Partner:
Sustainable Tree Crops Program (STCP) / International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
Period:
Dec 2008 – Jun 2010
Country of Operation:
Ghana (Ashanti Region)
Category:
Agriculture
Project Snapshot:
This initiative aimed to improve the socio-economic well-being of smallholder tree crop farmers in West and Central Africa. The project focused on building capacity through demand-driven extension services in two districts (Adansi South and Sekyere East) in the Ashanti Region, where 279 farmers were trained in Integrated Crop and Pest Management (ICPM) practices using the Farmer Field School (FFS) methodology.
Project Objectives:
- Enhance the livelihoods of smallholder tree crop farmers through improved agricultural practices.
- Train farmers in ICPM techniques to boost productivity and sustainable farming practices.
- Utilize the Farmer Field School methodology to ensure practical, hands-on learning and adoption of new practices.
PDA’s Task:
PDA provided technical support in the design and implementation of the extension service. This included coordinating training sessions, facilitating the application of the FFS methodology, and ensuring that the content was tailored to the needs of local farmers.
How We Went About It:
- Training Implementation: Organized Farmer Field School sessions in the two target districts, directly engaging 279 farmers in hands-on ICPM training.
- Technical Guidance: Delivered expert support throughout the training process, ensuring that best practices in crop and pest management were effectively communicated and adopted.
- Monitoring & Support: Continuously monitored the training sessions and provided follow-up support to address challenges and reinforce learning.