Area resident takes trip to Ghana to help piglet mortality

Last year, The Pampa News told you about Agnieszka Grocholska, a swine production specialist who went to the country of Georgia and helped a lab with swine fertility.

A Eastern European native, Grocholska spent this past summer in Ghana, which she said was a learning experience on its own.

“It was my first visit for the African continent, and I did experience a whole new culture. Compared to Eastern Europe, the perception of America is completely different there, too,” Grocholska said.

Grocholska went to help DAAG Farms at Kokofu-Edwinase in the Bekwai municipality in the Ashanti region of Ghana. The municipality is one of the 30 administrative districts in the Ashanti region and lies within the moist semi-deciduous forest zone of Ghana.

The country is a former British colony, so their primary language is English.

The area is endowed with arable lands, rich soils and favorable climate conducive for tree and food crop production. However, their livestock production is low. Cattle and pig population is estimated around 1,000 and 1,800 heads respectively.

Grocholska was requested to develop strategies to reduce the post-farrowing mortality of piglets.

“At the end of the assignment, it is expected that the management of DAAG Farms will acquire the necessary skills to reduce post-weaning mortality, improve feed quality and solve challenges that cause the current decline in piglets’ growth,” Grocholska’s assignment sheet said.

Grocholska had a host family, Daniel and Augustina Adjei-Boateng and their children Nyamekye, Kwasi and Nhyira.

During the assignment Agnes also met with Livestock Association in Kumasi, Ashanti Kingdom Region. The group approached her with a very warm welcome and a lot of questions about hog production in America.

“For four weeks I troubleshooted production challenges with my host and developed a strategy plan for the near future,” Grocholska said.

“Together we have solved the mortality problems as well as agreed on changing procedures regarding voluntary feed intake by animals.”

Grocholska said one of the challenges was the lack of knowledge in animal science among the farmers.

“There is not much information on animal science there. I had a chance to visit the university there and talk to the guys there,” Grocholska said. “They are using a university to work with some of the local farmers to develop their skills.”

Part of the process including new weaning methods for piglets and a feed that included soy and fish mixed with rice bran, corn bran, peanut peels and palm kernel cake.

Grocholska said she learned it’s not so doom-and-gloom in Ghana despite the Ebola Stigma.

“Ghana is located in West Africa; however they didn’t have Ebola cases. The cases were around Ghana in countries like Nigeria,” Grocholska said.

“There was none in Ghana, but because it’s located in West Africa if you don’t look at the map sometimes just saying you came from Africa was enough to worry someone.”

Grocholska added that it was a little funny how some people reacted when they found out she just got back from West Africa.

“When I came back, sometimes people looked and said ‘Oh you just came from West Africa?’,” Grocholska said.

Grocholska added that ACDI/VOCA won’t send someone anywhere that isn’t safe and that the airports screen people when traveling across the globe.

“Their spirits are up, and they are welcoming to people,” Grocholska said.

Grocholska enjoys being a part of ACDI/VOCA and the Farmer-to-Farmer aid program because of its educational nature.

“I enjoy interacting with different cultures. It was my first-time visit in Ghana and African continent,” Grocholska said.

“It was kind of magical for me. I think it’s a great way to explore the world and share my skills.”