Technology Without Borders

Agroforestry Demonstration farm in Ghana

About the Project

In Ghana, we have found a suitable location in the north of the country near the town of Tamale to set up an agroforestry demonstration farm. The first plants have already been cultivated and workshops have been held with several women. Interviews were also conducted with several farmers in the region around the town of Drobo in the Brong Ahafo region. Our local member Abdul Rashid Wumpini Alhassan, head of the Tamale regional group and current Rotaract district spokesperson, has been involved in agroforestry for a long time and is the head of the agricultural company Ummy Farms. For the construction of the agroforestry demonstration farm, 5 hectares of land were acquired. Several crops and fast-growing trees, such as Cashew, Pawpaw, Moringa, Acasia and intercrop with Okra, Millets, cucumber and Beans were planted at the beginning of September together with women, who are to be empowered to carry out agroforestry themselves in their communities. It is intended to build a training building with a classroom on the farm in the course of time, where workshops with farmers from the Northern Region will be held. The farm will also be used to test new agroforestry techniques to prepare the region for any necessary adaptations due to climate change. The plants will also be fertilized entirely with organic bio-waste. Our association also continues to pursue the goal of supporting farmers in the region around Drobo (Brong-Ahafo region). Stephen Takyi and Seth Ofosu, two of our members living in Germany, grew up in Drobo and have very close family roots there. During their stay in Ghana, together with Bismark Koduah (RG Accra) who is very experienced in the field of agroforestry, they visited a total of 19 smallholder farmers and conducted a survey on their situation. Most of them grow monocultures and use traditional techniques such as hoeing and bush knives. They complain about financial problems as their income has declined in recent years. None of the farmers interviewed were aware of the concept of agroforestry, but they are very interested in adopting this technique after being educated by the TeoG team. They see the training as more important than the financial support. Our association is currently considering a project concept for farmers in the region.