The project seeks to mobilize; built network and capacity of enterprising women and support them to become PGS-Ghana organic certify women farmers to enable them collect, processed organic Dawadawa, products and access the growing organic market in Ghana. The project is intended for implementation in the Northern Savanna including the Black Volta Basin Ghana. Through this project, at least 200 smallholder women farmers in 6 rural communities will transition from conventional agriculture to organic by going through series of capacity building in organic principles to meet PGS-Ghana organic standards, supported to register and go through PGS-Ghana certification inspections processes to enable them to get certified as Dawadawa organic farmers.
Ghana is currently developing a Participatory Guarantee System (PGS), which will enable small-scale farmers to assure consumers that their products are organic. Participatory Guarantee Systems are locally focused quality control and assurance systems in the organic agriculture system in Ghana. They certify producers based on active participation of stakeholders and are built on a foundation of trust, social networks, and knowledge exchange. Although still in development, PGS is already helping organic farmers especially those in southern Ghana to access markets and increase their sales. Currently it is the only recognized country in-built organic certification system in Ghana. Ghana standards authority(GSA), Ministry of Food and Agriculture(MOFA) and other relevant institutions are working round the clock to educate and inform the markets and the public of PGS-Ghana warning producers and consumers of any product without PGS-Ghana organic logo is deem not to be organic. So far over 200 farmers already registered under PGS, making gains through access to the organic market in Ghana. PGS-Ghana organic aimed at creating and bringing the various benefits of organic farming for smallholder farmers and notable among them include a high premium, low capital investment, the ability to achieve higher premiums in the market, and the ability to use traditional knowledge.
The primary objective
To develop the organic Dawadawa Value chain by mobilize and strengthen the capacity of enterprising small holder women farmers to become PGS-Ghana organic certify farmers to enable them produce pure organic Dawadawa products and access the growing organic market in Ghana.
Specific objectives of the proposed project
? To mobilize and network enterprising small holder women farmers into (Transition) organic Dawadawa Processors and Marketers
? Building the capacity of network members in PGS ?Ghana organic farming standard practices and support them to practice.
? Support farmers to go through registration process, inspections and get certified
1.5 Description of Project Activities
? PGS-Ghana organic Dawadawa Women Farmer mobilization and networking ? this activity begins with community awareness creation on PGS-Ghana organic concepts. This will be followed by registration of farmers interested in converting from conventional to organic Dawadawa collection and processing. The interested farmers are mobilized and organized into farmer cooperatives, and groups for networking.

? Capacity Building?PGS-Ghana organic farming production protocols ?collection, processing and marketing ? this activity centers on the training and supporting farmers to practice organic principles ?it will be concentrated on training women farmers on the needed skills and knowledge on organic dawadawa collection, processing and marketing. It will further look at other production protocols such as seed nursing, transplanting, and other general farmland management of dawadawa fields in the communities.

? Capacity building ?PGS-Ghana organic standards ?principles and inspection process-PGS-Ghana organic has development its own procedures, principles and guidelines that must be strictly followed to enable a farmer qualify. Therefore, this component of the activity will take all the women farmers through these guiding principles to enable them learn, practice and adhere to the PGS-Ghana Principles

? Capacity building ?PGS-Ghana ?Organic registration process and registration-farmers transitioning from conventional agriculture would be supported to register and guided to go through inspection stages. This will enable them acquire the PGS-Ghana organic certification, produce and sell under premium prices

? Capacity building ?PGS-Organic Marketing, business management and money literacy ?this activity will build the farmer capacity to make farming a business enterprise rather than subsistence farming. The farmers would receive skills in general business management, money literacy and other related areas.

? Establishment of E-village saving and loans schemes ?this would be piloted among women farmers using the Ghana telecos

? Training in specific Dawadawa products development including packaging and branding.