There is inappropriate use of agro-chemicals in Kobreso area which is Kobreso is a farming community located on the main road on the Offinso ? Akomadan road in the Offinso North Constituency. Kobreso has a population of about 4,300 (1,510 females, 1,120 males and 1,670 children). The inhabitants are mainly farmers and cultivate the following crops; Vegetables(Tomatoes and Garden eggs as major crops), Palm-trees, Maize, Yam, Onion and Cassava. The above crops mentioned are their main source of livelihood and income year round.

However, inappropriate use of agro-chemicals and bad farming practices has affected the gross yield of their farm produce. Most farmers practiced slash and burn method in their seasonal farming. Inadequate knowledge and wrong use of agro-chemicals such as fertilizers, ammonia, karate, DDT, kocide etc. Organic agriculture which used to be a safer and sustainable farming practices has faded out because of the influx of approved and unapproved agrochemical in the market. It was also realized that POPs chemicals such as DDT, dieldrim, aldrim, benzenehexa-chloride are readily available for use in both vector control and vegetable crop production (other agriculture purposes).

Also, indiscriminate disposal of POPs containers and substances are very rampant in the target project communities because farmers are ignorance or do not know the effects of POPs. They sometime throw them into water bodies and streams but these streams and water bodies are used as a source of drinking for the inhabitants especially far reaching farmers where borehole (potable) water is absent or inaccessible. Closely related to this, is farming along rivers and streams with continuous use of POP chemicals consciously or unconsciously for the production and pest control of their vegetable crops.

The effects of these causes are immeasurable and unacceptable. It affects the human health status and as well as the biodiversity because the ecosystems are contaminated. It has been noted that some farmers in the Kobreso area are victims of infertility, associated heart deficiency (cancer of the heart), skin diseases, stomach ulcers and other associated ailments especially among the youth.

The rate of crop production has gone down considerably because of the decline in the labour force in the area. Low crop yield is experienced and increasingly leading to famine, poverty and rural urban migration.

It is as a result of these emanating effects, that EOFRHS in collaboration with the 15 communities developed this project. The project falls within GEF/SGP focal area of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and aims to create the awareness about the effects of POPs use, increase and stabilize yield, improve pest control through modernized and traditional organic farming practices, and suits women farming requirements in the district to alleviate extreme poverty.

2. PROJECT OBJECTIVES

The purpose of the project is to promote organic farming practices (sustainable agriculture), proper usage of agro-chemicals and integrated pest control management systems. The project will also ensure that, farmers are supported to adopt organic system and to know the hazards of using POPs to eliminate stockpiles.

OUTPUT 1.0 AT LEAST 100 AGRO-CHEMICAL SELLERS and 80 farmers SENSITIZED ON THE PROPER / APPROVED AGRO-CHEMICALS IN THE MARKET BY THE END OF 2ND QUARTER OF PROJECT.

1.1 5 communities have been targeted to implement the project. There will be two separate community durbars in each community for two years. Thus two durbars/ focus group discussions for each community a year for two years (20 separate sensitization program for 5 communities). At least 70% of inhabitant farmers in the 5 communities will be reached and educated on organic farming, the proper use of agrochemicals, bush fire management, agro forestry schemes suitable in the area and sound environmental practices.

1.2 In collaboration with local authority as well as district level will be carried out to ensure popular participation of farmers. Support for the project farmer based groups/associations will be carried out at this level. The general public will be briefed on the components again and importance of the project. This will be done by project officers and supervised by the Project Coordinator. Additionally, resource persons will be used to ensure team work and knowledge transfer.

1.3 The success of this project is depended on how major actors / stakeholders will collaborate, support each other and commit themselves to the project ideas. Ghana ranked second on the use of agro chemicals and imports in West Africa. Some of these agro chemicals contains the POPs, hence the need to involve stakeholders to discuss how best this project can advocate for the reverse of the situation or address the negative practices on the use of agrochemical and waste disposal management. The purpose of the stakeholders meetings are;
1. To develop all embodied work plan including beneficiaries priorities for the effective execution of the project
2. To launch the project in the district,
3. Advocate for the proper use of agro chemicals to reduce the incidence of the POP pollution in the Offinso North constituency and
4. To learn issues that can contribute to the food security and increased incomes of beneficiaries.

OUTPUT 2 AT LEAST 80 FARMERS TRAINED IN SAFETY AGRO-CHEMICAL APPLICATION EDUCATION (SAAE) BY THE SECOND QUARTER AT 2005.

2.1 Eighty community volunteers will be identified, selected to form 15 separate community based originations. Each community will be represented by not less than 6 members with consideration of gender fairness, non-tribal barriers and discrimination. These groups (SAAEs) will be trained for 3 days on organic farming practices, strategies to reduce POPs substances in the environment, advocacy and lobbying skills. This training will be organized by EOFRHS in collaboration with EPA, GOAN and MOFA (District Agricultural Extension Unit, Offinso and CSIR- Fumesua). SAAEs will be responsible for peer-to-peer education at their communities. SAAEs activities are added value to existing community structures e.g. Unit committees. Their role is a complementary effort to educating farmers and lobbying for the disuse of POPs chemicals. Their activities will be monitored by both community leaders and project officers of EOFRHS.

2.2 Thousand copies of posters on organic farming will be developed and distributed to farmers. Two hundred flipchart books will be produced and printed for farmers (literates to learn and transfer skills to peer farmers. Topics to include clip chart book (manuals) are
1. Type of agro forestry models
2. Bush fire control and management
3. Organic Agriculture, Food Security and Technology
4. Good Governance and Human Rights Issues
5. Integrated Rest control and Management
6. The role of SAAEs, DA, local leaders for the reduction of POPs stockpiles in the area.
The document (flip chart) will be developed by Information, Education & Communication consultant upon recommendation by the project management committee.

OUTPUT 3 REVOLVING MICRO FINANCE FOR FARMERS.ESTABLISHED

3.1. During the project designing, a cross section of farmers were met to discuss their felt need and captured into the project activities. Farmers concerns raised includes getting improved knowledge in vegetable production, fruit trees (mangoes, pineapple, oranges, cashew etc) cultivation, and Onion production as additional income generating ventures but they lack the financial support.

3.2 5 demonstration farms will be established to provide adequate seedlings, organic agricultural knowledge and distribution of inputs to farmers as revolving loans. The loans will not be in a form of cash rather, farmers will be assessed base on their group/ individual performance and commitments.

3.3 Rules and regulations will be set up to supervise and govern the activities of the revolving loan beneficiaries.

3.4 Other successive members will have the same incentive packages and be made to pay back the loan facility. The farmers are suppose to make some profit from the loans given to their peer farmers so as to keep the revolving facility ongoing and sustainable Youth farmers and women shall be a priority target