World Food Programme sensitizes local Ghanaian farmers on best agric practices

A four-day training workshop to sensitize maize and cowpea smallholder farmers on best agricultural practices to boost productivity had been held at Ejura in the Ejura-Sekyedumase District.

It was organized by the World Food Programme (WFP), under its Purchase for Progress “P4P” Initiative, with technical support from the Crop Research Institute (CRI), Ghana Grains Board and “A-G” Agro Industries.

The focus was on soil conservation and fertility, as well as practices that could help restore and improve the health status of the soil.

The farmers were also exposed to important components of the post-harvest value chain for maize and beans, pre-harvest decision- making, harvesting, transportation, drying, threshing and storage.

Mr Ismail Omer, the WFP Country Director, spoke of plans to introduce an innovation called “warehouse receipt system” to assist the farmers’ to access more profitable markets and to use their produce as collateral for financing.

He said the feedback they had received since the introduction of the “P4P” initiative, last year, indicated that there had been an improvement in the income levels of the farmers.

“The weighing scales, given to them had increased their returns and they now earn GH¢810.00 from the sale of maize that would have fetched them GH¢540.00.”

He said “this increase in income is exactly the kind of impact we are hoping the initiative will have on smaller farmers’ lives, including the food security and nutritional status of you and your families.”

The total number of small holder farmers participating in the WFP’s “P4P” initiative in the district now stands at 948.

Mr Omer said he was confident that the initiative, through various training programmes, would aid the farmers to substantially increase crop yield.

Source: GNA