Tagged with "Ghana"

  • National Initiatives for Sustainable Climate-Smart Oil Palm Smallholders (NISCOPS) – A Brief

    © IDH The National Initiatives for Sustainable and Climate-Smart Oil-Palm Smallholders (NISCOPS) is a long-term engagement between key palm-oil producer and consumer countries and complements market-driven,…

    National Initiatives for Sustainable Climate-Smart Oil Palm Smallholders (NISCOPS) – A Brief
  • Success Stories on the Agriaccess Project in Ghana

    Know more about the real impact of Agriaccess project through real stories The Garibanye group story     In the midst of Ping, a charming and visionary community of farmers surrounded by sorghum fields, got together to form the Garibanye Group: a farming collective operating under Agriaccess Ghana Limited. Committed to enhancing farming practices in their community and bolstering their incomes, this group of 25 have been dedicated to sorghum production, yielding a combined quantity of around 20 tons annually for the last decade. Despite their efforts, the Garibanye Group faced challenges such as high input costs, limited access to ploughing services, and a lack of mechanization, hindering their ability to scale production to a potential 40 tons. Soil nutrient depletion and structural issues due to consistent ploughing and chemical fertilizer use added to their struggles. These obstacles, combined with unpredictable weather patterns and rising input costs, underscored the need for a more sustainable approach. Driven by a passion for farming and environmental stewardship, the group envisioned embracing regenerative agriculture a holistic method aimed at restoring soil health, conserving water, and promoting biodiversity. In 2023, Agriaccess in partnership with IDH and Mastercard Foundation, introduced regenerative agriculture technology to three locations with three groups, including the Garibanye Group. At the end of the season, the Garibanye group's farm exhibited excellent results, having been trained in a cost-effective, easy, and high-yielding system for growing grains while preserving soil nutrients. The journey began with training sessions conducted by agronomical experts from IDH, emphasizing the benefits of regenerative practices and the importance of soil health and ecosystem interconnectedness. The Garibanye farmers gradually witnessed the transformative impact on their crops and livelihoods. The group implemented key principles, particularly cover cropping during off-seasons to shield the soil from erosion, enhance fertility, and naturally suppress weeds. Once-barren fields now flourished with a diverse array of plants, signalling the regeneration of the soil. As the Garibanye Group continued their regenerative practices, they observed a reduced reliance on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Embracing compost and natural fertilizers, they highlighted the significance of nutrient cycling within the ecosystem. Healthier soils led to increased crop yields, bolstering their confidence in the sustainability journey. The Garibanye Group emerged as a source of inspiration for neighbouring communities with their successful pilot of regenerative agricultural practices. Recognized as the best sorghum farming group in the Jirapa district of the Upper West Region during the 2023 Farmer's Day celebration in Sabuli, they received tarpaulins and a handheld planter to facilitate their work in the upcoming planting season. Leading the way in promoting regenerative agricultural practices, the Garibanye Group not only excelled in sorghum farming but also pioneered these practices for various crops in the region.

    Success Stories on the Agriaccess Project in Ghana
  • Tree registration initiative in Ghana hits the air waves

    In November 2023, as part of the Cocoa and Forests Initiative (CFI) – over 20,000 cocoa farmers took part in an interactive radio campaign, designed to raise…

    Tree registration initiative in Ghana hits the air waves
  • Grains for Growth and U3 Agrinet creating opportunities

    It is essential to provide support to those who are vulnerable, especially those with disabilities, to enable them to participate in economic activities that can generate sustainable,…

    Grains for Growth and U3 Agrinet creating opportunities
  • “Agriculture is business!” – Enabling Young Women to Grow Fonio in Northern Ghana

      Muneratu Salifu, a 30-year-old farmer, recently started cultivating fonio on a commercial basis. She was informed by an agricultural extension officer about the ready market and…

    “Agriculture is business!” – Enabling Young Women to Grow Fonio in Northern Ghana
  • IDH Regenerative Agriculture Field Day Exhibitions

    Value Chain transformation has the mission of transforming value chains into more viable, inclusive and resilient ones, and when we talk about resilience, we talk about the…

    IDH Regenerative Agriculture Field Day Exhibitions
  • Implementing the European regulation on deforestation-free products: Solutions for the palm oil, cocoa and coffee sectors

    While the EU regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR) is an important step towards combatting deforestation globally, it will come at a cost to operators selling products on the EU market. And it may lead them to adopt sourcing strategies that exclude smallholder farmers from their supply chains. However, smallholder farmers’ inclusion in European supply chains is key to ensuring they are not left to sell to other markets at a lower price – thereby jeopardizing their livelihoods and, ultimately, forests. The optimal way forward is to allow them to benefit from access to the European market and to leverage the regulation as an incentive to keep forests intact. The timing for developing effective interventions is limited and should rely on the solutions that have already been tried and tested. IDH has co-designed with the private sector a number of programs to ensure that the EUDR will not incentivize disengagement from areas with high deforestation risks, nor the exclusion of the most marginalized smallholder farmers from European supply chains. These solutions are designed through public-private collaborative processes, and aim to be replicated and brought to scale over the coming years.

    Implementing the European regulation on deforestation-free products: Solutions for the palm oil, cocoa and coffee sectors
  • Green Field Day durbar in Bolgatanga

      The Grains for Growth Program (G4G) team participated in a Green Field Day durbar in Bolgatanga, Ghana. The event was organised by U3 Agrinet, a…

    Green Field Day durbar in Bolgatanga
  • Ghana Cocoa & Forests Initiative 2022 Annual Report

    Ghana Cocoa & Forests Initiative 2022 Annual Report
  • SDM Case Study: Tamanaa, Ghana

    Tamanaa is a grains processor with a diversified sourcing channel mix, and is one of the SMEs that is supported under the Grains for Growth program. Their goal is…

    SDM Case Study: Tamanaa, Ghana