The ADDRO in collaboration with the Agriculture department organized day fieldwork for farmers at Dua Nayire, for Kunkua, Anafobisi and Dua operational communities’ farmers for the field demonstration and also to educate them on climate change and rain patterns.
Mr Abugre Marbel, the Bongo District Officer of ADDRO, in addressing the participants stated that the bongo district is fortunate to have been part of this exercise, for that matter, he is much grateful to the organizers and appeals to farmers to fully take part in the training.
Mr Abenezer Ndebilla, who is the program coordinator representing the Executive Director of ADDRO, stated that the Anglican Diocesan Development and Relief Organization (ADDRO) is the development arm of the Anglican Dioceses of Tamale with its headquarters in Bolgatanga and operational offices in Eight Regions in Ghana.
Mr. Abenezer, however, mentions that Climate change and variability have become a global concern because its effects and risk are spread across the globe posing developmental challenges to countries worldwide particularly the developing countries and Ghana is not an exception. The effects result in rising temperatures which is projected to lower local crop yields. Research has revealed that total crop failure is expected to hit approximately once every five years in Northern Ghana.
He stated that ADDRO together with its funding partners, Episcopal Relief and Development has over the past four years been implementing a climate resilience programme dubbed Northern Ghana Climate Resilience (NGCR) in northern parts of Ghana including Bongo District to respond to the devastating effects of climate change.
The objective of the program is to support farmers to adopt innovative and sustainable environmental and land conservation practices to reduce climate change risks by 2025.
ADDRO with the Agriculture department has provided climate-smart practices for smallholder farmers in Bongo and its operational communities. They have also provided support such as improved seeds and chemical fertilizer to both spots of rain-fed and dry-season farmers to help improve their yields.
Farmers are also trained in compost making to improve the fast-depleting nutrients in the soil. He revealed that ADDRO and its partners have trained and supported over 1200 farmers on climate-smart Agriculture practices, and nursed and planted about 3000 tree seedlings for environmental conservation.
The District Director of Agric, Mr Drah Edgar led participants to a demonstration maize farm belonging to a young man by the name of Atinga Samuel who is one of the climate resilience volunteers and asked him to help his colleague farmers with what he did from the land preparation to the harvesting stage. Mr Atinga said he used both organic and inorganic manure or fertilizer, and the quantity of the organic manure he used on the one hector farm has reduced.
He told them the various levels at which he applied the fertilizer. The farm was seen to have no weeds computing with the crops and yield better as compared to the nearby farms. Many farmers shared their experiences and the lessons they have learned. The Agric Director educated the farmers on new technics of farming and told them when to plant as the seasons and rain pattern changes.
Madam Paulina Abebisa, the District Information Officer urged farmers to make good use of the training and practice it on their farms which will help them get proper yield. The day has been a lesson thought and therefore urged all participants to apply what they have learned in the training in the next farming season to improve their yields.
Source: Paulina Abebisa (District Officer ISD)