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Participatory Video for Social Change –
One Media player Per Teacher and UDS Extension Outreach
University for Development Studies,
Faculty of Agribusiness and Communication
Sciences Department of Agricultural Extension, Rural Development &
Gender Studies
By
Hudu Zakaria
Lecturer and Research in Agricultural Extension and Rural Development
Department of Agric. Extension, Rural Development and Gender Studies
Faculty of Agribusiness and Communication Sciences
University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana
(+233) 242 805 581
January, 2014
2
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Within the context of research and development practices, several methods and
techniques have been adopted in the dissemination of technology and appropriate
innovations to bring about desire social change among rural farming communities. The
paradigm shift in innovation dissemination practice from a transfer of technology to a
demand driven approach has been accompanied by a plethora of new extension
methods implemented through a variety of institutional arrangements involving state
institutions, private sector agencies, farmer based organizations and farming
communities (David et al, 2011)1. Ensuring all inclusiveness; reaching different farmer
categories (the poor, marginalized farmers, women farmers etc.), called for the
adoption of combination of technological and institutional supportive and facilitative
services and effective participatory methods that involve end users as active
participants in the social change process. In the search for appropriate extension tools
for the dissemination of Information, knowledge and skills for sustainable agriculture,
several ways and methods such as ‘verbal means’ (individual contact methods); typically
involving a trained facilitator, the audio-visual materials such as print materials, radio,
display boards and video shows, and information communication technologies (ICTs),
including two way ICTs such as mobile phones and the Internet have been adopted and
implemented.
Effective utilization of these methods by extension field level officers in government and
private - Non-governmental Organizations, require appropriate technical knowledge and
competency which is lacking among many extension practitioners in developing
countries. As such to ensure that extension level field officers take full advantage of the
several modern information dissemination tools and equipments such as the use of
participatory video techniques requires training and capacity building of field officers in
the use and operations of these tools and equipments. However, extension
organizations in developing countries often lack the institutional infrastructures and
technical abilities to provide such training and provision of appropriate equipments and
gadgets to ensure effective technology dissemination require for sustainable agricultural
production and rural development.
1.1 Rational
Video as an audio-visual instructional technology, which combines both visual and
verbal communication methods in disseminating information, appears to be an
appropriate extension tool for less developed countries because of its suitability for the
transmission of skills, information and knowledge for low literacy populations (Vidya
and Chinnaiyan, 2010)2. Despite the enormous popularity of film shows such as African
1 David, S. and C. Asamoah.. (2011). The impact of farmer field schools on human and social capital 2 Vidya, P. And M. Chinnaiyan. (2010). Development of an educational interactive video-DVD
3
movies for entertainment purposes and the fact that research had confirmed the
effectiveness of video, specially participatory video, as a means of instruction in schools
and rural communities (Isiaka 2007)3, video has been underutilized in many parts of
Africa as a tool for disseminating technical agricultural information to farmers (Ovwigho
et al. 2009)4.
A video extension initiative by the Africa Rice Centre, which reached 130,000 West
African rice farmers, demonstrates the enormous potential of this media (Van Mele,
Wanvoeke and Zossou, 2010)5. The PROLINNOVA Participatory Video for Farmer-led
Video Documentation implemented in 20 countries including Ghana, had demonstrated
the effectiveness of video in facilitating farmers’ adoption of improved technologies
(Lunch and Lunch 2006)6. Also, Video Viewing Clubs (VVC) Cocoa Extension Programme
implemented by Ghana Cocoa Board was found very effective in creating a sense of
ownership and credibility among farmers regarding the technical messages and
facilitated their adoption (David et al, 2011)7.
Notwithstanding some notable success participatory video as a tool for information
dissemination had chocked, the seemingly paucity of studies on the effectiveness of
video as an agricultural extension tool (Gandhi et al. 2007)8 is no doubt one reason for
the slow uptake of this approach in the dissemination of information, knowledge and
skills for the promotion of desire social change in development process. Initiating
Action Research designed and directed to the formulation or discovery of best practices
and implementation strategies that can be used to harness the potential of participatory
video as an effective extension tool among selected communities, will, in no doubt, add
knowledge and skills to the existing arrays of innovation communication methods, tools
and techniques.
3 Isiaka, B. (2007). Effectiveness of video as an instructional medium in teaching rural children agricultural and
environmental sciences. 4 Ovwigho B.O, P.A Ifie., R. T. Ajobo. and E. Akor. (2009). The availability and use of information communication
technologies by extension agents in Delta Agricultural Development Project, Delta State, Nigeria. 5 Van Mele, P. (2006). Zooming in zooming out: a novel method to scale up local innovations and sustainable
technology 6 Lunch, N. and C. Lunch. 2006. Insights into Participatory Video. 7 David, S. and C. Asamoah.. (2011). Video as a tool for agricultural extension in Africa
8 Gandhi, R., R. Veeraraghavan., K. Toyama, and V. Ramprasad,.(2007), Digital Green: Participatory Video for
Agricultural Extension
4
University for Development Studies (UDS) Social Laboratory provides convenient
platform for the implementation of such action research. The University whose mission
is ‘to be a Home of World Class Pro-Poor Scholarship’ was established by PNDC Law 279
in May, 1992 to blend academic work with that of community engagement through
community outreach in order to facilitate the total development of Northern Ghana, in
particular, and the whole country as well. The University located in the rural North of
Ghana recognises its responsibility to extend practical knowledge acquired from
research to the rural communities by bringing the ‘gown and town’ together through her
third trimester programme for students.
As such, the University’s methodology of teaching, research and extension is in line with
its mandate. UDS Action-research Social Laboratory serves as an incubator for the
development of experimental learning, testing new developed concepts and adaptive
trials in the pursue of best practices in sustainable agriculture and rural development, is
one of the University’s outreach programmes in the pursue of its mandate.
1.2 WHY PARTICIPATORY IN VIDEO EXTENSION?
Farmers’ indigenous innovative practice has long been recognized as an essential
component in research and development providing a means for the formulation of
effective synergies in order to enhance technology adoption and sustainable livelihood
of resource-poor households in developing regions (Reij and Waters-Bayer, 2001)9.
Notwithstanding the fact that, agricultural extension services play significant role in
poverty alleviation among rural folks, it often missed the opportunity to reinforce
farmers’ innovation in developing countries (Cunguara and Moder, 2011)10
. The rational
of the many recurrent institutional reforms that many developing countries’ extension
services have undergone over the last decade, is to enhance capacity of service delivery
to substantial number of resource-poor rural men and women farmers who operate in a
fragile farming environment (Chowdhury, 2010)11
.
The advancement in media and communication technology, offers opportunity for
extension service providers to deliver effective and efficient technical knowledge to
rural farmers. In utilizing this mass communication media, if care is not taken to
encourage participate of all categories of rural farmers, especially, women and the
marginalized, it risk exacerbating the existing inequalities among social groupings in
many rural communities. As such extension agents should be trained to use appropriate
audiovisuals communication media to induce interactive and collegial learning among
farmers by encouraging group participation.
9 Reij, C. and A. Waters-Bayer, Indigenous Soil and Water Practices in Africa (2001)
10 Cunguara, B., Moder, K., 2011. Is Agricultural Extension Helping the Poor? Evidence from Rural Mozambique 11 Chowdhury, A.H., 2010. Having a System does not Make a Home of It
5
Of recent times, local, national and international partners and farming communities
contributed to developing an appropriate strategies and approach for participatory use
of videos in stimulating farmer-to-farmer learning. Studies in Bangladesh had
substantiated that locally developed video is a potent means to underpin farmer-to-
farmer learning and capacity building process in (Van Mele et al, 2007)12
. However, most
concerns by researchers and practitioners regarding participatory video (PV) are in
relation to the form of content generation (with or without script) and technical
intricacies (e.g. handling camera) of video development. Research shows that scripted
PV - directed by the researchers or facilitators (for technical intricacies and script) and
developed through collaboration of the clients - is impelling to support farmer-to-farmer
learning beyond the scope of pilot scale (Chowdhury et al., 2010)13
.
2.0 Agricultural Extension in Ghana
Ghana is located in the west coast of Africa on Latitude 4ο 44’N and 11
ο 11’N; Longitude
3 ο
11’ W and 1 ο
11’E with a coastline of 550 km long and total land area of
238,530sqkm (MOFA, 2011). According to the 2010 Population and Housing Census
(PHC), Ghana’s population was 24,658,823 in 2010, increasing from 6,726,815 in 1960
and 18,912,079 in 2000. Thus, the population more than tripled between 1960 and
2010, a period of fifty years.
In spite of the fact that Ghana is now oil exporting country, the nation’s economy is still
depended on the agricultural sector as a major source of employment providing direct
and indirect jobs to about 80% of the nation’s workforce (MOFA, 2012)14
.
Notwithstanding the fact that the service and industry sectors have in recent time
overtaken agriculture as the leading contributor to Ghana’s GDP, in the national
development agenda, agriculture is expected to lead the growth and structural
transformation of the economy; providing jobs, ensuring food security and producing
the needed raw materials to propel the country’s industrialization agenda (George,
200815
; MOFA, 200716
). The success of agricultural development and sustainability
depend to a greater extent the dissemination and adoption of improved technologies
and innovative practices by farmers of which agricultural extension is at the heart. For
research to be effective there must be an efficient mechanism whereby its findings can
be used by the end users (farmers). The process of making research findings available is
the function of extension. As such most countries including Ghana have put in place
institutional (both public and private organizations), policy and legal frameworks to
provide extension services to farmers.
12
Paul Van Mele, A.K.M. Zakaria, Hose-Ara Begum, Harun-Ar Rashid, And Noel P. Magor (2007). Videos that
Strengthen Rural Women’s apability to Innovate 13 howdhury, A.H., 2010. Having a System does not Make a Home of It 14
MOFA , 2012, ‘Performance Of The Agricultural Sector In Ghana: 2006-2012. Gross Domestic Product 15
George Owusu Essegbey (2008). ‘Final Draft Report on Agribusiness Innovation Study
16 MOFA (2007), Food and Agricultural Sector Development Policy
6
Agricultural Extension Services in Ghana dates back to the nineteenth century with the
aims of increasing agricultural productivity. Agricultural extension in Ghana has gone
through several reforms shifting from export commodity development approach prior to
independence in 1957 to the promotion of food crop production. The shift in emphasise
by several governments since independence was intended to modernize traditional
farming practices, transfer resources and technology, and train personnel to address
extension needs of peasant farmers.
Extension/advisory service provision in the country is largely undertaken by the public
sector with Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) through its Directorate of
Agricultural Extension Services (DAES) mandated to undertake extension and advisory
services to all categories of farmers. However, there are a number of Non-governmental
Organizations (NGOs), private extension organizations and Farmer Based Organizations
(FBOs) providing extension services to farmers.
The DAES is responsible for the overseeing of agricultural technology diffusion through
the management of an extension delivery service in the country. The vision of the
directorate is ‘to establish an efficient and demand-driven extension service in a
decentralised system through partnership between the government and the private
sector for provision of quality service to father as their clients’ (MOFA, 2012)17
available
on http://mofa.gov.gh/site/?page_id=74. DAES is tasked to undertake extension Policy
formulation and Planning; review various extension approaches and frameworks;
promote and facilitate the work of Research-Extension Liaison Committees (RELCs);
collaborate with FBOs and private service providers in extension to improve on
extension service delivery and facilitate human resource development at all levels in
extension delivery. Extension programmes and policies formulated by DAES are
implemented at local level within Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies
(MMDAs) by District Agricultural Development Unit supervise by District Directors of
Ministry Food and Agriculture (MOFA).
2.1 District Agricultural Development Unit (DADU)
The actual implementers of extension policies and programmes are the District
Agricultural Development Units (DADU) in all the Metropolitan, Municipal and District
Assemblies (MMDAs) whose programmes are coordinated by the Regional Agricultural
Development Units (RADU) under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA). For
effective and efficiency coverage in the implementation of agricultural extension
policies, the districts are divided into agricultural zones. Each zone is also subdivided into
operational areas with each operational area being manned by one agricultural
extension agent (AEA). There are other technical staff that perform only veterinary and
enumeration duties. There are district officers for the various sub-sectors of agriculture
namely crops, livestock, agricultural engineering, extension and Women In Agricultural
Development 17
MOFA, 2012, ‘Performance Of The Agricultural Sector In Ghana: 2006-2012. Gross Domestic Product
7
(WIAD). These officers together with the AEAs constitute the field services. The district
director coordinates the work of the DADU.
Extension methods mostly used by filed officers under DADU include farm
demonstrations, home or farm visit, group methods, contact farmer method and
because of high illiteracy rate among farmers, the use of print media are very limited.
Also, due to resource and technical constraints, AEAs under DADU rarely use audio
visuals such video documentary and mass media such as extension broadcast in radio
and television.
2.2 Women In Agricultural Development (WIAD)
Women In Agricultural Development (WIAD) is a unit under the Ministry of Food and
Agricultural with a vision ‘to improve lives and working conditions of rural households
and other women in terms of increase in income, improved nutritional status and
health’ and a mission ‘to assist rural households and other women in the agricultural
sector to improve their standard of living through improved agricultural practices. The
broad objective of WIAD is to improve access of women and other target groups to
information on improved agricultural and post production practices for adoption,
facilitating their access to resources towards an increase in production, high incomes,
improved nutrition, health and food security on environmentally sustainable basis.
2.2.1 PROGRAM AREAS OF WIAD
• Food based nutrition program
• Food production
• Food processing, preservation, storage and utilization
• Resource management on the farm and at home.
• Food hygiene and safety
3.0 AGRICULTURE AND NORTHERN SAVANNAH ZONE
The Northern Savannah Zone (NSZ) comprises of the three political and administrative
Northern Regions of Ghana namely, Upper East, Upper West and the Northern Region.
The poorest areas of the ten regions of Ghana are the three savannah regions of the
north, where food insecurity is a chronic problem. Poverty in the north is most severe
among food crop farmers, who are mainly traditional, rural small-scale producers (GSS,
2007)18
. Northern Savannah ecological zone of Ghana has about 7 million hectares of
arable land of which 70% available for agricultural production. The zone economic
activity is solely agrarian with agriculture accounting for 90% of household incomes. The
land is generally flat with soils which are predominantly lateritic with less than 0.5%
organic matter, thus making the soils inherently poor in fertility. This situation is
aggravated by very harsh and unfavourable climatic conditions of short and erratic
rainfall patterns. This has led to
18
Ghana Statistical Service, April 2007. Patterns and Trends of Poverty in Ghana, 1991-2006
8
a consistent decline in agricultural productivity and a widespread poverty over the years,
especially in rural farming communities (ACDEP, 2010)19
.
It is estimated that closed to one-third (28.5%) of Ghana’s citizens are classified as poor
of these, about 70% live in the Upper West, Upper East and Northern regions. The three
Northern regions alone are home to 54% of the extreme poor. Farming households as
compared to households with other economic activity are the most poor with almost
half of them (46%) falling below the poverty line. This situation highlights the inequality
and vulnerability of agricultural households located in the savannah zone of the country
(ISSER, 2007). Recent government initiative to bridge the development gap between the
northern and southern Ghana and help reduce poverty among agricultural households
are the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) programmes and Northern
Rural Growth Programme.
3.1 Gender and Agriculture in Northern Ghana
Constraints to women’s’ access to agricultural productive resources, especially land is a
key underlying cause of household food insecurity in Northern Ghana (Apusigah,
2010)20
. “Women account for about 70 percent of total food production and marketing
in Ghana, making them central to food security and economic development. However,
women’s empowerment and gender equity are constrained by their lack of access,
ownership, and decision-making power related to land, participation and representation
in agriculture and natural resources groups, and influence on intra-household decision-
making. Women’s contributions are often overlooked or ignored by husbands, fathers,
brothers and sons, as well as community leaders, extension workers, agricultural
planners and policy makers.”(CARE, 2008)21
.
In the North, while men are able to access land due to inheritance, women must
negotiate with fathers and husbands to obtain land for agricultural production (Aryeetey
et al, 2007)22
. By this arrangement, women farmers usually farm on fragile and infertile
lands and the declining soil fertility in the north is further worsening the plight of
women farmers and exacerbating the already existing gender income inequality. Studies
by Duncan, (2004)23
indicate that women hold land in only 10 percent of Ghanaian
households in the north. Women are required to farm on men’s land before their own
leaving women with little control over their own labour and time. Social norms restrict
women from accessing and using knowledge and inputs that could improve their
agricultural productivity.
20 The Gendered Politics of Farm Household Production and the Shaping of Women’s Livelihoods in Northern Ghana 21
A place to grow – empowering women in CARE’s agriculture programming (CARE, 2008) 22
Aryeetey E, Ayee JRA, Ninsin KA, Tsikata D (2007). ‘The Politics of Land Tenure in Ghana: From the Crown Lands Bills to
the Land Administration Project’ 23
Women in Agriculture in Ghana, Beatrice Akua Duncan, 2004
9
3.2 Women Access to Agricultural Extension Services
Agricultural Extension Service delivery in the country as whole is bedeviled with several
problems and challenges. The current ratio of Agricultural Extension Agent (AEA) to
farmer stands at 1: 1,500 compared with national standard of one extension officer to
400 farmers (1:400) (MOFA, 2012)24
. Other problems include poor in-service training
and capacity building of field officers, poor logistics and technical support and poor
women representation of extension officers making extension provision to women
farmers problematic.
The Northern Savannah Zone (NSZ) lacks both the required number and female
representation among its agricultural extension officers to disseminate best agricultural
practices with rural farmers. An estimated 650 agricultural extension officers are
needed, yet the region has 300 with only 11 of them being women. Male extension
officers tend not to take women’s needs and varied responsibilities into consideration,
hence limiting women’s access to their services. On the other hand, male extension
officers face challenges extending information to women in the NSZ and also Male
farmers are not receptive to topics considered to be related to women’s roles such as
cultivation of vegetables and food preparation (CARE, 2008)25
.
3.3 Northern Rural Growth Programme (NGRP)
NGRP is implemented by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to contribute to
agricultural and rural growth and poverty reduction in northern Ghana, where many of
the poorest Ghanaians live. The programme works with poor rural people to develop
income-generating agricultural activities supplementing subsistence farming, which
currently predominates in the north. NGRP also supports the process through which the
resulting commodities are directed towards markets in southern Ghana and abroad.
Ultimately, the goal is to achieve sustainable rural livelihoods and food security in
northern Ghana, particularly for people who are dependent on marginal lands, rural
women and other vulnerable groups.
NGRP focuses on strengthening the linkages among the various actors in agricultural
value chains – including producers and their organizations, suppliers, service providers,
financial institutions, aggregators, ‘off-takers' (such as processors, traders and
exporters), researchers and administrators. The programme supports private-public
partnership arrangements to ensure smallholders' access to finance and markets. It
backs up these arrangements with technical assistance and institutional support, as well
as investments in productive infrastructure and technology (IFAD, 2013)26
available on.
http://operations.ifad.org/web/ifad/operations/country/project/tags/ghana/1390/project_ov
erview 24
MOFA, 2012, ‘Performance Of The Agricultural Sector In Ghana: 2006-2012. Gross Domestic Product 25
A place to grow – empowering women in CARE’s agriculture programming (CARE, 2008) 26
Northern Rural Growth Programme (IFAD, 2013)
10
3.4 Northern Savannah Zone District Profile The table below presents a summary of agricultural related information of all the distracts of the
three northern regions
Northern Savannah Zone Districts Profile
S/N Name of District Facts About the District Ongoing Projects
Northern Region
1 Bole Land Size: 4,800 square km
Population: 61,593 Main Economic Activity: Agriculture Number of AEAs: nine (9)
Operational Area: fourteen (14)
Extension-farmer ratio: 1 : 5,844
Number of FBOs: 6 (total membership of
871 farmers; 250 females and 621 Males )
1. Northern Rural Growth Project
2. Value chain concept training of FBOs 3. Block Farm project 4.Cashew Development project
2 Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo Land Size: 8,353 square Km
Population: 122,591
Main Economic Activity: Agriculture Number of AEAs: twenty (20)
Extension-farmer ratio: 1 : 3,387
Number of FBOs: 12 (total membership of
304 farmers; 145 females and 159 Males )
1. Livestock Development project
2. Northern Rural Growth Project
3. Livestock Development Project
4. AGRA Soil Health Project
3 Central Gonja Land Size: 8,353km2
Population: 53,394 Main Economic Activity: Agriculture Number of AEAs: Eight (8)
Extension-farmer ratio: 1 : 6,983
Number of FBOs: 6 (total membership of
64 farmers; 20 females and 44Males )
1. Cashew Development
Project
2. Northern Rural Growth Project
3. Livestock Development
project
4 Chereponi Land Size: 1080sqKm Population: 55,932
Main Economic Activity: Agriculture
Operational Areas: ten (10)
Number of AEAs: Seven (7)
Extension-farmer ratio: 1:6500
Number of FBOs: 12 (total membership of
304 farmers; 145 females and 159 Males )
1.livestock development
project
2. Northern Rural Growth Project
3. Block farming project
4. AGRA Soil Health Project
5 East Gonja Land Size: 10,787km2 Population: 135,450
Main Economic Activity: Agriculture
Operational Areas: sixteen (16)
Number of AEAs: five (5)
Number Vet. Officers: four (4)
Extension-farmer ratio: 1 : 7,337
Number of FBOs: 22 (total membership of
237 farmers; 119 females and 118 Males )
1. livestock development
project
2. Northern Rural Growth Project
3. Block farming project
7 East Mamprusi Land Size: 1,660sqkm 1. livestock development
11
Population: 121,009 Main Economic Activity: Agriculture Number of AEAs: Eleven (11)
Extension-farmer ratio: 1:5,120
Number of FBOs: 62 (total membership of
762 farmers; 367 females and 395 Males )
project
2. Northern Rural Growth Project
3. Block farming project
8 Gushiegu Land Size: 5,796 km2 Population: 111,259
Main Economic Activity: Agriculture Number of AEAs: Eleven ( 11)
Veterinary officers: Four (4)
Extension-farmer ratio: 1 : 5,108
Number of FBOs: 6 (total membership of
168 farmers; 138 females and 30 Males )
1. livestock development
project
2. Northern Rural Growth Project
3. Block farming project
9 Karaga Land Size: 2,958sqkm
Population: 77,706 Main Economic Activity: Agriculture Number of AEAs: nine (9)
Extension-farmer ratio: 1 : 5842
Number of FBOs: 6 (total membership of
168 farmers; 138 females and 30 Males )
1. livestock development
project
2. Northern Rural Growth Project
3. Block farming project
10 Kpandai Land Size: 1000sq km Population: 108,816
Main Economic Activity: Agriculture Number of AEAs: Eleven ( 11)
Extension-farmer ratio: 1:5,140
Number of FBOs: 13 (total membership of
175 farmers; 61 females and 114 Males )
1.Roots and tubers development
project
2. Northern Rural Growth Project
3. Block farming project
4. livestock development
project
11 Kumbungu (New)
12 Mamprugo Moaduri (New)
13 Mion (New)
14 Nanumba North Land Size: 1,986 sq km
Population: 141,584 Main Economic Activity: Agriculture Number of AEAs: Seven( 7)
Operations area: twenty (22)
Extension-farmer ratio: 1:11,142 Number of FBOs: 16 (total membership of
608 farmers; 429 females and 179 Males )
1. livestock development
project
2. Northern Rural Growth Project
3. Block farming project
15 Nanumba South Land Size: 1.300sqkm Population: 93,464
Main Economic Activity: Agriculture Number of AEAs: sixteen (16)
Extension-farmer ratio: 1:1,500
1. livestock development
project
2. Northern Rural Growth Project
3. Block farming project
16 North Gonja (New)
17 Saboba Land Size: 1,100sqkm 1. livestock development
12
Population: 65,706 Main Economic Activity: Agriculture Number of AEAs: Eight (8)
Extension-farmer ratio: 1 : 5,103
project
2. Northern Rural Growth Project
3. Block farming project
4. roots and tubers
development project
18 Sagnarigu (New) Land Size: Population:
Main Economic Activity: Agriculture Number of AEAs: sixteen (16)
Extension-farmer ratio:
1. livestock development
project
2. Northern Rural Growth Project
3. Block farming project
4. AGRA Soil Health Project
19 Savelugu/ Nanton Municipal
Land Size: 1790.7 sq. km Population: 139,283
Main Economic Activity: Agriculture Number of AEAs: Eleven (11)
Extension-farmer ratio: 1 : 7,292
1. livestock development
project
2. Northern Rural Growth Project
3. Block farming project
20 Sawla-Tuna-Kalba Land Size: 4,601 km²
Population: 99,863
Main Economic Activity: Agriculture Number of AEAs: Eleven (11)
Extension-farmer ratio: 1:4,400
Number of FBOs: 28 (total membership of
295 farmers; 89 females and 206 Males )
1. cashew development
project
2. livestock development
project
3. Northern Rural Growth Project
4. Block farming project
21 Tamale Metropolitan Land Size: 750 km sq
Population: 371,351
Main Economic Activity: Agriculture Number of AEAs: Sixteen (16)
Extension-farmer ratio: 1:2,321
Number of FBOs: 40 (total membership of
1209 farmers; 764 females and 445 Males
)
1. livestock development
project
2. Northern Rural Growth Project
3. Block farming project
4. AGRA Soil Health Project
22 Tatale Sangule (New) Land Size: Population:
Main Economic Activity: Agriculture Number of AEAs: Sixteen (16)
Extension-farmer ratio:
1. livestock development
project
2. Northern Rural Growth Project
3. Block farming project
23 Tolon Land Size: 2,389 sq km
Population: 112,331
Main Economic Activity: Agriculture
Operational Areas: Thirteen (13) Number of AEAs: Seven (7)
Extension-farmer ratio: 1 : 6,739
Number of FBOs: 29 (total membership of
708 farmers; 313 females and 395 Males
)
1. livestock development
project
2. Northern Rural Growth Project
3. Block farming project
4. AGRA Soil Health Project
24 West Gonja Land Size: 17,317 sq km 1. livestock development
13
Population: 84,727
Main Economic Activity: Agriculture
Farmers’ Population: 12,565 Number of AEAs: fourteen (14) Extension-farmer ratio: 1:898
Number of FBOs: 13 (total membership of
271 farmers; 172 females and 99 Males)
project
2. Northern Rural Growth Project
3. Block farming project
4. Cashew Development
project
25 West Mamprusi Land Size: 4,892 sq km
Population: 168,011
Main Economic Activity: Agriculture Number of AEAs: nine (9)
Extension-farmer ratio: Number of FBOs: 32 (total membership of
1,530 farmers; 906 females and 624
Males)
1. livestock development
project
2. Northern Rural Growth Project
3. Block farming project
4. Integrated Soil fertility
management project
26 Yendi Municipal Land Size: 5350sqkm
Population: 199,592
Main Economic Activity: Agriculture Number of AEAs: eighteen (18)
Extension-farmer ratio: 1:2,000 Number of FBOs: 21 (total membership of
701 farmers; 452 females and 249 Males)
1. livestock development
project
2. Northern Rural Growth Project
3. Block farming project
4. root and tubers
development project
27 Zabzugu Land Size: 1,332 sq km Population: 61,927
Main Economic Activity: Agriculture Number of AEAs:
Extension-farmer ratio: Number of FBOs: 35 (total membership of
701 farmers; 452 females and 249 Males)
1. livestock development
project
2. Northern Rural Growth Project
3. Block farming project
4. roots and tubers
development project
UPPER EAST REGION
1 Bawku Municipal Land Size: 1,215 .05 sq km
Population: 217,791 Main Economic Activity: Agriculture Number of AEAs:
Extension-farmer ratio:
1. CARE INTERNATIONAL
‘Capacity Building, Trainings’
2. Bawku East Women
Development Association
(BEWDA); Capacity building,
Gender Issues, Income
Generation
3. Northern Rural Growth
Project
2 Bawku West Land Size: 1,070 sq km
Population: 94,034 Main Economic Activity: Agriculture Number of AEAs: Eight (8)
Extension-farmer ratio: 1 : 6,11
1. Northern Rural Growth Project
2. Commodity Chain
Development 3. Access to rural financing 4. Capacity Building and training of extension officers
3 Binduri (New)
14
4 Bolgatanga Municipal Land Size: 729 sq km
Population: 131,550 Main Economic Activity: Agriculture Number of AEAs:
Extension-farmer ratio:
1 Northern Rural Growth Project
2. Livestock Development
Project
5 Bongo Land Size: 459.5 sq km
Population: 84,545 Main Economic Activity: Agriculture Number of AEAs:
Extension-farmer ratio:
1 Northern Rural Growth Project
2. Livestock Development
Project 3. Block Farm Project
6 Builsa North Land Size: 2,220 sq km
Population: 92,991 Main Economic Activity: Agriculture Number of AEAs:
Extension-farmer ratio:
1 Northern Rural Growth Project
2. Livestock Development
Project 3. Block Farm Project
7 Builsa South (New)
8 Garu-Tempane Land Size: 1,230 sq km
Population: 130,003 Main Economic Activity: Agriculture Number of AEAs:
Extension-farmer ratio:
1. Northern Rural Growth Project
2. RSSP ‘Development of
lowlands project. 3. CARE INTERNATIONAL 2000 –Capacity Building 4. PAGEV 2006 –Capacity Building
9 Kassena Nankana East Land Size: 851.5 sq km Population: 109,944
Main Economic Activity: Agriculture Number of AEAs:
Extension-farmer ratio:
1. Northern Rural Growth Project
2. Block farm project
3. livestock development project
10 Kassena Nankana West
Land Size: 1,657 sq km
Population: 70,667 Main Economic Activity: Agriculture Number of AEAs: Seven (7)
Extension-farmer ratio: 1 : 4,921
1. Block farm project
2. Northern Rural Growth Project
11 Nabdam (New)
12 Pusiga (New)
13 Talensi Land Size: 912 sq km Population: 57,510
Main Economic Activity: Agriculture Number of AEAs: Nine (9)
Extension-farmer ratio: 1 : 3,115
1. Northern Rural Growth Project
2. Block farm project
3. livestock development project
UPPER WEST REGION
1 Daffiama Bussie Issa (New)
Land Size: 1,315.50 sq km
Population: 68,233
Main Economic Activity: Agriculture
Number of AEAs: Extension-farmer ratio:
1. Northern Rural Growth Project
2. Block farm project
3. livestock development project
4. AGRA Soil Health project
2 Jirapa Land Size: 833.80 sq km
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Population: 88,402
Main Economic Activity: Agriculture
Number of AEAs Extension-farmer ratio:
3 Lambussie Karni new Land Size: 679.5 sq km
Population: 51,654
Main Economic Activity: Agriculture
Number of AEAs: Seven (7) Extension-farmer ratio: 1 : 3,597
1. Village Mango Project
2. Northern rural Growth
Project
3. livestock development
project
4 Lawra Land Size: 1,051.2 sq km
Population: 100,929 Main Economic Activity: Agriculture
Number of AEAs: Eleven (11) Extension-farmer ratio: 1 : 4,473
1. Village Mango Project
2. Northern Growth Project
3. livestock development
project
5 Nadowli Land Size: 2,700.3 sq km
Population: 94,388 Main Economic Activity: Agriculture
Operational Areas: Twenty two (22)
Number of AEAs: thirteen (13) Extension-farmer ratio: 1:5,000
1. AGRA Soil Health Project
2. Cashew Development Project
3. Northern Rural Growth Project
4.Livestock Development Project
5. N2 AFRICA Soil fertility
project
6 Nandom (New) Land Size: 1,051.20 sq km Population: 101,434
Main Economic Activity: Agriculture
Number of AEAs: Eleven (11) Extension-farmer ratio: 1 : 4, 495
1. Northern Rural Growth Project
2. Livestock Development Project
3. Block Farming Project
7 Sissala East Land Size: 4,744 sq km
Population: 56,528 Main Economic Activity: Agriculture
Number of AEAs: Six (6) Extension-farmer ratio: 1 : 4,597
1. AGRA Soil Health Project 2. Rice Sector Support Project (RSSP) 3. Northern Growth Project
4.Livestock Development Project
8 Sissala West Land Size: 41,128.99 sq km
Population: 49,573 Main Economic Activity: Agriculture
Number of AEAs: thirteen (13)
Extension-farmer ratio: 1 : 1,859
1. livestock Development project
2. AGRA Soil Health Project
3. Northern Growth Project
9 Wa East Land Size: 3, 196 sq km
Population: 72,074 Main Economic Activity: Agriculture
Number of AEAs: Extension-farmer ratio:
1. livestock Development project
2. AGRA Soil Health Project
3. Northern Growth Project
10 Wa Municipal Land Size: 234.74 sq km
Population: 107,214 Main Economic Activity: Agriculture
Number of AEAs: Twelve (12) Extension-farmer ratio: 1 : 4,355
1. Soil Health Project
2. Training of extension
women volunteers 3. Northern Growth Project 4. Livestock Development
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Project
11 Wa West Land Size: 1,856 sq km
Population: 81,348 Main Economic Activity: Agriculture
Number of AEAs Extension-farmer ratio:
1. livestock Development project
2. AGRA Soil Health Project
3. Northern Growth Project
Source: Ghana Statistical Service 2010 HPC, MOFA and Ghana District Repository
4.0 AREA OF COLLABORATION
Faculty of Agribusiness and Communication Science of the Nyankpala campus of
University for Development Studies (UDS), as part of its research- extension outreach
programmes through its ‘Social Laboratory’ and ‘Farming for Future’ concepts, have
been undertaking adaptive trials and mounting demonstrations of research
recommendations. In order to develop appropriate technologies for small holder
farmers, which form the bulk of Ghanaian agricultural sector, and best way of reaching
women and other marginalized groups in society for improve adoption of best practices
for all categories of farming households in northern Ghana.
UDS Nyankpala campus because of it strategic location in the north and the fact that the
campus is agricultural based higher education institution, comprising of three academic
faculties namely Faculty of Agribusiness and Communication Science (FACS), Faculty of
Agriculture (FOA) and Faculty of Renewable Natural Resource Management (FRNRM,
makes it well suited in providing a platform for action research and capacity building of
agricultural field officers to make them more effective in using cutting edge
technologies in innovation dissemination. The campus in its two decades of existence
had conducted research and community outreach programmes in the three northern
regions accumulating huge knowledge and experience on development issues in the
north.
As a means of bridging the poverty and developmental gap between northern and
southern Ghana, several governmental and nongovernmental initiatives such as the
Northern Rural Growth Project (NRGP), Savannah Accelerated Development Authority
(SADA) programmes, the Alliance for Green Revolution of Africa (AGRA) Soil Health
Project among others, are currently being implemented. All those programmes and
projects identified increasing agricultural productivity and improving rural farmers’,
especially women farmers’, access to market as the assurance of way of reducing poverty
and enhancing standard of living of largely agrarian population.
As part of improving agricultural productivity and considering the fragile and poor
nature of soil fertility in the northern ecological zone, soil fertility improvement activities
is being promoted by Savannah Agricultural Research Institute through the AGRA Soil
Health Project, Integrated Soil Fertility Management activities implemented under the
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Northern Rural Growth Project and Compost and Organic Soil Fertilization Learning
initiative implemented under the faculty’s Farming for the Future programmes.
The AGRA Soil Health Project have established Farmer Learning Centres and
demonstration farms in most part of northern Ghana, to help teach farmers, especially
women farmers who due to their general lack of access to productive lands are left
without choice but to farm on poor infertile lands abandoned by men, integrated soil
management practice and promote the adoption of such practice to ensure sustainable
increase in crop productivity. Similar initiative is being implemented under the Northern
Rural Growth Project by the District Agricultural Development Units under the Ministry
of Food Agriculture (MOFA) in all the Districts in the three northern regions.
However, due to logistical and technical constraints on the part of implementing
organizations and social and gender issues limiting women movement and access to
information, women farmers, who depend largely on these poor infertile fragile lands,
are not able to attend such learning sessions or visit demonstration farms and this
hinder their adoption of such technologies.
I therefore see the concept of participatory video documentary using high quality
portable device to capture and produce quality video showing the processes and
activities involve in integrated soil fertility management practices and compost organic
fertilization activities. Such video documentary can then be showed to women farmers
at their convenient time and place. Therefore the concept of One Media Player per
Teacher (OMPT)'s basic idea of reaching out to the underprivileged and underserved
rural communities with the innovative use of specialized, portable, audiovisual devices
to deliver relevant information and educational programs is imperative in helping
improve the adoption of soil fertility improvement practices among women farmers in
northern Ghana.
Area of collaboration with One Media Player per Teacher (OMPT) could include
1. Capacity building of extension field officer through training on how to use audiovisual
devices
2. Training of extension field officers on video capturing and editing
3. Equipment provision and technical support
4. Collaborating in undertaking action research on participatory video technology in
agricultural information dissemination
5. Exchange programme and sharing of experience with academic and research staffs of
the faculty on one hand members of One Media Player per Teacher (OMPT) on the other.
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5.0 Conclusion
Until agricultural information dissemination strategies are tailored to the need and
circumstance of women farmers and other marginalized groups in society, they will
always be left out in technology adoption and improve agricultural productivity. Women
farmers by the virtue of their domestic responsibilities and social restrictions on their
movement cannot fully benefit from the current strategies of disseminating soil fertility
management practices through farmers learning centres and demonstration farms. A
portable high quality video equipment capable of capturing and recording the process,
steps and procedures involve in integrated soil management practices and later shown
to women farmers in small groups at their own convenient time and location will in no
doubt impact greatly on women farmers adoption of improved soil fertility management
practices.
Hudu Zakaria
Lecturer and Research Scholar on Agricultural Extension and Rural Development
Department of Agricultural Extension Rural Development & Gender Studies
Faculty of Agribusiness and Communication Science
University for Development Studies, Ghana
(+233) 0242980581