Select your language
Select your language
Since 2021, Ecoland International has been implementing a partner Africa project in Ghana on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to create the necessary structures for the development of organic farming. The project will initially run until the end of 2024 and focuses on the establishment of organic extension services, advisory services and research through the development of modular courses leading to an organic diploma & BSc. in cooperation with the University of Agriculture and Environmental Studies (UCAES) in Bunso, Eastern Region of Ghana.
Additionally, structures are being set up for local organic certification according to EU standards as well as organic associations and producer advisory services. Furthermore, the Ministry of Agriculture is supporting the development of national organic legislation.
At UCAES in Bunso, a 23.3-acre trial and demonstration field has already been established with ginger, turmeric and chillies as cash crops whiles other food crops such as cassava, corn, soyabean, cowpeas and cocoyams have been cultivated for the purposes of subsistence farming. On 8 November 2022, the 1st Organic Farmers Day Ghana was celebrated on this field right next to the Ecological University with more than 400 farmers. Guest of honour was the German Ambassador in Accra, Daniel Krull, as well as many stakeholders from all over the country and the King of the traditional area, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin (Okyenhene), and the Ecoland team from Ecoland Organic Ghana, which organised this first Organic Farmers Day in Ghana.
"My team at Ecoland International is here developing organic agriculture and food systems in this great country of Ghana together with you, our Ghanaian partners and authorities," said Rudolf Bühler in his keynote speech at the 1st Organic Farmers Day in Ghana.
He highlighted the potential of organic farming for the country's food sovereignty as the only viable form of land management in a sustainable and climate-friendly way. This he mentioned is four times more efficient than agro-industrial land use, which is dependent on fossil energy and causes extreme damage to drinking water and biodiversity. He also pointed out that in view of the current international economic crisis, Ghana must avoid the negative effects of large amounts of food imports and food sovereignty should become a national economic goal. With the local currency having halved in value against the dollar and euro since the global economic crisis, the goal of food sovereignty through organic agriculture and food production is the only right and necessary way forward, he said.
Ambassador Daniel Krull also said organic farming improves the livelihoods of farming families, as they do not need to pay exorbitant fees for expensive imported artificial fertilisers and pesticides.
"Farmers need to understand that it is more sustainable and efficient to opt for organic farming," he opined, praising UCAES for the organic farming diploma programmes already initiated and those still planned.
"Since organic farming is the new gold, we Ghanaians must come together to make it work," the king said. He said organic farmers must be rewarded for their commitment. He urged the country to grow its own food and export some of it as cash crops for additional income. "Let us use the good soil God has given us."
The event was organised by Ecoland International and the University College of Agriculture and Environmental Science (UCAES) with support from the German Ministry for International Cooperation and Sequa gGmbH.
Source: BioPress, 10.11.2022
