The Importance of Timely Intervention

By Constantine Nanguo, Program Coordinator, Upper West

The Upper West region is one of the smallest in Ghana with a population of 901,502 (461,185 females and 440,317 males). It is also one of the regions with the lowest rainfall with an annual average rainfall amount of 2.28in. Without irrigation, farmers have a small window of five months; June to October to grow crops. Coincidentally, agriculture is the main economic activity, offering employment to 80% of the economically active population directly or indirectly.

In 2023, SHI supported eight small-scale women  farmer groups  to own single row push planters. The push planters, which are subsidized, are sold to the farmers at one thousand Ghana cedis ($83 US dollars) each. This reduced planting time and increased plant population resulting in effective fertilizer utilization and increased yield. In the same year, 156 farmers accessed microcredit loans to purchase improved seeds and fertilizers. Timely acquisition of agricultural inputs helps farmers to make maximum use of the small window of rainfall period. For a farmer cultivating an acre of maize, a microloan of one thousand nine hundred cedis ($158 USD) is enough for land preparation and inputs acquisition.

Dabare told us: “I have never had my own farm as a woman. However, with the support of SHI I got a loan and cultivated an acre of maize and got 15 bags (1,500kg ). I got a high yielding hybrid seed (F1 Kabamanoj) which I planted and fertilizer also. I am amazed by the yield because my husband used to plant indigenous seed.”

Agriculture in this region, especially in the Ullo traditional area  where Self-Help International operates, is labour intensive and the majority of the labour force are women. Apart from land preparation which comprises ploughing and harrowing usually secured through overpriced tractor services, planting, fertilization, weed management, and harvesting are largely done manually by women.

As farmers’ yields increase, we are mindful of post-harvest challenges resulting from inadequate education and access to storage structures.  SHI trains clients on how to use improved and accessible storage structures including Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bags and provides micro loans to clients to buy these  sacks. About  113 clients purchased PICS bags for grain storage in 2023. 

As part of measures to address post-harvest challenges, in December of 2023, SHI collaborated with the Women In Agriculture Development (WIAD) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to train 34 women from five different communities in the Ullo traditional area on how to make pastries, soya milk, soya khebab, and weanimix. Using part of their crop harvest to make these products will not only reduce post-harvest losses but also create additional business opportunities for women in Ullo, the majority of whom depend solely on subsistence farming for their livelihoods.

Though there is a short rainfall period for crop production in Ullo, with the right timely interventions (like training, access to loans for high yielding seeds, etc.) there can be enough food to feed the population and create employment for the people. 

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