Project Detail

Enhancing and Networking the capacities of Savannah Women Small Holder Farmers and NTFP Collectors to acquire PGS–Ghana Organic Certificates and access PGS Organic Market

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

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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.

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Community Empowerment Organization

Country:

Ghana

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity

Operational Phase:

OP7 Y4 (July 23-June 24)

Grant Amount:

US$ 25,000.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 7,000.00

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 10,000.00

Project Number:

GHA/SGP/OP7/Y4/CORE/BD/2023/24

Start Date:

6/2023

End Date:

3/2024

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

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Project Characteristics and Results

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

Knowledge management will entail creating a database and reports for each action that will be carried out and sharing them with stakeholders, including the district assembly, for reviews and comments on future activities. Reviewed reports will be made available to the public and stakeholders for decision-making on the website. Lessons learned and best practices achieved from this initiative could be applied to similar projects to help the nation's drive to conserve the environment. The knowledge product developed during and after this project will be best management practices.

Capacity - Building Component

The capacity needs of the people is how to get certified in the collection and processing of Dawadawa.

Notable Community Participation

The project is designed to empower the youth who are involved in the collection and processing of Dawadawa.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

The project is livelihood activity on non-timber forest product.

Gender Focus

The project is women dominated

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

The project will do documentary and use the social media to disseminate information.

Policy Impact

The project will help formulate policy on the certification of NTFPs in Ghana.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

There was PRA, and stakeholder meetings.

Project Results

Currently, the PGS-Ghana has registered over 100 smallholder farmers the following activities were completed.

a) Community sensitization in 3 communities and registration of 50 smallholder women farmers into cooperatives and networking -10 farmers.
b) Trained 100 women in organic Dawadawa picking and processing skills, general farmland management in Dawadawa fields, and tree planting and management skills in the nursery, transplanting, and nurturing of Dawadawa seedlings.
c) Trained 100 women on general farmland management under organic agriculture.
d) Supported 100 women with Dawadawa picking and processing tools.
e) Trained and supported 100 women on PGS-Ghana organic Standards, guidelines, and principles.
f) Trained 100 women on PGS-Ghana organic inspection procedures and expectations.

? PGS-Ghana organic Dawadawa Women Farmer mobilization and networking ? this activity began with community awareness creation on PGS-Ghana organic concepts. This was followed by the registration of over 100 farmers interested in converting from conventional to organic Dawadawa collection and processing. The interested farmers were mobilized and organized into farmer cooperatives, and groups for networking.

? Capacity Building?The PGS-Ghana organic farming production protocols ?collection, processing, and marketing was introduced. This activity centered on 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-
The PGS-Ghana organic team developed its own procedures, principles, and guidelines that must be strictly followed to enable a farmer to qualify. Therefore, this component of the activity took all the women farmers through these guiding principles to enable them to 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 has enabled the women to 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?s 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 loan schemes ?this is being piloted and will be upscaled during the second disbursement using the Ghana telecom software

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Indicators

Biophysical

Number of globally significant species protected by project 2

Biophysical

Hectares of globally significant biodiversity area protected or sustainably managed by project 500

Biophysical

Number of innovations or new technologies developed/applied 2

Biophysical

Number of local policies informed in biodiversity focal area 1

Biophysical

Number of national policies informed in biodiversity focal area 1

Empowerment

Number of CBOs / NGOs participated / involved in SGP project 1

Empowerment

Number of women participated / involved in SGP project 200

Empowerment

Innovative financial mechanisms put in place through SGP project 1

Livehood

Increase in household income by increased income or reduced costs due to SGP project 200

Livehood

Number of households who have benefited* from SGP project 100

Livehood

Number of individuals (gender diaggregated) who have benefited* from SGP project 150

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