Ms. Francesca Atule Ayariga, Managing Director of New Vine Enterprise and founder of the New Vine Farmers Network, is an agro-inputs dealer based in the Bolgatanga Municipality in the Upper East Region of Ghana. She operates several outlets and serves farmers across key districts, including the Talensi District, Bongo District, Nabdam District, and the Bawku West District.
Ms. Atule Ayariga has collaborated with several major agro-input suppliers to engage farmers’ groups across four districts—Bolgatanga Municipality, Talensi District, Bongo District, and Nabdam District. Through this partnership, the network provides sensitization on appropriate chemical application, quality seeds, and the correct inputs to use at different stages of the farming season.As part of a week-long sensitization exercise, the program has reached communities such as Winkogo, Gbee, and Kpale in the Talensi District, as well as Agamolga, Kansoe, Amiatayoko, Adaboya, Gowrie-Kunkua, Tingere, and Atinkutin in the Bongo District.
In total, the initiative involves over 2,000 farmers and more than 25 farmer groups in the Kpale community alone. The groups have also been registered into a database, which includes farmers’ identification numbers—making it easier for New Vine Enterprise and the New Vine Farmers Network to organize, coordinate, and respond to farmers’ challenges.Beyond capacity-building in crop production, the beneficiaries are also encouraged to explore alternative livelihoods.
While the farmers’ traditional focus has been on crop farming, the network is introducing the concept of “cash crops” such as soybeans, sesame, aquaculture, and poultry to help farmers take advantage of market opportunities and earn additional income. The aim is to ensure farmers have ready markets for what they produce, especially when certain staples become cheaper in the market.
Ms. Francesca Atule Ayariga added that farmer grouping is important because most farmers lack structure. By bringing them under organized groups, it becomes easier for other stakeholders and service providers to access them, interact with them, and support them effectively.Speaking exclusively to some beneficiaries in the Kpale community,
Mr. Yipago Zidima expressed gratitude to the New Vine Farmers Network and the agrochemical and inputs suppliers for the sensitization they received last year. He said the training improved their crop yields, enabling them to feed their families and sell some of their produce to support their household needs.
Mr. Yipago also advised farmers to consider planting improved seeds rather than relying on the same local corn seeds each season, noting that improved seeds contributed to better yields last year. He mentioned that most of the crops cultivated by the farmers include maize (corn), tomatoes, and groundnuts.
Mrs. Tule, a representative of the Kpale farmers’ group, said the New Vine Farmers Network has been very helpful, particularly in teaching farmers how to control diseases affecting tomato farms.
She noted that the agrochemical and inputs suppliers educated the group on control measures and also on how to properly nurse tomato seedlings.She further stated that the sensitization has helped them prevent fall armyworm from destroying their farms.
According to her, the farmers previously struggled to control fall armyworms in earlier years, but after receiving training from New Vine Enterprise, they now understand better how to control the pests and other diseases that affect their farms.
Source: mywordfmonline.com/Gaspard Adongo Ayuureneeya