NGO trains women in farming groups

Accra, Jan. 11, GNA - The Development Action Association (DAA), a nongovernmental organisation (NGO) located in Botianor in the Greater Accra Region, has trained members of 19 women farming groups within its catchment area on improved farming methods to ensure high productivity.

The project, which was initiated by Freedom From Hunger Campaign/Action for Development with support from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and Christian Aid, is aimed at empowering women at the grassroots to earn meaningful living.

Speaking at the Fifth Annual General Meeting of the Association at Tsokomey, a village near Botianor, Mrs Lydia Sasu, Executive Director of DAA, said the organisation had so far introduced modern methods of farming such as rabbit and grass-cutter rearing, snail, honey production and fish processing.

She said prior to the introduction of a mechanized farming system the farmers were using traditional methods, which resulted in low yields and reduced productivity.

Mrs Sasu said currently the people through the improved farming practices produced on large-scale for commercial purposes and also preserved the rest, which they sold during the lean season. She expressed appreciation to their sponsors particularly Actionaid Ghana, which was currently providing funding for the activities of the organisation.

Mrs Lydia Anim Nketia, Headmistress of Tsokomey Primary and Junior Secondary Schools, said the schools lacked facilities for effective teaching and learning.

She said the inadequacy of infrastructure had forced the school to continue running a shift system, which was cancelled by the Ghana Education Service years ago.

Mrs Nketia called on the Government, parents and other philanthropists to come to the aid of the schools to improve their infrastructure to facilitate teaching and learning.