The Market Development Programme for Northern Ghana has in partnership with Wienco Ghana Limited trained 32 Agriculture Extension Agents (AEAs) including one female from six districts in the Northern Region of Ghana in improved vegetable production. Through these AEAs, MADE is expected to reach over 2,600 vegetable farmers, rural entrepreneurs, input dealers and aggregators in the 2015 cropping season with improved production technologies and business opportunities for yielder yields and income.
Topics covered were facts on:
- Vegetable Production in Ghana
- Opportunities and Challenges
- Stages and Techniques of Vegetable Production
- Demonstrations and Water Management
Indeed, vegetable production in northern Ghana has received a boost with the cultivation of new improved rainy season varieties introduced this cropping season by MADE and its partners. The ultimate objective of MADE is to ensure all year round vegetable production in northern Ghana to bridge the supply gap.
During working group discussions, the AEAs affirmed the potential of their communities to produce vegetables for local and export markets. They identified pests and diseases, poor storage, lack of markets and price fluctuations as challenges. These challenges can be addressed through the adoption of GAP and linkages to attractive and reliable markets.
Certainly, the intervention by MADE to promote all year round vegetable production in northern Ghana will help to bridge the supply gap in Southern and export markets and diversify the sources of livelihoods of small-holder farmers and rural entrepreneurs.
