Peasant Farmers And SEND-Ghana Outdoor New Agriculture Project In Accra

A non- governmental organization, Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) and SEND-Ghana has jointly launched a project to help develop Agriculture not only in Ghana but to neighbouring countries. The project aimed at enhancing investment in agriculture extension services, towards the achievement of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) in Ghana, was launched in Accra. According to PFAG and SEND-GHANA, the project is to ensure the implementation of agricultural extension policy benefits for smallholder farmers, particularly women farmers in the country but much concentration will be in the northern sector farmers. In a press brief, the Programmes Office of Agriculture and Trades at SEND-GHANA, Mr. Daniel Allotey noted that, funds for the project is solely by Trust Africa an institution which pursued to straighten Agriculture in Africa. He said the project would demand increased investment in agricultural extension services and efficient implementation. Mr. Allotey however stated, �Specific demands for gender and geographical equity in agriculture programming regarding the provision of extension services and resource allocation will be made on government. ��The project would contribute to address challenges confronting smallholder farmers such as weak research and technological uptake, post-harvest management and inadequate knowledge in the use of improved seedlings and fertilizer,� he said. He further added; �currently the farmer extension ratio in Ghana stands at one agricultural extension agent to 1,300 farmers. In some districts in the Brong Ahafo and Northern Regions for instance, farmers� access to extension agents is even more restricted with one extension agent deployed to offer services to over three thousand farmers (3,000)�. National President of PFAG, Mohammed Adam Nashiru also called on the government to expand agriculture training institutions in all regions to upsurge the number of extension officers in the country. This he believes will support farmers to increase food production nationwide.