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Millennium Development Authority Quarterly Newsletter | Tenth Edition | February, 2012 Rashid said “if not because of the knowledge and skills gained from the MiDA Stage One training; I couldn’t have been able to organize these farmer colleagues to go into soya bean production in partnership with Kharma Farms. “I have realized that Knowledge is power and can help one fight poverty. Now I have the knowledge and skills which I am currently using to transform my life and my other colleagues in and around Savelugu District through Soya bean cultivation. The MiDA training has actually opened my “eyes” and given me a better future” Mr. Alhassan Rashid becomes an Outgrower Ambassador of soya bean after completion of MiDA CDFO Training Background Mr. Alhassan Rashid, a 35 year old farmer is one of the MCA Ghana Program beneficiaries in the Savelugu /Nanton District of the Northern. Before the MCA Ghana intervention, Rashid was a peasant farmer and cultivated between 1 to 2 acres to feed his family. During the dry season, Rashid helped the Royal Denmark Company Ltd, a processing Company based in Kumasi to purchase soya beans from the local markets. MCA Ghana Investments Rashid was part of the 50 member Kpalyorgu Suglo Veela Farmers Group that had training in business capacity building and organizational development from Investment Protocol Services Limited (IPSL), a MiDA certified Training and Technical Services Provider (TTSP) for six weeks. This was followed up with three weeks training in crop productivity and improved farming techniques to equip them with new knowledge and skills in modern farming methods. After the training, Rashid was given an incentive package popularly known as Starter Pack, to put whatever techniques he learnt from the classroom training into farming practices. Items received were improved maize seeds, 3 bags of fertilizer, a pair of wellington boots and GH¢ 30 for land preparation to cultivate a one acre maize farm. Rashid added his own resources and cultivated two acres of maize in 2010. He rigorously followed the recommended cultural practices in the management of the farm. That is the use of certified seed, germination test, timely weed control and fertilizer application, timely harvesting, using tarpaulin to thresh the produce after harvesting, good post-harvest management practices and record keeping. Immediate Outcomes Following the adoption of improved farming techniques, Rashid harvested 25 maxi bags (100kg per bag) of maize from the two acres. He sold 20 bags at the cost of GH¢ 50 per bag which yielded an amount of GH¢1000. Rashid invested this money in cultivating 10 acres of soya beans in 2011. After demonstrating hard work and commitment, Rashid was contracted by Kharma Farms, a MiDA assisted SME, to organize other FBOs and farmers within the District to grow soya beans for the SME. Rashid used the knowledge and skills gained in group dynamics to coordinate these farmer groups. He facilitated other 11 MiDA assisted FBOs with a total farmer population of 301 from 9 Communities to grow soya bean for Kharma Farms. The farmers cultivated a total of 626 acres (250 Ha) of soya bean in the Savelugu/Nanton District. Rashid hopes that with good rains coupled with the good farm management techniques adopted, he will get a reasonable yield that will facilitate the transformation of his life as well as the family. Rashid’s future plan is to acquire a tractor of his own so that he can always render timely ploughing services to these farmers at a fee. He said this is just the beginning of good things to happen after the MCA Ghana Compact in 2012. 14
Quarterly Newsletter | Tenth Edition | February, 2012 Millennium Development Authority FBO brings water relief to Communities Community dugout at Sakpuali FBO Members who spearheaded the Projects The Problem Sakpuali is a farming community that has an acute water problem during the dry season. Women and children travel between 3 to 5 kilometers to nearby communities in search of water for domestic and livestock consumption. They therefore spend a lot of time in search for water thereby reducing the time available for farming activities. The Intervention In priming the FBOs for the MiDA CDFO training, the Agric Extension Officer in charge of the community ensured that every household had a member represented in the Kpanmanga Farmers Association. After the priming, the group was trained for six weeks in business capacity building and organization development. Immediate Outcomes Concerned about the acute water problem in the Community, the Kpanmanga Farmers Association decided to put the proceeds of their Starter Pack contribution into dug out construction that will benefit the entire community. After harvesting, the Group Members approached the Chief and Elders of the Community about the possibility of constructing a dug out for the Community. Since each household had a representation in the Kpanmanga Farmers Association, they agreed to contribute between 2 to 3 bags per member, worth a total of GH¢4,900. They approached the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area to assist them with the extra GH¢ 1,600 needed for the community project. The Community Opinion Leaders approached a construction company that was working on a feeder road linking nearby communities in the area for the dugout construction. Subsequently a community dugout was constructed at a total cost of GH¢ 6,500. The dugout now serves the community for both domestic and livestock purposes especially during the critical water shortage period in the dry season. Apart from the Community dugout, the FBOs have also established a marketing linkage with Gundaa Produce Marketing Company. According to Alhassan, this linkage with Gundaa will save them from selling to middle men who offer low prices at harvest time when farm produce is abundant. 15
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