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New Project to Build Farmers’ Capacity Begins in Ghana

Posted On: November 30, 2023
Smiling farmer holds a leaf pot in his hand; next to him is EWS-KT Technical Field Officer
A farmer smiles as he holds a leaf pot he made, while Technical Field Officer Ramid Saana looks on.

BONO REGION, GHANA – At the beginning of November, East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation (EWS-KT) Ghana began working directly with farmers in the field as part of the Transforming Vegetable Farming as a Business project, co-funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Accra.

This project aims to build the technical and business capacity of 11,880 farmers in Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo regions to profitably grow and market vegetables using better seed and sustainable farming practices. Through showcasing better yields and solid economic evidence on the benefits of using better seed and improved farming practices, the project will position vegetables as an attractive business opportunity for smallholder farmers, thereby catalyzing the development of a competitive agro-input market.

By November, the Technical Field Officers (TFOs) at EWS-KT Ghana had been preparing for this moment for 6 months—completing comprehensive training in vegetable cultivation, outreach and teaching methods, and farm economics and business planning, as well as gaining extensive practical experience by establishing a sizable learning farm in Abesim for farmers and other agriculture sector professionals.

During this time, the TFOs had also been meeting area farmers—conducting interviews as part of a baseline survey and providing tours of the learning farm. But now it was time to focus on building the capacity of smallholder farmers.

Launching the Transforming Vegetable Farming as a Business Project

In the last few weeks, the TFOs have introduced themselves and EWS-KT to different communities in the Sunyani East, Sunyani West, and Berekum East districts of the Bono region, showing farmers some of the innovative methods EWS-KT shares and explaining the requirements for becoming a key farmer.

Working with the key farmers, the TFOs have already set up 30 demonstration sites to showcase advanced vegetable farming techniques. The demo sites serve as training hubs for the community, and nearly 400 farmers have successfully participated in on-field training sessions led by the TFOs.

Most training has focused on the early stages of vegetable production:

  • Farm planning, including selecting a crop and variety, and choosing appropriate land for the crop
  • Site preparation, including clearing the land, creating raised beds, and utilizing mulch and trellising
  • Healthy seedling production, including creating ground nurseries, preparing seedling medium, growing seedlings in leaf pots and in seed trays, and protecting the seedlings

As the season progresses, the TFOs will guide farmers through transplanting, crop maintenance, pest and disease management, connecting with buyers, and harvesting and post-harvest handling. By the end of this year, the goal is to reach 700 to 1,000 farmers in the three districts.

A man on a bicycle watches a group of farmers listening to EWS-KT Technical Field Officer Mark Nabre.
EWS-KT Technical Field Officer Mark Nabre hands seeds to one farmer as others plant seeds in a raised bed.
TFO Mark Nabre holds a training on healthy seedling production (left) and distributes seeds to farmers for sowing (right). Mark is currently working with farmers in Oforikrom and Pepease in Berekum East district.

As seated farmers watch, Ramid Saana listens to a farmer as she uses the illustrations on the training banner to formulate her question.
Farmers stand around the protected raised bed they are constructing.
Left: TFO Ramid Saana listens as a farmer uses the illustrated training banner to ask her question. Right: Farmers protect their seedling bed with organic materials and garden fabric. Ramid is currently working with farmers in Akatim, Biadan, and Senase in Berekum East district.

Technical Field Officer Umar Farouk Mohammed hold a training on selecting a crop and variety.
Farmers stand near a covered raised bed.
Left: TFO Umar Farouk Mohammed holds a training on selecting crops and varieties. Right: Farmers learning from Umar pose by their protected seedling bed. Umar is currently working with farmers in Kobedi in Sunyani West Municipal.

Technical Field Officer Simon Ossom provides training in seedling production.
Technical Field Officer Simon Ossom demonstrates how to sow seeds as farmers look on.
TFO Simon Ossom provides training in growing healthy seedlings (left) and demonstrates how to sow seeds (right). Simon is currently working with farmers in Johnsonkrom in Sunyani East Municipal.

Technical Field Officer Francis Agyarko Asante introduces EWS-KT to a community.
Technical Field Officer Francis Agyarko Asante monitors holds a training on healthy seedlings.
TFO Francis Agyarko Asante introduces EWS-KT to a new community (left) and holds a training for farmers (right). Francis is currently working in Koduakrom in Sunyani West Municipal.

Farmers practice making seedling pots.
A ground nursery for onion with protective branches on top.
Left: Under the direction of TFO Nana Asare, farmers practice making leaf pots and sowing seeds in them. Right: A ground nursery for onion, well protected from sun and animals. Nana is currently working in Atronie and Yawsae in Sunyani East Municipal.

To attract more women and youth to vegetable farming, EWS-KT Ghana will be offering an award to the best female farmer and the best youth farmer of the year, in addition to an overall best farmer award. These awards will also serve to increase public awareness of EWS-KT’s work and the services available to area farmers as we scale up knowledge transfer activities in the country.

Training of Trainers Expands Field Officers’ Knowledge

In addition to training farmers, EWS-KT Ghana is sharing knowledge with extension agents and other agriculture sector professionals. On 17 November, EWS-KT Ghana held a training of trainers on crop selection and seedling production in Biadan for Berekum East Municipal agriculture officers. The training session was attended by the Berekum East Deputy Agriculture Director, Field Officers, and National Service Personnel new trainers.

EWS-KT Technical Field Officer Ramid Saana addresses a small classroom of external extension agents.
Government trainers surround a raised bed
Training-of-trainers session in the classroom and in the field.

Among the subjects covered were biotic and abiotic factors to consider in selecting a crop, how to choose a field suitable for vegetable production, and how to raise good seedlings. The leaf pot for growing seedlings was one of the new innovations that received a lot of attention from the participants. The training of trainers included both theoretical knowledge and practical application, with a ground nursery for cabbage established during the session. This event was aimed at providing these field trainers with advanced agricultural skills to enhance the services they deliver in their operational areas.

Our work in Ghana is just beginning, and we look forward to equipping many more farmers and others in the agriculture field with the skills and knowledge to thrive through vegetable cultivation.

Smiling male and female farmers pose with farm tools after preparing the land and establishing a raised bed.
Farmers in Baidan after preparing the land and establishing a raised bed.

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