Benin | Cameroon | Ethiopia | Ghana | Kenya | Malawi | Namibia | Nigeria | South Africa | Sudan | Tanzania | Uganda | Zambia

A PROPOSAL FOR A NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON ECOFARMING

SUNYANI, GHANA

OCTOBER, 1999

Submitted by

LAWRENCE KOFI KRAMPA

NECOFA Country representative (Ghana)

Box 86, Sunyani Brong-Ahafo region,

Tel. 23361614

Fax 233617376

E-mail gtzsun@ncs.com.gh

 

Introduction

An international workshop on Ecofarming-Ecologically and Socially Sustainable Land Management was held in Ethiopia from November 16 to December 11. The workshop involved 24 participants from 7 countries namely Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Cameroon, Tanzania and Ethiopia, was sponsored by DSE / ZEL in co-operation with DITSL.

It was realised that an ecologically and socially sustainable land management system is an effective farming method capable of achieving high food production in developing countries at a minimum cost through the use of limited external inputs such as agrochemicals and pesticides. The workshop objective was therefore aimed at participants to have an in-depth knowledge of ecofarming principles and to exchange experience.

In order to spread the ideas of the workshop at the grassroots and to exchange ideas at national and international levels, a Network for ecofarming was established by all the participants called NECOFA (Network for Ecofarming in Africa).

Ghana being an agricultural country with majority employed in this sector, there are potentials of increased food production and reduced land degradation by the incorporation of ecofarming principles in the farming systems.

There is therefore the need to sensitise researchers, agriculturists, politicians, farmers etc, in achieving this aim. A workshop is therefore proposed to establish a national NECOFA group in the country on Ecofarming principles.

 

Background

Agriculture is one of the main stay of the economy with majority employed in this sector. This sector is rain fed. The increasing population and the gradual loss of soil nutrients through erosion and over cropping, the need for increasing soil fertility for increase yield with minimum external inputs can not be over emphasised.

Some constraints on the growth on this sector include:

• Seasonal and annual fluctuations in rainfall distribution
• High cost of inputs
• Deforestation and land degradation

The deterioration of the natural resources and environmental problems could be attributed to the application of inappropriate technologies.

 

Justification

The effective operation of NECOFA and adaptation of ecofarming principles in Ghana could be based on these factors:

1. Farm holdings of majority of farmers are small and this makes it appropriate for the target groups for practising ecofarming
2. Due to increasing population and land tenure problems, it will be ideal for small scale farmers to start practising ecofarming technologies,
3. Various NGOs and projects found in Ghana, are working mostly at the grassroots and so this will form the basis for technical co-operation with them.
4. Good extension service as well as research are available in the country. This makes it easy for the dissemination of ecofarming technologies.
5. The poverty level of the rural farmers is so low that the high cost of external inputs to increase production could be reduced by adopting ecofarming technologies.

Objectives

• To establish a country Network.
• To develop a common understanding of Ecofarming.
• To prepare an Action Plan for country Network.
• To identify training needs and pilot project areas.
• To design a strategy that could facilitate the adoption and promotion of Ecofarming at grassroots.
• To train farmers, extensionists, staff of NGOs, policy makers, teachers and researchers on the concept of ecofarming.

Outputs

• Establishment and inauguration of NECOFA.
• Concepts and principles of Ecofarming to be grasped by the participants.
• Action plan to be worked out.
• Network to be exposed to the public through the media.

Workshop Participants

1. Ms Gifty Joana (founding member), Ministry of Food and Agriculture
2. NGO's
3. Universities
4. G.T.Z.
5. Farmers (commercial & peasant)
6. District Assembly
7. Farm Institutes
8. Ghana news agency
9. Environmental Protection Agency

Resource persons and Guests:

Minister of Agriculture / Regional Director, Agric, B/A region.

Presenters

Facilitator

Workshop date and Venue (Tentative)

It is proposed to have it by the last week of October 1999 in Sunyani at Eusbett Hotel.