Updated: Aug 7, 2018
Dr. Kofi Boa of Centre for No-Till Agriculture (CNTA) has called for a new innovation to ensure the structural stability of soils to sustain agroecology in Ghana and other parts of Africa.
Speaking at a workshop organised for about 35 farmers who form the Agroecology Task Force selected from the regions of the country to promote the concept Dr. Boa acknowledged that the setting up of agroecology farms across Ghana will help restore the land for sustainable Agriculture and promote human nutrition.
“African soils are the most fragile soils in the world. And yet, African farmers are working the soils so much that it is pulverising and destabilising it. As a result, the soils are never coming together. There is need to rather build the structural stability of the soils rather than break it apart. This is what has necessitated the call for Ghana to embark on a brown (soil) revolution now”.
Farmers were taken through the principles and practices of Agroecology on the Agro-ecological farm located at the Centre for No-Till Agriculture in Amanchia community near Nkawie in the Ashanti Region last week. This was also meant to promote a resilient farming system through an advocacy to reform the Farmer Input Subsidy Programme (FISP) under the project dubbed ‘Promoting Agroecology in West Africa.
The workshop was organised by the Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Organisational Development (CIKOD) and Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) with funding from Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) and Groundswell International (GSI).
Farmers were taught how to develop an organisational structure for the Agroecology movement grassroots’ level dissemination of the concept.
Magaret Arhin, a 22-year-old yam and cassava farmer from Techiman said she has embraced the concept.
“This training is an eye-opener. My current farming practice is damaging the soil. I have to reverse the trend if I want to farm for long on the same land. Agroecology is a sure way to go. You can call me a repented farmer,” she said.
According to agronomists, Agroecology is the most reliable option available for farmers especially small-scale farmers in feeding the world because, the method, has the ability to withstand harsh climate effects and pesticide poisonings.
Belinda Ntiwah is 22 years old Ejura Agric College student on an attachment at CNTA.
“My stay here has taught me a lot about the importance of no ploughing before planting. Therefore building the soil structure and using organic manure enriches your soil nutrients for the crops.”
Agroecology is being promoted as the foundation of sustainable agriculture in Ghana.
Victoria Adongo, the Executive Director of PFAG noted that the concept has come to stay and urge the government to incorporate it in future Agriculture sector policies.
“This is how we can protect our arable land and produce healthy food locally for our people,” she said.
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