Problem definition
Over the years, farm outputs/yields have declined considerable due to increasing poor soil quality on the farmlands. The soils in the area are predominantly of Toje series (Cambisols), Aveime-Zipa series (Luvisols) and Nyigbenya Soil Associations (Gleysols) which are highly leached, and deficient in nitrogen and phosphorus and have low nutrient reserves. among others. Although these soils are suitable for the cultivation of food crops (cassava, maize, millet, sorghum, tomatoes, pepper, okra, water melons, etc) and cash crops (cashew, mangoes, pineapples and cotton), the low nutrient levels has led to low yields.

To improve farm output, the farmers resort to the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides for soil nutrition and pest control, respectively. Over the years the farmers have realized that the net benefit has not been significant in economic as well as environmental terms. Farmers continue to apply greater quantities of fertilizer in order to maintain farm yields as the soil conditions continue to deteriorate and fertilizer components leach into the surrounding environment. This farming practice continues to impoverish the soil and pollute the general environment including lagoons and streams downstream. The net result is that the farmers spend more money to produce the same quantity of food crop leading to economic loss. The farmers have also noticed that farm products arising from chemically treated soils have shorter shelf-life or storage period and are less valued on the market.

Farmers in the area have realized the need to adopt alternative means to improve farm yields while improving and maintaining the soil integrity. Producing crops with high market acceptability is also important to these farmers. They have therefore considered the possibility of venturing into farming which applies organic inputs as fertilizers with little or no chemical fertilizers. The farmers are convinced that this approach will change their economic fortunes while protecting lands on which their livelihood depends.

The need to process organic wastes such as livestock (cattle, goats/sheep, pig and poultry manure) as well as household and market wastes into compost for use as fertilizer and soil conditioner on farms has been identified as an alternative to the use of chemical fertilizer. Also identified is the production of biogas as alternative domestic energy source. Under this project, natural plant products (neem plant, which is abundant in the area) will be processed for the control of pest on the farms.

The principle underlying this project is to use the abundant local resources (organic waste) which otherwise go waste for soil enrichment and conditioning for increased crop yield and for the production of energy for domestic use (heating, lighting, etc.). Also, there will be less reliance on chemical pesticides as there will be the processing of natural plant parts into plant pesticides to be used to control pests on the farm.

2.3 Project Objectives

The goal of the project is to process and utilize organic waste materials into useful organic fertilizer for increased farm yield, improved crop quality, and domestic energy supply for poverty reduction and maintenance of environmental integrity.
Specific Objectives

The project seeks to:

i. train farmers to collect, sort and harness organic waste for compost production process plants into pesticides
ii. support farmers to apply improve soil nutrients and soil conditioning for better crop yield

Project strategy and description of activities
This project consists of setting up of a demonstrative composting facility at Osaekrodua for training of environmental entrepreneurs in the conversion of organic waste into good quality compost.

The Plant Model: The project aims at an area or a cluster, or a village) which shall have a population of 5,000 people covering 1000 households including commercial establishments. Considering a waste generation of 400 grams of per capita, around 1 tonnes/day of MSW shall be generated for utilization into composting and recovering as recyclable waste.

1. Approach and Methodology
Step 1: Awareness creation and setting up of environmental entrepreneurs in the pilot communities.

The project will mobilize all the stakeholders and community members within the area and encourage them to form groups of 10 members each. These groups would be registered under the project and given special training in waste management. The groups shall be encouraged to motivate and engage the public in continuous public awareness campaigns based on a public IEC strategy. Activities will, for instance, include promotion of the RRR-slogan – reduce, reuse, and recycle – advertisement on publicity boards, on local FM radio channels, and in local newspapers, as well as workshops, exhibitions, lectures, street plays, etc. They will form and maintain eco-clubs at schools and youth groups together with volunteers.

The Enviro-entrepreneurs would undertake the following activities:

1. Educate the public on how to segregate waste at source into biodegradable (wet) waste and non-biodegradable (dry) waste. The non-biodegradable (dry) waste shall thereafter be segregated into recyclables, non-recyclables, and domestic hazardous waste;

2. Supply two containers to households (free of charge) in different colors for the wet and the dry waste respectively;

3. Inform the public about the daily door-to-door waste collection and handing over of the waste to the Enviro-entrepreneurs;

4. Inform the public about communal bins for biodegradable waste in buildings, institutions, companies, and residential colonies;

5. Encourage the utilization of compost for farming and gardening. Increase the public’s awareness and knowledge about compost use and benefits in order to increase market demand.

The group will facilitate the building of a pavilion for the following :
1. Segregation of waste at source
2. Primary collection
3. Composting of biodegradable waste
4. Recycling of non-biodegradable waste
5. Awareness and information campaigns

Step 2: Identifying and procurement of tools and equipments
Detailed planning will be provided by technical partner agency for the necessary tools and equipments to carry on the project effectively.
List of tools & equipment
• Household dust bins (8 Liters- Capacity)
• Tricycles
• Bins for tricycles (60 Liters )
• Aprons
• Implements
• Personal protective equipment

Step 3: Design and Construction of the composting facility
The detailed design will be provided by technical partner agency to the implementing agency to construct SW processing unit upon the land/plot has been acquired by implementing agency and then the composting facilities shall be set up. Thereafter, the project will consist of the following activities in broad outline:
• Primary collection and transportation of segregated waste
• Composting of biodegradable waste by aerobic composting
• Awareness and information campaigns


Step 4: Planning and Implementation of Collection and Transportation System
Door-to-door collection of waste will take place on a daily basis on either pushcarts or tricycles. After the waste has been collected from the households and commercial establishments, the waste is transported to the site for aerobic composting.
Segregation of Waste at Source and importance of its segregation
The households will segregate the waste at source into biodegradable (wet) waste and non-biodegradable (dry) waste. The non-biodegradable (dry) waste will thereafter be segregated into recyclables, non-recyclables, and domestic hazardous waste. Each household will be provided two buckets in different colours free of charge for the wet and the dry waste respectively.

Step 5: Commencement of Operation
Composting of Biodegradable Waste
At the site, all biodegradable waste will be composted either in aerobic composts or in the more costly vermi-composts. Aerobic composting refers to a process where biodegradable waste is biologically decomposed under controlled conditions by microorganisms (mainly bacteria and fungi) under aerobic conditions. The product, compost, can effectively be utilized as an organic fertilizer to rejuvenate soils. A key risk associated with composting relates to the product; i.e. compost that is free from environmental hazards. If composting is not based on segregation at source, the product risks becoming contaminated. Posting is a low-cost option, which can be implemented on different levels of scale, thus adapted to a city’s specific context.

Vermi-composting is based on the digestion of waste by earthworms. A pre-composting phase is necessary where waste is left to decompose partially and thereafter fed to the worms. The worm casting is harvested as vermi-compost.

In Short, Composting has long been used in agriculture, but its application to the digestion of urban waste has only recently been developed. It is essentially a process by which organic matter (food, leather, wood, paper etc.) decays. Inorganic matter, such as sand, metal and glass, does not decay and is, therefore, unaffected by composting. In low?income housing areas, as much as 90 per cent of waste might be compostable. Composting can be done in small quantities and is, therefore, a waste disposal method that is possible even at the neighborhood level or at the transfer depot site. The composting process might take a month, and composting can be turned into a profitable business for holders of small vegetable plots and nurseries for potted and garden plants. Composting needs air, humidity and warmth. Stacked waste with lots of kitchen waste needs to be turned regularly, in order to allow the air to reach the micro?organisms which digest the organic matter and break it down into harmless components. When the waste pile or ridge is turned every week, this might be sufficient in a warm climate. With sufficient air access, the smells will be minimal.

Recycling of Non-Biodegradable Waste
The non-biodegradable waste will be segregated by category at the site. The recyclable waste will then be sold to companies that have machinery and expertise to recycle the material properly.

Step 6: On-Site Training and Development
All employees and identified stakeholders and farmers will undergo extensive training in composting techniques, principles behind composting and recycling, occupational hazards, health and hygiene, collection and transportation procedures.
All employees will undergo extensive training in SWM, including the linkage between a deteriorating environment, waste, and human health, the treatment and management of waste, principles behind composting and recycling, occupational hazards, health and hygiene, collection and transportation procedures, and etcetera.

Step 7: Monitoring
The composting facility shall be monitored by the trained workers. Any trouble shooting during the project period shall be dealt and overcome by the support of the technical people from the implementing agency.

Step 8: Marketing and Sale of Compost Material
The compost shall be marketed in and around the locality. Farmers shall be encouraged to by the compost for farming. The marketing and sale of compost shall be given the responsibility for the NGO and the income generated shall be used for the maintenance and sustainable of the project.

Step 9: Handing over the Project
After the completion of the project period the project shall be handed over to the concerned authority after successful implementation and running over a period of 12 months.

2.4 Expected Results/Benefits

The expected results and benefits include:

Output 1: Capacity of sixty youth and women farmers developed in waste processing and compost preparation, and preparation and use of neem extracts as organic pesticides

The project will be anchored in 4 pilot communities (Osaekrodua, Akufful-krodua, Bentum, Adawukwao). The project will select 27 out of the 53 Farmer Based Organizations area. Ten Farmers would be selected from each community for training and participation in the project.

Prior to the inauguration of the project in the District, sensitization and awareness creation programme will be held through meetings and other fora, (e.g. radio discussion on Radio Peace at Winneba - a community FM Radio) will be undertaken. The awareness creation will target a number of stakeholders including farmers, the District Assembly, Agricultural Extension Agents, the Press, and community members. Four (4) giant Bill Boards on the project activities will be mounted at vantage positions to continuously remind the target communities and others about the project. Also, T-Shirts and Caps with project issues embossed will be printed and distributed to farmers in the target communities.

The inauguration of the project will be in the form of a durbar where dignitaries and the press will be invited and the project rolled out to the public. This will take place at Osaekrodua. Identified persons who will form the Project Implementation Committee (PIC) will be introduced to the community.

In all, 8 training programmes/workshops/seminars will be organized for 27 Farmers groups from the Osaekrodua zone. Resource Persons will be invited to train the farmers on the methodology for compost processing and application, organic waste collection and harnessing, aspects of biogas production and use, pesticide production and application, education on farming practices, post harvest handling, marketing, accounting and records keeping, etc.


Output 2: Two community owned compost processing unit established for the production of organic manure.

Four compost processing sites will be constructed, one in each of the four target communities. A waste collection crew will be selected to collect organic waste within the communities. Areas identified as organic waste points will be provided with large plastic bags into which organic materials will be lodged. The waste collection crew will use push trucks to collect waste from various points to a central location from where the waste will be carted to the compost processing and biogas sites.

Waste brought to the processing site will be processed into compost by trained persons. The processed compost will be stored in sacks at the site. Farmers will book for their requirements and pay a token per a sack of compost. Revenue realized from the sale of compost will be used in the operation and maintenance of the of the project activities. A project tractor jointly purchased and paid for by the project and the farmers will be available to cart compost from the processing site to farmers’ fields.

Farmers would be trained through the workshops and hands-on seminars on how to apply the processed compost on their farms.

Output 3: Community-owned enterprise set up for processing of Neem leaves and seeds for the production of organic pesticides.

The project will train farmers in pesticide production and application. The neem tree Azadiracta indica is a common tree species which grows wildly in the locality. The neem plant (leaves, seed, etc) has proven medicinal value. It has also been proven useful in the control of plant pests such as beetle larvae, butterfly and moth caterpillars, grasshoppers, plant hoppers aphids, mealy bugs, fruit maggots and spider mites, etc. Through the workshops, farmers will be taught how to process and extract the active ingredients in the neem plant for use on their farms. This will help decrease their dependence on chemical pesticides and thus contribute to environmental and cash savings.

Further training in business management, marketing simple book keeping, banking procedures and credit management will be organized for the farmers. The project will introduce a system of recovering the cost of the equipment by charging use fees for farmers using the irrigation facilities. It will set up a financial recovery mechanism with the rural banks through which monies collected would be lodged. The project will facilitate access to credit to farmers to produce organic products under irrigation and assist farmers to access credit facilities at the rural banks to enable them own and replicate the renewable energy interventions in other parts of the project area.

3.0 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES

Output 1: Capacity of sixty youth and women farmers developed in waste processing and compost preparation, and preparation and use of neem extracts as organic pesticides

Planned Activities

1.1 Select 4 pilot communities and orient them on the project activities.
1.2 organize sensitization and awareness creation meetings within the project areas
1.3 Inaugurate the project.
1.4 Organize training workshops in compost and pesticides preparation

Output 2: Two community owned compost processing unit established for the production of organic manure.

Planned Activities

2.1 Construct four compost processing site
2.2 Organize and train organic Waste Collection crew
2.3 Process, produce and store Compost
2.4 Train the farmers in Compost Application on Farms

Output 3: Community-owned enterprise set up for processing of Neem leaves and seeds for the production of organic pesticides.

Planned Activities

3.1 Train farmers in pesticide production and application
3.2 Train the farmer groups on business management, marketing simple book keeping, banking procedures and credit management.
3.3 Introduce a system of recovering the cost of the equipment by charging use fees for farmers using the irrigation facilities.
3.4 Set up a financial recovery mechanism with the rural banks through which monies collected would be lodged.
3.5 Facilitate access to credit to farmers to produce organic products under irrigation.
3.6 Assist farmers to access credit facilities at the rural banks to enable them own and replicate the renewable energy interventions in other parts of the project area.
3.7 Link farmer trust groups to fair and ready markets