By Peter Agengre
Experts say the use of chemical fertilisers in the production of food crops can be harmful to our health. A scheme known as the CIRAWA Project was launched in the Nabdam District in the Upper East Region to develop new agroecological-based practices that will build on existing local and scientific knowledge to help create more resilient food supply chains in the country.
The CIRAWA Project is being implemented by the West African Centre for Water, Irrigation and Sustainable Agriculture of the University for Development Studies (WACWISA-UDS) and the Frontier Institute of Development Planning (FIDEP) with funding from the European Union.
At a durbar to launch the project in the Upper East Region, Ghana’s CIRAWA Regional Coordinator, Professor Saa Dittoh, said the project, when well executed, would introduce a practice that is already known by the people when it comes to agriculture.
“We are producing not just for today but for a very long time. And people should produce food that is healthy, safe, and productive. If you use too much chemicals, the chemicals will pass into your system, which is not healthy. We use lots of chemicals in our food production and preservation, and that is causing a lot of problems for us. We need our indigenous farming system combined with scientific knowledge to correct these.”
The four-year project being implemented in four African countries, including Ghana, dubbed ‘Agro-ecological Solutions for Resilient Farming in West Africa (CIRAWA)’, will work with small-holder farmers to improve food nutrition, local livelihoods, and ecosystem health.
Pro-vice-chancellor of the University for Development Studies and Director of WACWISA-UDS, Professor Felix Abagale, said, “many microorganisms that enrich the soil are destroyed using chemical fertilisers. Composting, forest trees, and herbs can give a lot of nutrients to the soil for crops survival.”
He said the CIRAWA project would facilitate the best indigenous farming practices that would go a long way to revolutionize the country’s agricultural system and bring a lot of benefits to the people.
A former District Best Farmer, Mr. Fuseini Adongo, commended CIRAWA Ghana for the education. Mr. Fuseini lauded the project and said it would ensure food security and enhance climate change adaptation actions and traditional agroecological knowledge and practices.
“If we go back to the old system of farming, it will surely help. We can collect manure and animal droppings and give them to our crops on the farm. Sometimes it’s not about the size of your farm but it’s about the quality of food that you harvest at the end of the season. So I think that this project when adopted by our people, will help them live longer and healthy,” Mr. Fuseini said.
The team also visited some farmers on the field, where farmers explained how they have employed organic means to cultivate vegetables and the benefit they would get at the end of the farming season. The launch was attended by representatives of farmer groups, traditional authorities, Heads of departments at the Nabdam District Assembly, and project partners.
