Planned Activities in the fist phase of the project

1.0 Support 100 rural women farmers in Bulenga and Dupare to invest in climate smart farms and practice dry season farming including soil and water conservation management and bulking of horticulture crop seed and cultivation of climate resistant crops.

Achievements
1.1. Introduced weekly Environmental Awareness Programmes on the Local FM Stations. The project mobilized resource persons from Ministry of Agriculture and other Civil Society organization to undertake environmental education on Radio Upper West and Radio Progress whose wide coverage areas include the whole of the Wa East District where Dupari is located. The weekly awareness creation program is still on-going.

1.2. The project formed a 9-member Project Management Committee (PMC) to organize the communities to carry out work on the project. Members of the Project management Committee were drawn from women groups, farmers, hunters, carvers and weavers, livestock owners, and commercial farmers. This was to ensure that the project incorporates the interests and concerns of different groups of people. The PMC was inaugurated and empowered as part of the project initiation activities.

1.3. Under the directives of the PMC and in collaboration with the MOFA and District Assembly, the community dugout in-between Dupari and Gilan was desilted. The PMC organized the two communities to desilt the community dugout to increase the water storage capacity by 60%. The spillways were repaired and reinforced. The communities free labor removed all the silt and the weeds around the sides and deepen the depths. This will increase its storage capacity.

1.4. The PMC organized the women into three trust groups of 20 members each These groups were educated on the climate smart principles and register interested members. The group members worked on the lands adjacent to the dugout.

1.5. In collaboration with MOFA, the PMC organized capacity building training for the groups in soil and water conservation management, compost preparation, mulching, and cultivation of crop resistant crops The women were taught on the establishment and maintenance of climate smart farms. A demonstration farm was be established as a learning field for the group members.

Planned Activity 2. 3-ha climate smart farms established and managed by the women farmers for reliable harvest and increased yield
2.1. The PMC worked with MOFA to establish Community horticulture/tree nursery. A total of 30,000 seedling to raise as drought resistant seedlings for planting in the smart farms in Dupari and Gilan.

2.2. The PMC erected four overhead tanks at strategic locations within the climate smart farming area. The total capacities of the four tanks is 10,500cc which will ensure daily supply of water for the 5 ha irrigated land under the climate smart farming systems. These tanks would be fitted with pipes so as to be able to irrigate the field with gravity.

2.3. The PMC procured equipment and materials to support simple irrigation in the area adjacent to the community dugout dam. Basic equipment and materials like water hose, pumping machines, watering cans, wheelbarrows, and drips were procured to facilitate the pumping and distribution of water in the area

2.4. First round training of farmers in the simple drip irrigation technology and application of organic fertilizer and pesticides was initiated. The project will train the more farmers on the principles pumping and irrigation. They would be trained on how to prepare and apply the compost; how to prepare and apply neem organic pesticides and basic farm management systems.




Activities planned and completed in this reporting period and results achieved in the second phase.

1. a. 100 farmers more received capacity building and skills enhancement training on methods and processes of livestock management (goat, sheep and chicken)

100 farmers received capacity-building training in livestock management. This included basic animal husbandry (Water, shelter, and cleanliness). The need and how to keep animals more productive by ensuring that they are well-hydrated, clean, and dry.

Farmers were also trained in animal nutrition and its impact on growth, productivity, immune shelter and reproduction, farm management such as treatment of animals and preventive measures, animal genetic management, sustainable livestock production and climate change and natural resources critical factors in putting up a store and amount of supply of feed and veterinary supplies.

b) 100 farmers have their capacity built to manage the store, simple accounting in basic record keeping skills. Recording daily business transactions, getting benefits in terms of lower cost of inputs but also additional income from the earnings.

Famers have their capacity built on how to develop marketing timetable for livestock for identification and exploration of various opportunities that could make positive impact on improving farmhouse holds livestock production system.

farmers have the ability to assess the profitability of their enterprise by assessing various actions and opportunities in livestock production using simple economic analysis, enhanced awareness and understanding among farmers about cash and non-cash cost and benefits involved in livestock management.

10 farmer- managed network of local farmer groups within the project was established and facilitated to enable smallholder farmers participate to develop their capacities to continuously assess and analyze their farming systems, improve their decision-making skills and enhance livestock management.

2. Procure Equipment and materials to support simple irrigation in the area adjacent to the community dam.

120 farmers were introduced to simple irrigation using fortnightly community education, sensitization, and animation meetings.

All meetings were organized and facilitated by a nine (9) member community project management committee (PMC) drawn from women groups, farmers, hunters, carvers, weavers, livestock owners and commercial farmers. This was to ensure that participants share their knowledge, interest, and concerns of the different group of people. It was also meant to draw strategies to learn from experiences and how to combat challenges.

The PMC together with community members in collaboration with MOFA and the Wa East District Assembly developed bylaws to protect the community dugout dam and tree/horticulture nursery.

In collaboration with MOFA, the PMC organized capacity building training for the groups in soil and water conservation management, compost preparation and application, mulching and protection of drought resistant crops. The farmers were taught on the establishment and maintenance of climate smart farms, construction of fire belt and simple firefighting.



3. Train the farmers in the simple drip irrigation technology and application of organic fertilizer and pesticides

The PMC in consultation with MOFA provided a second round of training for 120 farmers in the drip irrigation technology and application of organic fertilizer and pesticides.

The 4 tanks of 10,500cc have been fitted with pipes so as to be able to irrigate the field

A water pumping machine has been procured to enable farmers pump in and distribution of water from the dam to fill the water tanks to ensure availability of water for drip irrigation during the dry season.

Establish Multi-Purpose wood lot and fodder bank.

A five-hectare piece of land has been released by the chiefs, opinion leaders and landowners on which a multi-purpose woodlot and fodder bank has been established.

250 farmers trained in conservation practices to conserve the multi-purpose woodlot and fodder bank.

15 different spices of medicinal plants that had almost gone extinct are detected and protected.

8 indigenous fruit trees of economic value have been detected and protected.

Train people in appropriate farming methods and alternative livelihoods, procure and supply of organic farming implements and tools, machines, materials and equipment.

5. 120 farmers were trained on treatment of livestock infested with lice using sweet flag powder against parasites (herbal remedy)

5.1 120 farmers trained on opportunities and challenges to promoting organic agriculture as a development tool, the significance and characteristics of organic farming to small scale farmers such as mixed farming and crop rotation, recycling of organic waste, reduce environmental impact as well as suitability for cultivation of small areas with anticipated obstacles to organic system implementation such as local adoption of principle features of organic system, determining nutrient sources for maintaining soil fertility

Farmers capacities have also been built on potential livestock integration and livestock feeding regimes, the appropriate and consistent allocation of resources among the different enterprises to achieve the best results and minimize wastage and redundancy.

Farmers were also taken through off farm activities to enhance their livelihood security and welfare needs such as brick making, charcoal making and harvesting of wild products.

Procure and supply organic farming implements and tools, machines, and equipment.

Farmers were taken through how to use organic waste in fertilizer production using organic waste such as straw, livestock manure, and cake feed in making organic fertilizer through microbial fermentation deodorization and maturity.

Farmers were trained in the process of composting and fermentation, mixing, and crushing, and granulating methods in the production of organic fertilizer such as disk granulation, rotary granulation, and double roller extrusion granulation.

Participants were also taken through the use of simple organic farming equipment to enable farmers to reduce weed burdens and stimulate crop growth. This simple farming equipment included a tined weeder, comb harrows, and types of Robocop for weed control methods.



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

All activities planned for the reporting period have been carried out.


Activities planned to be completed in the next reporting period.

Refresher training for 20 farmers on care and maintenance of water facility.

Refresher Training for 100 farmers on Soil and Water Conservation management, compost preparation, and mulching

Refresher training for 100 farmers in the simple drip irrigation technology and application of organic fertilizer and pesticides

Project evaluation and documentation of best practices


Experience, lessons learnt and issues in this reporting period.

The involvement of Traditional rulers, Religious Leaders, key community opinion leaders as stakeholders of the Project and the establishment of a Community Project Management Committee is key to the success of the Project and its sustainability.


Using community members in community sensitization and reflection meetings serves as a factor in the success of the project since the members are aware of the realities on the ground and issues raised by them for discussions will not be seen as more of a foreign matter.

Progress against indicators was highly achieved, the sensitization work especially with community members in the driving seat is proving more effective and evidence of sustainability.


All the training programmes have proven to be relevant as members are able to use the knowledge acquired in their daily work on the project.


The readiness of traditional rulers and religious leaders to review cultural and religious norms justifies the efficiency and effectiveness of women in the project