Goshen Global Vision (GGV), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has trained women and youth farmers on the preparation and use of organic manure for sustainable and climate-smart farming practices.
The move was aimed at reducing health risks associated with farmers’ prolonged exposure to harmful chemicals for farming.
Participants were taken through biochar and composting on GGV’s demonstration farm in the Western Region.
The training, on the theme: “Sustained Environment: Our Pride”, was sponsored by the 11th Hour Project in the US with GGV and RSF Social Finance as partners.
Madam Mary Perpetua Kwakwuyi, Executive Director of GGV, said the training sought to empower women and youth farmers to preserve indigenous vegetable seeds that were at risk of extinction due to the widespread use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) varieties by farmers.
According to her, the initiative included the establishment of a seed bank to protect and sustain biodiversity.
She said: “It is also part of GGV’s plan to train women and youth in the preparation and application of integrated pest and disease management techniques on their vegetable farms, with emphasis on preserving biodiversity.”
Madam Kwakwuyi added that GGV and its partners would go all out to empower women and youth farmers to reintroduce indigenous farming methods into their daily routines by utilizing natural resources and environmentally safe practices.
The GGV Executive Director reiterated the need to support the establishment of Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) among farmers to enable them to save, access small credits, and invest in their farming activities to enhance their economic resilience and sustainability.
Madam Juliana Buabeng, President of the Ahanta-Mampong Women in Agroecology Farming, said the training had been of immense benefits to the farmers.
She acknowledged the efforts of GGV in promoting organic farming , saying it was a step in the right direction and would go a long way to help preserve biodiversity.
Madam Buabeng said a lot of women had become interested in organic farming with about 40 now in the association.
By P.K. Yankey, GNA