3,000 Northern Region farmers benefit from 3-year project

An initiative aimed at strengthening climate resilience, agricultural productivity and sustainable water resource management for smallholder farmers in the Northern Region has been launched in Tamale.

Dubbed: "Agricultural Growth and Improvement for Livelihood Enhancement (AGILE)", the three-year initiative aims to boost crop yields, increase household incomes and strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers in the Savelugu Municipality and Kumbungu District in the Northern Region.

The project is expected to directly benefit approximately 3,325 farmers and have an indirect positive impact on over 31,000 residents across the beneficiary communities.

It is being implemented by the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Water Resources Commission, and the Savelugu and Kumbungu district assemblies, with funding support from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The beneficiary districts are Kumbungu and Savelugu, specifically in communities along the Nawuni sub-catchment of the White Volta River Basin.

Overview

Giving an overview of the project, the Country Representative of CRS Ghana, Abena Amedomey, explained that it would enhance integrated water resource management, including restoring the Nawuni Sub-Catchment of the White Volta River Basin for reliable water access.

Beyond that, she said it would facilitate access to markets and inclusive financial services for smallholder farmers, to boost their incomes and economic opportunities.

"The agricultural sector remains a backbone of Ghana’s economy and a lifeline for millions of Ghanaians. The agricultural sector employs about 33 per cent of the total workforce in Ghana.”

“However, many smallholder farmers face critical challenges, including erratic rainfall, land degradation and limited market access, all of which hinder their ability to thrive,” she said.

The Deputy Head of Cooperation at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Accra, Vivian Hilde Opsvik, said the AGILE project aligned with the embassy’s food security strategy to boost local food production and employment opportunities across the agricultural value chains.

She said the intervention would complement the ongoing efforts by the government to ensure sustainable water management, climate-resilient agriculture and long-term environmental conservation in Ghana.

Commendation

The Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf John, commended the CRS and the Royal Norwegian Embassy for their continuous support in the region.

He said the region experienced severe drought last year, which affected almost 90 per cent of farmers, adding that the project was timely, as it would support most of the affected farmers to bounce back stronger.

Writer's email: mohammed.fugu@graphic.com.gh