Akuse, Eastern Region,//-MTN Ghana Foundation has partnered with Holland Greentech which offers an integrated portfolio of the best horticulture products and services with Dutch knowledge, skills, and technology, to train rural women farmers in modern techniques of farming.
The theme for this year’s International Day of Rural Women, “Rural Women Cultivating Good Food for All”, highlighted the essential role that rural women and girls play in the food systems of the world.
Speaking at the training session, the Economic Empowerment Advisor of the MTN Ghana Foundation, Cynthia Mills reiterated the contribution of rural women in the agricultural sector.
According to her, it is therefore important to empower them to adopt Good Agronomic Practices (GAPs) in farming to enable them to benefit from their sweat.
However, Mrs Mills observed that most of the rural women farmers don’t know how to apply plant nutrients, fertilizers, selection of seeds for farming, among others.
“So, essentially, we brought them to the demonstration field to equip them with the requisite knowledge so as to increase their production”.
She assured that similar training programmes would be extended to other parts of the country.
The training conducted by officials of the Holland Greentech took place at Akuse in the Eastern Region was held to mark International Day of Rural Women which falls on 15th October each year.
They trained the over 70 participants from Akuse, Dodowa, and Pantang on identification of soil for farming, ferlitizer application, pest control, irrigation, harvesting, among others.
An Agronomist at Holland Greentech, Prince Agyapong advised the farmers to consider the nature of the land, and soil fertility, availability of water, when choosing a land for crop and vegetable farming.
He added that the nature of the climate would also determine the types of crops to grow.
“Farming is not a try and error profession, so famers must consider these factors to increase their production”, Mr Agyapong said.
He used the occasion to admonish the farmers to abide by the required planting distance per the recommendations from extension officers.
Touching on post-harvest losses which is a major problem in the country, he noted that old-fashioned methods are being used to store food products.
The Chief Operating Officer at Defarmercist Ghana, Alex Afari who is a consultant at Holland Grentech appealed to farmers to use the right amount of ferlitizers at the right time.
Although he advocated the use of NPK fertilizers, Mr Afari appealed to the farmers to also use organic fertilizers on their crops.
