tailor designed extension services were provided to selected farmers throughout the season on cropping, pest control, post-harvest management.
5 With the support of the selected farmers, five (5) demonstration farms on agroecology were established in each selected community.

Project Outcome:

1.Five tree nurseries with seedling capacities of 200,000 established at Goli, Goriyiri, Sa Gie, Wogu, and Natodor communities.
At least 127,500 seedlings were distributed during the farming season. The seedling raised were cashew, mango, cassia, mahogany, and rosewood

2) 160 farmers were trained in agroecology technologies. Two farmer schools were established for the training

3) Two (2) demonstration farms were established and used as farmers training schools at Goli and Goriyiri. and 160 farmers were supplied with farm improved seeds, seedlings, wellington boots, cutlasses, hoes, and watering cans.

4). Five (5) commodity buying centres for cashew, maize, soya beans, millet, and groundnuts were established



The project established five buying centres (Figure 1) to buy the produce from these green farmers at competitive prices and stored them in the buying centres. Farmers who sold to the buying centres will enjoy Premium payments per kilo of commodity sold to the centres as their bonus for practicing the agroecology system. The products are being kept in the warehouse to be sold later. Any profit made from the reselling of the products would be shared with the beneficiary farmers.

b. Supported three local farmers groups to undertake green commodity purchasing to the commodity buying centres.

The project developed farmer field schools to demonstrate and train three (3) farmer groups in green commodity production and purchasing. After the pilot stage, the pioneer farmers were given further training to replicate these practices across the target district. The trained farmers undertake green commodity purchasing and are involved in:

I. Building the capacities of smallholder farmers in agroecology technology including climate-smart agriculture and organic farming

II Supporting other smallholder farmers to diversify crop production and adopt an integrated farming systems

III. Creating a green market system by aggregating and marketing green produce. The project strategy is to employ an incentive-based approach to promote agroecology uptake among rural smallholder farmers all in a bid to green agricultural supply chains.

c. Signed Agreement with bulk buyers on commodities to be traded at the buying centres and created village buying and storage centres.

The project developed purchase agreements with 160 beneficiary farmers. In the agreement, IFMO will purchase commodities at competitive prices on the local markets; set up village storage facilities to store products. The strategy used included farmers? registration, sensitization, and training.

Planned Activities Implemented and progress made

a. Establishment of five (5) commodity buying centres for cashew, maize, soya beans, millet, and groundnuts

This project was in response to the declining soil fertility in the Lawra-Nadowli areas of the Upper West Region. It sought to build the capacities of 160 local farmers in the Lawra and Nadowli districts of the Black Volta Basin to adopt business practices in agroecology. The main objective was to green the agricultural supply chains through an incentive-based agroecology model that supports the smallholder farmers. Beneficiary farmers were selected in 10 communities across the target districts and registered on a database. These beneficiaries were sensitized on climate change, environmental degradation, and the role of farmers in commodity-based deforestation. They were trained and supported through farmer field schools and demonstrations in agroecology practice to invest in cashew maize, soya beans, groundnuts, and millet. The beneficiary farmers followed a set criterion for green farming and had their farms certified to become green farmers. The project provided Agro inputs (improved seeds, fertilizer) to support the resource-poor smallholder farmers on credit, payable in cash or kind after the harvest season. Tree seedlings of various species including cashew, mango, avocado, cassia, mahogany, and rosewood were distributed free of charge to the beneficiaries to be integrated with annual crops. A tailor-designed extension service was provided to beneficiary farmers throughout the season on cropping, pest control, and post-harvest management.

The project established five buying centres (Figure 1) to buy the produce from these green farmers at competitive prices and stored them in the buying centres. Farmers who sold to the buying centres will enjoy Premium payments per kilo of commodity sold to the centres as their bonus for practicing the agroecology system. The products are being kept in the warehouse to be sold later. Any profit made from the reselling of the products would be shared with the beneficiary farmers.

b. Supported three local farmers groups to undertake green commodity purchasing to the commodity buying centres.

The project developed farmer field schools to demonstrate and train three (3) farmer groups in green commodity production and purchasing. After the pilot stage, the pioneer farmers were given further training to replicate these practices across the target district. The trained farmers undertake green commodity purchasing and are involved in:

I,. Building the capacities of smallholder farmers in agroecology technology including climate-smart agriculture and organic farming

II. Supporting other smallholder farmers to diversify crop production and adopt an integrated farming systems

III. Creating a green market system by aggregating and marketing green produce. The project strategy is to employ an incentive-based approach to promote agroecology uptake among rural smallholder farmers all in a bid to green agricultural supply chains.

c. Signed Agreement with bulk buyers on commodities to be traded at the buying centres and created village buying and storage centres.

The project developed purchase agreements with 160 beneficiary farmers. In the agreement, IFMO will purchase commodities at competitive prices on the local markets; set up village storage facilities to store products. The strategy used included farmers? registration, sensitization, and training.


Activities planned but not completed in this reporting period and reasons for delay

All planned activities were executed



Activities planned to be completed in the next reporting period.

Monitoring and evaluation of buying centres and green commodity value chains

Reporting to granters and stakeholders, knowledge dissemination


Experience, lessons learnt, and issues in this reporting period.

Building farmers? confidence requires patience and tact.

Managing the buying centres should be collective effort.