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NECOFA COUNTRY REPORT- GHANA

 

Presented  by Mr.Lawrence Kofi Krampa, NECOFA country representative of Ghana

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Necofa, Ghana with its objectives in mind has been undertaking some work in the country. The activities are mostly centred in mainly four regions out of the ten regions in the country, namely Western Volta, Ashanti, Greater Accra and Brong-Ahafo regions.

 

 

Registration

 

Necofa Ghana could not register with the Registrar –General’s Department due to the high fee but was able to register with the local NGOs in the region where the activities are been operated. Some of these include, ECASARD, GOAN. Network of Environmental NGOS. This particular one comprises NGOs, which are concerned on environmental issues, and there is a lot of collaboration with these NGOs.

 

 

Office Accommodation

 

Necofa Ghana has not yet acquired a permanent office accommodation but operates from the Country Representative’s office.

 

 

Membership

 

Membership within the country is over one hundred and more members especially from Agricultural Farm Institutes are interested to be members.

 

 

Collaboration

 

Necofa Ghana has been collaborating with GTZ Sedentary Farming Systems Project in Sunyani. For instance the project sponsored the Country Rep to a day’s workshop in Accra on how to establish common standards for food crops in the country with reference to existing standards such as Australia and USA. This was organised by ECOTRADE (Ecological Trade) which comprises Associations of Network Church Development Project, Goan, Traditional Farmers Association, Technoserve, African Network for Development for Ecological Agriculture etc and Ghana Standards Boards.

 

 

Activities

 

The use of mucuna as green manure and cover crop

An awareness creation was conducted for 24 farmers in Ejisu Juaben district for the use of mucuna as green manure and cover crop after which free seeds were distributed to them which were er planted in maize fields thereby increasing their yield by 65%.

 

• Application of neem extracts

19 vegetable farmers were trained at Echem community to use neem extracts for control of pests.

 

• Use of compost

20 farmers in Bomfa were trained in compost making and how it can be used.

A 0.5-acre plot applied with compost yielded an average of 6.7 maxi bags of maize (100kg) as compared to 3.9 maxi bags without compost.

 

• Food safety

With the assistance from ICP/PPRSD/MOFA/GTZ  Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) has been undertaken in Greater Accra, Eastern and Central regions on non-traditional crops that avoid pesticides residues and maintain quality standards for crops have been developed.

 

• Study surveys on farmers practices in the production of pineapple, papaya and mangoes have been carried out in other to establish the residue levels of pesticides as export standards concerning maximum residues of pesticides have been harmonised and raised by European Union.

• A plot of mixed Marigold varieties (Tagetes ssp) was established at Pokuase and the seeds distributed to some farmers in Brong-Ahafo. Region. The tagetes planted as rotation helps to control nematodes

• 20 farmers in the rapid multiplication of plantain suckers

• Vegetable farmers in the Ga districts have been trained to control nematode using non-host crops in rotation, neem and trapping crops      

• Three training sessions on principles of Ecological farming were organised in 3 different districts namely Ahanta West, Shama Ahanta East and Nzema East of the Western Region for Ministry of Food and Agriculture staff and vegetable farmers.

• The training/Awareness Creation Programme which is part of a three year programme, is a collaboration between NECOFA and MoFA and involves activities carried out on crops such as, selection of good planting materials, performance of various cultural practices, post-harvest management and marketing of vegetables.

 

The training sessions involved discussions of issues related to Ecological Farming.

Some of the topics discussed were:

 

1. The use of locally available organic materials and green manure
2. A wide crop rotation system
3. Combating pests and diseases without using synthetic pesticide that may prove harmful to human health and the environment
4. Reducing pollution of the environment by recycling garden, household waste than burning them
5. Managing livestock as part of an integrated farming system

 

A total of 34 Agricultural Extension Agents, 171 vegetable farmers and 3 persons from CARE International (NGO) participated in the programme at Chaveni, Shama Junction and Teleku Bokaso locations.

 

Participants were encouraged to promote the consumption of organic foods.

The training sessions were climaxed with practical demonstration on compost preparation.

 

 

Future Activities

• Follow-up to visits to farmers who were trained
• Awareness seminars
• Membership drive to other parts of the Regions
• Establishment of demonstration fields

 

 

Problems

 

The major problem is purely financial since we do not money to carry out our activities

 

I would like to acknowledge the activities of Milly Kyofa-Boamah, Gifty Yvone, Ofori George and Philip Titrikuku and Rita (GTZ Adviser of Sedentary Farming Systems Project, Sunyani)

 

 

• back to NECOFA Ghana