Climate Smart Agriculture and Sustainable Natural Resource Management in Senge Chichie Communities within the Black Volta Basin
The main objective of this project is to promote biodiversity conservation and livelihood development through the adoption of climate smart cashew plantation establishment within the Senge Chichie landscape of the Black Volta Basin.
The specific objectives of the project are:
i. To develop and sustain the capacities of Senge Chichie Cashew Farmers to adopt innovative practices that will integrate indigenous trees into cashew plantation, minimise wildfire incidence, and ensure sustainable land management utilizing agroecology strategies.
ii. To support sustainable livelihood enterprise development through the introduction of apiculture and small ruminant rearing.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT OUTPUTS AND ACTIVITIES
The implementation of the project will produce three main outcomes:
1) Capacities of local farmers developed in climate smart cashew production
2) Farmers within Senge Chichie supported to integrate apiculture and small ruminant rearing in the cultivation of cashew as small business enterprise.
Outcome 1: Capacities of local farmers developed in climate smart cashew production
The component activities will seek to develop institutional capacities of the Senge Chichie Cashew Farmers Association to sustainably manage land and conserve natural resources. The project will support the strengthening of existing traditional and local systems, structures and services to foster local development and management and to create an enabling environment for project success Farmers would be trained in conservation agriculture, wildfire management and mixed farming using improved small ruminants. Each farm family will be encouraged to develop a pen for rearing animals and utilizing the animal droppings for compost preparation which will be used on their farms. The farmers will integrate fruit trees and woodlots as boundary trees.
Outcome 2: Farmers within Senge Chichie supported to integrate apiculture and small ruminant rearing in the cultivation of cashew.
The project idea seeks to mobilize the farmers to integrate apiculture in the cashew production. Each member of the association will be encouraged to develop an apiary with at least 10 bee hives each. The farmers would be trained in the harvesting, processing and bottling of honey for the local and urban market. Each farm family will invest in livestock development. In support of this, the project will establish micro-financing credit schemes as a window for raising capital for the livelihood investment.
Project Outputs:
The project intervention will produce three main outputs as follows:
Output 1:
- 30 farm families empowered to practice climate-smart cashew production and mixed farming within Senge Chichie landscape.
Output 2:
- 30 apiaries established within the cashew plantations in Senge Chichie landscape.
2.3 Description of Project Activities
Output 1: 30 farm families empowered to practice climate-smart cashew production within Senge Chichie landscape.
Planned Activities
1.1 Compile baseline information on the farm families and form project management team
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Department of Social Welfare will help the Project management Committee to conducts needs assessment of the farm families and members of the cashew association. This information will enable the project to know the strength and weakness of the group and initiate the village saving schemes. The members of the Association would be trained in group formation, conflict resolution and village saving schemes. The project will form a nine member management team. This activity will take place as the first set of activities after the project initiations.
1.2 Initiate weekly farmer-field training schools on climate smart cashew production
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture extension staff will institute farmer field schools to train the cashew farmers on farm maintenance and how to integrate biodiversity in cashew production. A weekly environmental education programme on conservation agriculture would be instituted. Resource persons will be drawn from the District Ministry of Food and Agriculture and Department of Social Welfare. This activity will be carried out during the project life.
1.3 Support the farm families to undertake mixed farming
The project will empower the farm families to acquire small ruminant and integrate them in the cashew plantation With support from MoFA extension officers, Social Welfare, Forestry/Wildfire, and Fire Service personnel at the district, the farmers will train the farmers in fire management, and will assist them to plan, coordinate and execute community-based land management and natural resource management programmes.
1.4 Organize community fora in the project area.
The Cashew Farmer Association will promote environmental awareness programmes to develop awareness, change attitudes and behaviours of the people to be able to contain environmental problems. The fora will learn and introduce innovative strategies in sustainable land management. Using the Assets Based Conservation strategies the project will enable the communities to identify opportunities, plan and invest in sustainable land management.
1.5 Introduce improved soil fertility technologies to trained farmers.
The MOFA staff will organise series of hands–on training sessions for 20 farm families to help them acquire knowledge in improved soil fertility technologies and adoption of organic farming practices. These farmers after the training will serve as trainers to train the rest of the community members on sustainable land management practices.
1.6 Embark on intensive wildfire prevention and management.
Twenty (20) members from the community would be trained and equipped as wildfire management volunteers’ squads to serve as watchdog committees to ensure responsible environmental behaviour. They will be trained in fire-fighting and first aid techniques. After the training they will be issued with identification cards and Wellington boots. The squad will also help the community to formulate their own environmental rules and regulations to govern the environment.
Output 2: 30 apiaries established within the cashew plantations in Senge Chichie landscape
Planned Activities
2.1 Identify, negotiate with apiculture trainers.
The project will seek the services of an experienced Apiculturist to train the farmers in the rudiments of beekeeping.
2.2 Organise training to interest members in bee keeping
The project will register interest farmers and train them in bee-keeping. Each interest farm family would be trained to set up an apiary with no less than 10 hives within the cashew plantation
2.3 Produce and distribute bee hives to farm families
The project will manufacture and distribute bee hives to the farmers under agreement.
2.4 Set up revolving credit scheme for group on alternative livelihood support through the village saving and credit schemes
The project will establish a village saving scheme to raise funds for the revolving credit to farmers to support their livelihood activities. Four groups will be formed with 25 members each in the two communities.
The specific objectives of the project are:
i. To develop and sustain the capacities of Senge Chichie Cashew Farmers to adopt innovative practices that will integrate indigenous trees into cashew plantation, minimise wildfire incidence, and ensure sustainable land management utilizing agroecology strategies.
ii. To support sustainable livelihood enterprise development through the introduction of apiculture and small ruminant rearing.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT OUTPUTS AND ACTIVITIES
The implementation of the project will produce three main outcomes:
1) Capacities of local farmers developed in climate smart cashew production
2) Farmers within Senge Chichie supported to integrate apiculture and small ruminant rearing in the cultivation of cashew as small business enterprise.
Outcome 1: Capacities of local farmers developed in climate smart cashew production
The component activities will seek to develop institutional capacities of the Senge Chichie Cashew Farmers Association to sustainably manage land and conserve natural resources. The project will support the strengthening of existing traditional and local systems, structures and services to foster local development and management and to create an enabling environment for project success Farmers would be trained in conservation agriculture, wildfire management and mixed farming using improved small ruminants. Each farm family will be encouraged to develop a pen for rearing animals and utilizing the animal droppings for compost preparation which will be used on their farms. The farmers will integrate fruit trees and woodlots as boundary trees.
Outcome 2: Farmers within Senge Chichie supported to integrate apiculture and small ruminant rearing in the cultivation of cashew.
The project idea seeks to mobilize the farmers to integrate apiculture in the cashew production. Each member of the association will be encouraged to develop an apiary with at least 10 bee hives each. The farmers would be trained in the harvesting, processing and bottling of honey for the local and urban market. Each farm family will invest in livestock development. In support of this, the project will establish micro-financing credit schemes as a window for raising capital for the livelihood investment.
Project Outputs:
The project intervention will produce three main outputs as follows:
Output 1:
- 30 farm families empowered to practice climate-smart cashew production and mixed farming within Senge Chichie landscape.
Output 2:
- 30 apiaries established within the cashew plantations in Senge Chichie landscape.
2.3 Description of Project Activities
Output 1: 30 farm families empowered to practice climate-smart cashew production within Senge Chichie landscape.
Planned Activities
1.1 Compile baseline information on the farm families and form project management team
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Department of Social Welfare will help the Project management Committee to conducts needs assessment of the farm families and members of the cashew association. This information will enable the project to know the strength and weakness of the group and initiate the village saving schemes. The members of the Association would be trained in group formation, conflict resolution and village saving schemes. The project will form a nine member management team. This activity will take place as the first set of activities after the project initiations.
1.2 Initiate weekly farmer-field training schools on climate smart cashew production
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture extension staff will institute farmer field schools to train the cashew farmers on farm maintenance and how to integrate biodiversity in cashew production. A weekly environmental education programme on conservation agriculture would be instituted. Resource persons will be drawn from the District Ministry of Food and Agriculture and Department of Social Welfare. This activity will be carried out during the project life.
1.3 Support the farm families to undertake mixed farming
The project will empower the farm families to acquire small ruminant and integrate them in the cashew plantation With support from MoFA extension officers, Social Welfare, Forestry/Wildfire, and Fire Service personnel at the district, the farmers will train the farmers in fire management, and will assist them to plan, coordinate and execute community-based land management and natural resource management programmes.
1.4 Organize community fora in the project area.
The Cashew Farmer Association will promote environmental awareness programmes to develop awareness, change attitudes and behaviours of the people to be able to contain environmental problems. The fora will learn and introduce innovative strategies in sustainable land management. Using the Assets Based Conservation strategies the project will enable the communities to identify opportunities, plan and invest in sustainable land management.
1.5 Introduce improved soil fertility technologies to trained farmers.
The MOFA staff will organise series of hands–on training sessions for 20 farm families to help them acquire knowledge in improved soil fertility technologies and adoption of organic farming practices. These farmers after the training will serve as trainers to train the rest of the community members on sustainable land management practices.
1.6 Embark on intensive wildfire prevention and management.
Twenty (20) members from the community would be trained and equipped as wildfire management volunteers’ squads to serve as watchdog committees to ensure responsible environmental behaviour. They will be trained in fire-fighting and first aid techniques. After the training they will be issued with identification cards and Wellington boots. The squad will also help the community to formulate their own environmental rules and regulations to govern the environment.
Output 2: 30 apiaries established within the cashew plantations in Senge Chichie landscape
Planned Activities
2.1 Identify, negotiate with apiculture trainers.
The project will seek the services of an experienced Apiculturist to train the farmers in the rudiments of beekeeping.
2.2 Organise training to interest members in bee keeping
The project will register interest farmers and train them in bee-keeping. Each interest farm family would be trained to set up an apiary with no less than 10 hives within the cashew plantation
2.3 Produce and distribute bee hives to farm families
The project will manufacture and distribute bee hives to the farmers under agreement.
2.4 Set up revolving credit scheme for group on alternative livelihood support through the village saving and credit schemes
The project will establish a village saving scheme to raise funds for the revolving credit to farmers to support their livelihood activities. Four groups will be formed with 25 members each in the two communities.
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Project Snapshot
Grantee:
Senge Chichie Cashew Farmers Associatio
Country:
Ghana
Area Of Work:
Biodiversity
Grant Amount:
US$ 8,000.00
Co-Financing Cash:
US$ 3,500.00
Co-Financing in-Kind:
US$ 13,500.00
Project Number:
GHA/SGP/OP6/Y3/CORE/BD/2017/018
Status:
Satisfactorily Completed
Project Characteristics and Results
Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods
Apiculture and small ruminant rearing
Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
Disseminating best practices through FBOs networks and other civil society platforms. The media would be used to spread information about the project. Organising study/cross-visits (between farmers, extension agents, and district officials)
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Indicators
Biophysical
Number of globally significant species protected by project
5
Biophysical
Hectares of globally significant biodiversity area protected or sustainably managed by project
30
Biophysical
Number of innovations or new technologies developed/applied
2
Biophysical
Number of local policies informed in biodiversity focal area
2
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 CBOs / NGOs formed or registered through the SGP project
1
Empowerment
Number of women participated / involved in SGP project
25
Empowerment
Number of indigenous people participated/involved in SGP project
125
Livehood
Increase in household income by increased income or reduced costs due to SGP project
30
Livehood
Number of individuals (gender diaggregated) who have benefited* from SGP project
125
SGP Country office contact
Dr. George Buabin Ortsin
Phone:
233-242-977980
Email:
Ms. Lois Sarpong
Phone:
+233 505740909
Email:
Address
UNDP, Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme P.O. Box 1423
Accra, Greater Accra, 233-302
Accra, Greater Accra, 233-302
Visit the Ghana Country Page