ICT Support for Rural Agricultural Literacy - Ghana

The project was supported by IICD since 2007. The The ICT Support for Rural Agricultural Literacy programme focuses on agricultural market access for about 15,000 farmers in the Volta Region. Through this project, small-scale producers (the pilot starts with yam, cassava and cowpea farmers) are supported by the Women and Development (WADEP) organisation with technical information on production. They are also supported with marketing skills and opportunities, and access to timely information. Their gained knowledge allows them to improve their negotiation position with buyers and traders, which will contribute to their improved livelihood.

In the Volta Region at least 80% of the people derive their livelihoods from small-scale agriculture. This is very complicated due to the bad road networks (worse during the rainy season), limited telecommunication facilitates (telephones or even traditional radio) and high levels of illiteracy.

A number of government institutions at the district level such as the Ministry of food and Agriculture (MoFA) provides traditional and modern agricultural services to the farmers in the Volta region. Further, the Volta Region contains a large surface area with scattered districts and difficult terrain. The added limited public and private means of travel make it very difficult for the officers to reach the rural farmers.

Read more about IICD’s Ghana Country Programme.

Interview with Patricia Formadi

• A needs assessment was carried out
• A stakeholder meeting was organised to create awareness
• Eight staff members were trained in ICT skills
• Equipment (3 PCs, 1 LCD projector and video camera) has been purchased and is operational
• Internet connectivity on a trial basis is installed and operational
• Monthly meetings with Agricultural extension workers to share knowledge and experiences and review produced agricultural information documentaries
• 42 people of farmer associations, MoFA and Wadep visited the Ecamic project in Salaga, Chamba and Kitoe to learn from their experiences and share knowledge
• Video material is developed on YAM and Gari production, Cowpeaand Ground nut production and Harvesting, drying, bagging, storage and transportation. The voice over is the only activity remaining
• At the WADEP office and internet cafe is started. The centre offers training to school children (78 are already trained) and internet services
  

WADEP raises awareness among women and girls in the region of their own possibilities, their talents and their rights. They answer questions such as: what agricultural produce are wanted on the market? And how can you use ICT to have better and wider market access? This approach has proven to be an investment, both for men and women, which is surely worth the effort.

For this project to use ICT to support rural agricultural literacy, WADEP has the following objectives:

• To improve information, communication and dissemination channels on agricultural information between the The Diocesan Development Office (DDO) of the Jasikan Diocese (head office) and WADEP to support agric extension services to farmers
• To build capacity within both organisations to use appropriate technology (to produce, repackage and disseminate agricultural information for the target groups)

The beneficiaries are processors of yam, cassava and cowpeas who will gain market information and marketing skills that will support them to improve negotiating skills to have food security for their families.

Read more about IICD’s approach towards Livelihoods.

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Interview with Mr Obed Twabu, Wadep Nkwanta

The Diocesan Development Office (DDO) of the Jasikan Diocese provides social services for marginalized people and productive poor in society, irrespective of their religion, ethnic or social status. One of the units of the DDO is the organisation called Women and Development Project (WADEP). This organisation is the owner of the IICD supported ‘ICT Support for Rural Agric Literacy’ project. WADEP plays an intermediary role between beneficiaries of the project and the Jasikan DDO.

The account officer resigned. Also 3 key people from MoFA resigned to persue further studies