ORGIIS Ghana, the Organization for Indigenous Initiative and Sustainability based in the Kasena Nankana West District of the Upper East Region, recently organized an exchange learning visit for over 20 farmers and traders focused on agroecology.
In an exclusive interview with Word News, the director of ORGIIS Ghana, Mr. Julius Awareya, emphasized that the visit to Burkina Faso was prompted by the increasing reliance on chemical food production in Africa, particularly in Ghana.
The training received support from CNABIO (Conseil National de l’Agriculture Biologique), one of the largest agroecology networks in Burkina Faso, comprising about 63 organizations and over 2,000 members dedicated to agroecological crop production. CNABIO has also established a satellite market for farmers exclusively engaged in agroecology.
Mr. Julius highlighted the significance of this exchange visit for the 20 selected farmers, traders, and Ministry of Food and Agriculture officials. He described it as an opportunity to empower farmers with diverse experiences in agroecology and to strengthen the relationship between Ghana and Burkina Faso in combating conventional farming practices.
“We organized an exchange learning visit with farmers, traders, Ministry of Food and Agriculture department heads, and civil society, and the reason is that healthy consumption and healthy food have become a big problem in Africa, especially in Ghana, with the way we are using herbicides, pesticides, and conventional agriculture. Because of the health situation in consuming this food, as well as the destruction of our soil structure and the living organisms that support soil health, this is the main reason why we organized this trip,” he stated.
Mr. Julius also mentioned that ORGIIS Ghana is working on a project to create a larger market where consumers can access healthy food in the Upper East Region.
Bugbon Fuseini, a farmer from the Nabdam District, expressed enthusiasm for ORGIIS Ghana’s initiative to reintroduce indigenous farming practices. He noted that reliance on chemical farming has posed health risks to farmers, leading to concerns about the side effects of chemical exposure.
He remarked, “Many young farmers who depend on conventional agricultural practices are showing signs of fatigue and health issues due to chemical exposure and the consumption of chemically produced food.”
Mr. Ibrahim Salifu, another farmer from Karemega in the North East Region, expressed optimism about the future of agriculture with the return to agroecology. He believes this approach can help restore soil health, which has been compromised by the excessive use of chemicals.
He shared, “Farmers who have transitioned to agroecology in Burkina Faso have successfully reclaimed their soil, and these farms serve as practical training grounds for university students in Burkina Faso. I urge farmers to avoid using chemicals for weed control; our training in Burkina Faso showed that the presence of weeds indicates fertile land that should not be harmed by indiscriminate chemical use.”
Source: mywordfmonline.com/Gaspard Ayuureneeya