By Rachel Kakraba
A two-day capacity-building workshop has opened for farmers, wholesalers, retailers, processors, and extension officers in Bechem in the Tano South Municipality, of the Ahafo Region.
The training focuses on providing beneficiaries with skills in agro-processing with low-cost technologies, value addition, and entrepreneurial skills which are essential to the sustainability of their businesses.
The training forms part of a three-year project “Enhancing the Production and Consumption of African Indigenous Fruits and Vegetables to Improve Diets in Ghana and Mali.” It is spearheaded by the University of Ghana, in partnership with the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) the University of Sciences, Technologies and Techniques of Bamako (USTT-B) in Mali, and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Food Research Institute (CSIR-FRI).
The project which spans 2023 to 2026 is funded by the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture and aims to valorize underutilized indigenous crops and promote their consumption to improve the nutritional well-being of both Ghanaians and Malians.
The more than 100 participants were drawn from districts such Tano North Municipal, Tano South, Techiman Municipal, Asunafo North Municipal, Asunafo South District, and Techiman North District all with the Techiman Municipality. Topics treated included gender and youth mainstreaming in agriculture, bookkeeping, pest control and marketing strategies for indigenous crops, among others.
Speaking to GBCNEWS, Programme Manager, ECO Inveg, Rosalyne Naa Norkor Baddo, underscored the relevance of the study areas, which she indicated is essential to their businesses. She said the training on-boarded practical session to empower farmers with the skills and knowledge needed to make informed decisions and adopt innovative agricultural practices.
Head HR & Administration of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa, Ama Pokuah Asenso Adu-Dartey who took participants through Book Keeping said, it is one of the areas farmers especially need to incorporate in their day-to-day farming activities. This she stated is critical for making investment decisions, such as whether to purchase new equipment, expand their land, or invest in additional crops.
Senior Lecturer University of Ghana, Legon, Bernard Agyemang Boateng, who is a consultant on the project, took participants through effective pest control strategies which can help farmers protect their crops and prevent losses. He cautioned farmers against the excessive use of pesticides which has harmful effects on farmers themselves, their produce and the consumers.
Speaking at the opening Municipal Chief Executive of Tano South, Collins Offinam Takyi, expressed his gratitude to the organizers for choosing his municipality for the training. He highlighted that the area, which is primarily an agricultural community, faces significant post-harvest losses, which he believed such training opportunities could help address.
He appealed to the organizers to consider scaling up the project to cover other districts within the Municipality.
