This project is in response to the declining soil fertility, the loss of forest, and unsustainable agricultural practices in Goli and Goriyir in the Lawra District. Rainfall pattern has changed, becoming unpredictable with strong winds blowing causing a lot of damage to farms and other properties. The once fertile soils are now impoverished to the extent that yields of food crops per unit area have reduced significantly. Chemical fertilization of crop land that resulted in respectable yields is also failing leaving the land more impoverished and hence incremental decrease in crop yields year is experienced. biodiversity loss in the Lawra-Nadowli areas of the Upper West Region.
The situation as described above has made farming within the landscape an expensive and unattractive venture and with the narrow economic base of local people, their livelihood activities/ security has become threatened. The natural environment is also gradually giving way to unfavourable alien vegetation type and lifestyle which is having effect on the people because of unsustainable farming practices and social importance attached to these animals.
This project seeks to build the capacities of 100 local farmers in two (2) communities in Goli, and Goriyiri in the Lawra districts of the Black Volta Basin to withstand the effects of climate change and sustainable practice conservation agriculture, agro-ecology and organic farming. The specific objectives are to a) build the capacities of local communities in conservation agriculture, agro-ecology, and organic farming; b) set-up systems for farmers to prepare compost to conserve the environment, c) train farmers as extension agents; d) support alternative livelihood development.

The beneficiary farmers who follow the set criteria for green farming will have their farms certified and thus become green farmers. The project will provide agro input (improved seeds, fertilizer) support to resource-poor small holder 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 will be distributed free of charge to beneficiaries to be integrated with annual crops. Tailor designed extension services will also be provided to beneficiary farmers throughout the season on cropping, pest control, post-harvest management.
The produce from these green farms would be bought by the IFMO at competitive rates from green farmers willing to sell. Premium payments will be added per bag of commodity purchased from the green farmers as their bonus for practicing the agroecology system. The products would be kept in warehouse to be sold latter. Any profit made on the reselling of the products would be shared with the beneficiary farmers.
The project will develop farmer field schools to demonstrate and train the farmers. After the pilot stage, pioneer farmers would be given further training to replicate these practices across the target district.