The East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation inaugurated a new demonstration site at the University of Ghana on 20 October. MyJoyOnline reported that the facility enables students and regional partners to observe practical crop management techniques. This addition addresses previous logistical challenges, as capital-based partners formerly needed to travel to the organisation’s middle-belt facilities to witness its operational methods. The new location specifically targets vegetable production, allowing participants to apply theoretical concepts in a hands-on environment.
Jemima Djah, the organisation’s country director, explained that the curriculum guides participants through at least ten instructional modules. These cover initial crop selection based on local conditions, followed by business planning, land preparation, and seedling production. Djah noted that the training emphasises water conservation and pest control methods that precede chemical pesticide use. For instance, mulching helps retain soil moisture and suppress weeds, while traps manage pest populations. The Foundation also encourages cocoa farmers in the Ashanti Region to diversify their income by growing vegetables during non-harvest periods.
This new site complements a broader four-year initiative funded by the Dutch Embassy in Accra. MyJoyOnline noted that the project, now in its second year, targets smallholder growers in five specific regions: Bono, Bono East, Ahafo, Ashanti, and Upper East. Since launching in 2023, the Foundation has instructed more than 30,000 farmers. The programme involves groups of 30 to 50 participants working on 250-square-metre plots for two crop cycles, covering both dry and rainy seasons. Djah stated that the Foundation collaborates with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture’s extension services and local traditional leaders to identify willing communities. Participants supply the land for these demonstration plots, and the Foundation aims to involve women and young people to showcase agriculture’s profitability.
The Foundation plans to establish another demonstration site in the Upper East Region to serve local communities there. Djah encouraged young people to view vegetable production as a viable business venture, asserting that the project aims to prove farming can be a profitable enterprise. The new Accra facility will primarily host university students for internships, bridging the gap between classroom theory and field practice.