Following the visits to farms and to other relevant actors for our project, two workshops were organized, on March 26th and March 27th, on the Baafi and Nkwaeso sites of the Ghana Permaculture Institute.

 

The goal of these workshops was to enable farmers to meet with different actors who came to share their knowledge and experiences. Indeed, a variety of guest speakers were able to discuss with them on agrochemicals, their negative effects, and the types of alternatives that  exist. Thus, several representatives of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture participated to these workshops, as well as professors from the Methodist University and from the Valley View University, and representatives of the ABOFAB NGO. In total, 8 speakers and 40 farmers attended these workshops. Moreover, four national radios were present and could share the information resulting from these two days.

 

The workshops were divided in two parts. In the first part, the guest speakers were invited to share their expertise and experiences. As for the second part, it was more interactive as farmers had the opportunity to ask questions, make recommendations, especially to the representatives of the Ministry, and to discuss the difficulties they face within the framework of their activity.

 

The main topics discussed by our invited speakers during these two events primarily concerned the variety of agrochemicals available on the market, as well as the effects they have on crops, farmers’ health and on the environment. Both the advantages of these products, in terms of productivity, and their disadvantages, linked to their negative side-effects, have been discussed by the participants. Afterwards, the emphasis was put on more sustainable solutions, such as permaculture and the use of organic inputs. The speakers aimed at proving how such alternatives can be beneficial for farmers’ income and health, while being respectful of the environment.

 

These workshops were particularly beneficial to the farmers, as they allowed them to strengthen their knowledge of the risks linked to chemical overuse and misuse, and on the possible alternatives and their benefits. It was also an opportunity for them to meet each other, and to meet other actors from the agricultural sector, including decision-makers.

 

Furthermore, at the end of these workshops, a partnership was discussed between the Ghana Permaculture Institute (GPI) and the Methodist University for future events gathering farmers and academics. Additionally, the representatives of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture had the chance to visit the sites of the GPI, which helped them better understand their work and what sustainable agriculture looks like first hand. They even promised to help its development and to advocate its work to other farmers and to other governmental agencies.