KITA trains NGOs and farmers in agro-forestry technology

Kumasi (Ash), July 9, GNA - Kumasi Institute of Tropical Agriculture (KITA) in partnership with Trees for The Future, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in the US, have trained farmers' groups, stakeholders and NGOs in agro-forestry technologies and tree planting techniques in Kumasi at the weekend. The participants also went through agro-forestry for lives stock management and conservation techniques as well as sustainable land management.

Mr Lovans Owusu-Takyi, the Programme Coordinator for Trees for the Future told the participants that sustainable agriculture was concerned with agricultural practices that are economically viable, meet human needs for food, are environmentally friendly, and improve quality of life.

He said adoption of sustainable agriculture often proposed as a solution was necessary as well as technical training to enable the participants to gain adequate knowledge in agro-forestry practices. He said KITA and Trees for the Future would train high schools, agricultural graduates to plant one million trees by the end of the year, adding that, the schools would also be taken through tree pals programme that enable children to be environmentally responsible and provide opportunities for exchange programme.

Mr Samuel Owusu-Takyi, Country Director, Perpetual Prosperity Pumps Foundation, an NGO, also urged Trees for the Future to provide support for the training of NGOs and farmers in Modular Organic Regenerative Environment System (MORE) that would provide sustainable tree planting for farming families.

He said the MORE system was an income generating projects that help farmers to increase their yields within one year period while caring for the environment to improve their soil fertility.

Mr Paul Yeboah, Technical Facilitator, Permaculture Network, an NGO, also said emphasis would be placed on developing products that erupts from the planting of trees to enable farmers to increase their incomes from the sale of moringa soap and cream, neem and other organic products.