Self Help Africa's Bolgatanga projectis seeking to increase farm production and the incomes of close to 7,000 people living in four communities in Northern Ghana.
Just under 1,000 farm families are involved in the project, which is working to reduce the number of people living in extreme poverty through activities that address environmental degradation, food insecurity and low incomes.
By improving agricultural production and developing new ways of earning an income, the project will reduce farmers’ vulnerability when faced with flooding or drought.
Bringing more money into homes will mean children can go to school and families can afford health care and other basic necessities.
Giving local communities the skills to move forward is a major component of all of our work. Volunteer Community Trainers (CTS) will be trained to pass on skills to their groups and ultimately to form a community-based organisation that will lead on future development issues and lobby government for basic services.
In Dachio and Pagnatik, the two new project areas, the project will work with 270 farmers to:
• Improve soil fertility using sustainable agriculture techniques such as bunding to control erosion, composting and irrigation
• Improve animal husbandry & livestock management, including improved pens
• Promote environmental practices such as tree planting and improved mud stoves
• Raise awareness of community rights and sustainable self-help initiatives
In Duusi and Gbingbalanchet II, the existing project areas, the focus will be on working with 672 farmers to:
• Increase household incomes and improve access to basic necessities
• Provide small livestock and training in disease identification & control
• Build the managerial capacity of Community Trainers (leadership, business skills)
• Continue with training in agriculture techniques learned in previous years
|
Putting farmers first - the training of “lead farmers” at the Duusi project area in the Upper East region of Ghana
|
Projects in Ghana are designed on the principles of sustainability and self help so that the activities will continue beyond the life of the project. The training of “Lead Farmers” is one way to achieve this.
Lead farmers are selected by the community because they have above-average skills, knowledge and talents. These experienced and skilled farmers are those best suited to train and motivate others. Their work is voluntary but they may receive in-kind donations from farmers they assist. The lead farmers are locally called Community Trainers (CTs), and are trained to act as a catalyst for development in their own communities after the end of a project phase.
In June 2008, 10 CTs were trained in participatory problems identification, prioritization and analysis as well as in formulation of community action plans.
|
Promotion of Improved Cooking Stoves in Dachio, Northern Ghana |
Within northern Ghana’s rural farming communities, the majority of households use firewood for cooking. The firewood is burnt in a traditional ‘three stone’ open fire cooking mudstove. This traditional mudstove uses a lot of firewood, which contributes to the high deforestation level in the area. The traditional mudstove method is also time consuming for women and who have to travel long distances to collect wood.
In January 2008, TRAX Ghana commenced sustainable land management activities in Dachio by training farmers, especially women, in the construction and use of improved cooking stoves. These stoves are more efficient in burning wood, and thus save time and most importantly contribute to reduced deforestation.
|
