On 23rd of August, 2024, the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana met with selected members in the Shama district of the Western region. The engagement which was aimed at strengthening the capacities of stakeholders on agroecology convened sixty participants (60) drawn from across the region including farmers, civil society organizations, the director of agriculture, assembly member and the media.
Addressing the participants at the event, the executive director of PFAG, Mr. Bismark Nortey, indicated the significance of farmers adopting sustainable agricultural practices in the mist of the dying effects of climate change on food production. He mentioned in the wake of these effect, farmers are expected to adopt to sustainable and environmentally friendly practices such as agroecology to ensure the production of safe food for all.
In shedding more light on agroecology, members of the Ghana Agroecology Movement in the Western region, educated participants on the good agricultural practices to promote the production of safe food while protecting the environment and livelihoods. Mr. Daniel Ago, a member of the movement, encouraged farmers to desist from using unsafe seeds such as one originating from GMOs as it possesses some dangers that to human health. He stressed that farmers should adopt to the use of quality and safe seeds, using organic materials to produce fertilizers and pesticides at the expense of depending on inorganic chemicals.
Mr. Daniel Nortey, of Hen Mpowanu, a member of the movement, reiterated the need for farmers to have a positive shift from conventional farming to a sustainable way of producing food. He entreated participants to seek professional advice when purchasing inputs such as seeds and fertilizers to ensure quality is not compromised. In addition, Madam Mary Pepertual of Goshen Global Vision, encouraged farmers to use quality inputs for production and entreated farmers to seek and share knowledge among themselves to ensure good agricultural practices. She further pledged her support to train farmers in the preparation and use of organic fertilizers and pesticides to promote sustainable farming.
Feedbacks from farmers showed their interest in adopting sustainable practices such the use of organic materials for the preparation of fertilizers and pesticides to ensure the production of safe food. In addition, farmers expressed concerns on the accessing quality inputs such as seeds and the availability of reliable markets for agroecology products. It was indicated that measures are being put in place to create reliable markets for agroecology with farmers encouraged to produce quality food commodities under the best conditions.