Promoting sustainable urban and peri-urban agriculture in greater Accra, Ghana: Dzorwulu case study

Promoting Sustainable Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture in Greater Accra, Ghana

Dzorwulu Case Study, 2011

University College London Development Planning Unit, MSc Environment and Sustainable Development 2011, Field Report Accra

A report by Environment and Sustainable Development MSc students of the Development Planning Unit, University College

London.

Marcia Bindo

Andreas Eriksson

Yoshie Fujiyama

Andreas Hampl

Lou Perrin

Paul Predusel

Hannah Sternberg

Anthony Stonehouse

Development Planning Unit

34 Tavistock Square

London WC1H 9EZ

Tel: +44 (0)20 7679 1111

Fax: +44 (20) 7679 1112

E-mail: [email protected]

www.ucl.ac.uk/dpu

DPU Accra Field Report 2011 1

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/dpu

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/dpu

Table of Contents

Abbreviations 4

Executive Summary 5

Acknowledgements 6

Research Objectives 7

Theoretical Framework 8

Sustainable Urban Agriculture - Criteria and Definition 9

Criteria 9

Definition 10

Research Methodology 11

Pre-Field Trip: London 11

Field Trip: Accra 11

Limitations 12

Context and Site Description 13

Accra Facts 14

History of the Site 14

Current Situation 15

Hypothesis 1 – Monetised farming inputs 16

Diagnosis and Findings 16

Strategy 1: Closing the “Water Loop“ - A Low-Cost Multi-Barrier Approach 18

Strategy Objectives 18

Strategy 18

Action Plan 20

Monitoring and Impact Assessment 21

Hypothesis 2: Planned Interventions and Knowledge Systems 22


Strategy 2: Increasing Farmer Power through Collaboration and Control over Knowledge 24


Strategy 24

Action Plan 25


Hypothesis 3: Land Security 27



Strategy 3: Secure Usufruct Rights in other Localities and in Situ 29


Strategy 29

Action Plan 30


Conclusion 33

References 34

Appendix 35

Appendix 1 35

App. 1a. Overview of Stakeholders Involved in Urban Agriculture in Accra 35

App. 1b. Power-Interest Mapping 42

Appendix 2 43

App. 2a. Overview Field Methodology 43

App. 2b. Reasoning Behind the Choice of Methods Used 43

App. 2c. Overview of Field Trip Activities 44

Appendix 3 47

History of the Site and Flows of Power, Knowledge and Resources. 1970-2011 47

Appendix 4 48

Visualisation of Strategy 1 - Closing the “Water Loop“ 48

Appendix 5 48

Hypothesis 1: Analysis of stakeholders and motivation 48

Appendix 6 Overview of Planned Interventions Taking Place in Dzorwulu since 2006 49

Appendix 7 51


Appendix 8 51



Abbreviations

AMA Accra Metropolitan Assembly

AWGUPA Accra Working Group on Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture

App. Appendix

CICOL The Civil Society Coalition on Land

DPU Development Planning Unit

DZ Dzorwulu Farming Site

ESD MSc Environment and Sustainable Development

FA Farmer’s Association

FStT From Seed to Table programme

GRIDCO Ghana Grid Company Limited

GHS Ghana Cedi

IWMI International Water Management Institute

LAP Ghana Land Administration Project

MoFA Ministry of Food and Agriculture

MoU Memorandum of Understanding

NGO Non-governmental Organisation

PP Plant Pool Farming Site

RUAF Resource Centres on Urban Agriculture and Food Security

SUA Sustainable Urban Agriculture

UA Urban Agriculture

UPE Urban Political Ecology


Executive Summary

The aim of the research was to critically examine the development of urban agriculture in the context of the city of Accra,

taking the case-study of Dzowulu agricultural farm in Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), with the understanding that the

state of urban farmers has been impacted over time by many different internal and external conditions not only at the local

level, but at the city, national, regional and global levels. Three main issues were addressed during the course of the

research: farmers’ use and management of monetized inputs (i.e. water, labour, and chemical fertilisers), the impact of

planned interventions on farmers’ practices and the generation of localised hybrid knowledge, and farmers’ access to secure

agricultural land in the urban area. The research attempted to clarify how flows of power, knowledge, and resources, in the

context of institutional relationships, have impacted where the farmers are positioned within the urban system of Accra.

With the goals of producing outputs that

could be used by the farmers in building

their capacity to control their destiny and

of making recommendat ions for

strategic interventions, the research

team collected data related to the

research foci and identified opportunities

and challenges that would assist the

farmers in creating conditions that would

allow change to be possible. In the

interest of studying the potential of

farmers moving towards a more

Sustainable Urban Agriculture (SUA), the

research team devised criteria that

integrate economic, socio-political, and

ecological dimensions within the

encompassing sphere of urban planning.

These criteria were developed using the

overarching theoretical framework of Urban Political Ecology (UPE), which attempts to investigate the interrelated socio-

ecological processes conveyed by power struggles occurring within the urban metabolism of Accra. Over the course of two

weeks of fieldwork in Accra, which was comprised of interviews with farmers and other stakeholders, focus groups, mapping

exercises, and presentations by organisations and institutions, the eight-member research team compared and contrasted

the realities of UA in Accra with what was assumed from the pre-field trip review of secondary data and attempted to identify

the opportunities for change within the farmers’ existing networks and what the potential room for manoeuvre is to build new

relationships.

This report presents the research findings which elaborate the challenges and opportunities faced by farmers cultivating in

the city of Accra and viewed through the theoretical lens of UPE, these findings are articulated in terms of flows of

knowledge, power, and resources, and the interdependencies that are created. This framework places UA and its farmers

within a larger urban system which is reliant on diverse flows and cycles, and as such, demands diversity and resilience from

its participants. Therefore, the farmers in the urban metabolism, as in reality, are not merely being acted upon, but meaningful

participants within the system.


Acknowledgements

This research would not have been possible without the tremendous support the team received from individuals and

organisations.

First of all, we are indebted to IWMI, who has partnered with the DPU field research programme over the past three years.

We are grateful to IWMI for their logistical support, their willingness to share information with us, and their guidance in the

field.

We would also like to express our gratitude to Eunice Agyarko, MoFA Agricultural Extension Officer, who assisted us in the

field as a facilitator and translator.

Special thanks go to the DPU staff who were invaluable in terms of providing academic advice and coordinating the

fieldwork opportunities.

Furthermore, we are grateful to all the representatives from the various institutions who contributed their time and energy to

this research.

Finally and most importantly, we would like to express very special thanks to the Dzorwulu farmers who kindly welcomed us

and shared with us tremendous amounts of their time and knowledge.


Research Objectives

This is the third year that the University College London (UCL)

students from the Development Planning Unit (DPU) in the

Environment and Sustainable Development Master’s of

Science programme are researching on potentials and

constraints of Urban Agriculture (UA) as a planning tool for

sustainable urbanisation in Accra, Ghana. This report is built

on past years’ reports and meant to complement the previous

research through a different theoretical framework in order to

reach a holistic understanding of the case for UA in Accra.

The objectives of this year’s research are intended to elaborate

on important findings and to explore unattended matters from

previous reports:

1. Reach a diagnosis of the development of UA in the site

of Dzorwulu, including an understanding of the

stakeholders involved, their interactions and perceptions

over the potentials and limitations of the development of

more sustainable UA as well as the strategies pursued to

achieve their specific objectives.

2. Understand how governmental bodies, NGOs, specific

policies and projects related to UA are supporting or not

supporting the development of more sustainable UA in

Dzorwulu.

3. Develop a set of strategic interventions that would lead

to more sustainable UA in Dzorwulu, which could be

implemented by the farmers or their organisations,

community groups, local government or other actors and

institutions involved in urban agriculture in order to

contribute to:

- the positive transformation of the living conditions of the

farmers and of the surrounding physical, social and

natural environment

- the promotion of sustainable UA in the urban region and

its articulation with urban development, land, water and

sanitation policies and planning


Theoretical Framework

This research focuses on explaining the current situation of UA in Dzorwulu through the lens of Urban Political Ecology (UPE)

which attempts to explain the current challenges faced by urban farmers in cultivating vegetables in the city of Accra by

linking specific analysis of urban-environmental problems to larger socio-economic solutions (Keil, 2003). UPE is rooted in

Marxist traditional critical thinking about the current mode of operation (i.e. neoliberal capitalism) which has the tendency to

separate nature and society, and “with pride rather than shame” (Smith, 1984, xvi). Central to the concept of UPE is urban

metabolism which understands the urban reality as a living organism with dynamic flows of vital energy and resources

shaped by power geometries (Castán Broto, 2011). The critique resides in the linearity of the throughput of

contemporaneous capitalist cities as centres of appropriation of nature, and the solution in embracing bio-mimicry and local

circularity: the conversion of outputs into inputs, limiting inefficiencies and wasteful practices of accumulation.

This framework was chosen because it allows to clarify, as with a hatchet (Robbins, 2004), the interdependencies between

the local (Dzorwulu), regional (Accra and West Africa) and global (World) scales through different power relations (flows)

which are essential to understand consequences of planning and when practicing and recommending development

strategies. For example, as Swyngedouw (2004) suggests, the material conditions surrounding urban environments are

controlled and manipulated by the interests of the elite at the expense of the marginalised populations. However, such

material conditions need to be understood within the context of the economic, political and social relations that have led to

urban environmental change (Swyngedouw and Kaika, 2000). Indeed, UPE enables researchers to unearth non-material

flows such as knowledge and power and shows how they are related and how they shape the access and use of resources

(see figure 1). UPE also assists in unpacking how power imbalances and external forces affect the sustainability of UA in this

specific case study.

Figure 1. Pillars of the framework

The UPE binoculars are used throughout this report, hence it follows that the criteria for SUA are based on concepts inherent

to the theoretical framework (e.g. closing loop; autonomous agencies; multidirectional knowledge transfer; etc...); the site

descriptions and historical events are depicted in four different spatio-temporal scales; the conclusive findings are interwoven

in flows of power, knowledge and resources and the recommendations are an attempt to address the current flows that

exacerbate the unsustainability of UA in Dzorwulu.

• Power - Tease out who is bargaining against who, who gains and who loses (and in what ways), who benefits and who suffers in current power geometries.

• Knowledge - Unearth level of information is (de)centralised, and how it is shared, participatory process? how it is used and who is empowered by what type of information?

• Resources - Identify the circulation and accumulation of physical, chemical, biological components and relate their dynamics with current power geometries, what are the underlying causes of current circuits?


Sustainable Urban Agriculture - Criteria and Definit ion

Criteria Based on the framework of UPE, the research team has identified a set of interconnected criteria essential to a desired SUA

that assure the outcomes of flows of power, knowledge and resources to lead to a productive, healthy and inclusive UA (Van

Veenhuizen, 2006). As demonstrated in Fig. 2, the three spheres of SUA - economic (productive metabolism), ecological

(healthy metabolism) and socio-political (inclusive metabolism) dimensions - are heavily interdependent in the metabolic

Figure 2. Interconnected criteria of SUA


Legend

Circular Value Chain

N.B.: A more equitable and productive value-chain should expand within the biophysical limits of the local ecosystem carrying capacity.

LEGEND

Highlighted in orange are the criteria of focus in this study

Planning (circular metabolism)

SUA

Ecological (healthy metabolism)

Socio-political (inclusive metabolism)

•  UA is integrated in the overall city development policy and long-term strategy •  Connectivities between stakeholders from government, communities and private sector in Accra are created and strengthened

•  Policy makers acknowledge that UA offers ecological, social and economic services to Accra, and hence is recognised as legitimate land use

•  Mutual beneficial relationships between UA and Accra are reinforced and are reevaluated through time

★ [Dzorwulu] Embraces Agro-Ecologic principles: • Reestablish ecological connectivities • Maximises land productivity through bio-intensive agricultural practices • Diversity of locally cultivated crops: rotating intercrop • Seed harvesting: Conserve genetic resources

★[Accra] Minimisation of throughput in urban system: • Embraces circularity (seed to seed): - makes use of composted organic waste - makes use of non-competitive water sources

Economy (productive metabolism)

★ [Accra] Decentralisation of knowledge: •  Harness and disseminate indigenous knowledge •  UA is socially accepted through multi-directional information transfer •  Farmers apply safe practices that protect their own and the consumer's health

! [Dzorwulu] Diversification of livelihoods: •  Farmers have control over a diversity of production inputs •  Farmers have control over value added processing •  Farmers have access to diverse marketing channels •  Farmers avoid dependence on external subsidies ★ [Accra] UA is a valuable form of livelihoods: • UA-produce generates employment opportunities • UA produce is competitive with non-UA-produce • Use multiple crops to diversify seasonal timing

★ [Dzorwulu] Organisational capacity: •  Farmers have capacity to organise •  Farmers participate meaningfully ★ [Accra] Land tenure security: • Farmers have access to secure land tenure

process of Accra (circular metabolism).

Hence, planning should address the

t h r e e d i f f e r e n t d i m e n s i o n s

simultaneously and it should be

holistically integrated in temporal and

spatial dimensions.

Note: The focus and limitations of the

study necessitated the research to only

examine certain elements of the

compiled criteria of SUA found in the

diagram of figure 2.

Definition Urban Agriculture is sustainable when it

employs well-informed and organised

farmers, uti l ising non-competitive

sources of water and avo id ing

dependency on external inputs. It is

sustainable when the mutually beneficial

relationship between urban agriculture

and its city environment materialises in

integrated city planning and where

connectivities between stakeholders

from government, communities and

p r i v a t e s e c t o r i n A c c r a a r e

strengthened, reevaluated and created

through time.


Research Methodology

The research team faced a difficult challenge in that, once in Accra,

the intended study group (Roman Ridge Farmer’s Association) had

collectively decided not to participate in the research. This meant

that the pre-trip review of secondary literature was potentially

useless. As a result, the research facilitator provided by MoFA, Eunice

Agyarko, negotiated with the neighbouring farmer’s association and

the team was able to conduct the research at Dzorwulu; the site and

the farmers had similar issues to the intended study area so no major

changes to the theoretical framework were required. Therefore, the

pre-field trip research, while not specific to Dzorwulu, did uncover

some general concerns in the area.

Pre-Field Trip: LondonAn initial diagnosis of the current situation in Roman

Ridge was made based on a systematic review of

the secondary data, including past DPU reports; a

list of stakeholders was made (see App. 1a for a

comprehensive list), from which a stakeholder map

was created showing their influence and interest in

moving towards SUA (see App.1b). Additional

information on the site was gathered from an

informal interview with Marielle Dubbeling from

RUAF. Hypotheses were developed relevant to the

research objectives and the team’s definition of SUA

and its criteria.

Field Trip: AccraOnce the study site was changed from Roman

Ridge to Dzorwulu, the research team reformulated

the diagnosis of the situation and the hypotheses

were rewritten according to the information

gathered from the 2009 report and from a rapid

assessment of the site. The research methods used

included interviews, transect walks, mapping, and

focus groups with farmers, and question and

answer sessions with representatives from various

stakeholder groups. A full list of which methods

were used and why can be found in App. 2a and

App. 2b, as well as an overview of field trip activities

(App. 2c).


Limitations

A major limitation during the pre-field trip phase of the

research came with the policy analysis due to a lack of

access to relevant policy documents.

The main limitation encountered during the fieldwork was the

small number of field visits during the two week period.

Although the team was successful in engaging with the

farmers and acquiring the necessary data from them, the four

days allocated for field visits was not adequate to fully

address the complexities raised by the research objectives.

Another major limitation of the research was the unwillingness

of the Roman Ridge Farmer’s Association to participate in the

study, requiring the team to reformulate the site diagnosis and

rewrite the hypotheses on the spot. Due to late access to

(access was provided on the final day of the research) and

incomplete nature of the minutes of the Dzorwulu Farmer’s

Association meetings, the team had insufficient time in the

field to review data related to the organisational capacity of

the association, and there were significant time gaps in the

data collected. While conducting interviews and focus

groups, language posed a significant barrier and a translator

was necessary, which left open the possibil ity of

miscommunications and misinterpretations of concepts and

questions. On this point, there was one instance where a

female-only group interview was being conducted and the

female facilitator was not available to translate, so a male

farmer translated.


Context and Site Description

Figure 3. Map of Accra, circle indicating Dzorwulu farming site (Source: http://www.dotori.pe.kr/ghana/map-accra.jpg)


http://www.dotori.pe.kr/ghana/map-accra.jpg

http://www.dotori.pe.kr/ghana/map-accra.jpg

Accra Facts

Figure 4. Dzorwulu in Accra (Source: Google Earth, 2010).

History of the SiteDuring the early 1970s the Dzorwulu site served as the first MoFA

model farm and farming was institutionally recognised, but since the

beginning of the 1980s farming has been taking place informally on

land owned by GRIDCO.

The implementation of a SAP in the year 1983 brought macro

structural changes that affected farming at the micro level. The SAP

generated flows of power, knowledge and resources that have

generated interdependencies and ecological flows in ways which will

be explained subsequently.

Through liberalising the market and the currency, flows of knowledge

and power have led to the altering of farming practices. Former

traditional practices have been replaced by ones in which chemical

fertilisers are employed. This has led, throughout the years, to a

decrease in the quality of soil and water and to an increase in the

amount of waste generated.

The SAP generated economic growth that has made it attractive for

foreign young labourers to come and work on the Dzorwulu site.

Consequently, after having previously hired friends and family

members as farm helpers, the farmers on the Dzorwulu site started

hiring foreign labourers from Burkina Faso in 2006.

In 2002, farmers sought to improve the power relations vis a vis other

groups by forming a farmer’s association. This happened almost

concomitantly to the emergence of external interventions in 2001 that

generated flows of knowledge further affecting farmer practices.

For a visualisation of the above, see App. 3.


• Population: 1.96 million = Accra Metropolitan

District

• Population growth rate is estimated at 3.4% per

year

• Rapid growth of Accra is due to economic and

political reforms over last 20 years, and more

recently to oil-led growth

• 60% of population resides in informal

settlements

• Around 80% of Accra’s inhabitants work in the

informal sector

• 250,000 people in Accra benefit every day from

produce grown in the city (Amoah, 2007)

• 24% of households in Accra are considered

‘food insecure’

• Nutritional status of children is deteriorating,

with increased stunting, malnutrition and

wasting

• Costal Savanna zone with low average annual

rainfall 810 mm (over less than 80 days)

• 700 to 800 tons/per day of municipal solid

waste. Up to 20% of which is uncollected, 60%

of which is organic matter (Cofie et al. 2006)

• About 80,000 m3 per day of wastewater is

generated by 1.66 million inhabitants based on

an average per capita daily consumption of 60

litres, and a wastewater return flow of 80

percent (Cofie and Awuah, 2008)

Current Situation• 31 farmers cultivate on site; 28 men

and 3 women. 16 labourers are

employed at the site.

• Most crops grown are non-native or

exotic: lettuce, spring onion,

cassava, cabbage, Indian spinach,

etc

• The production process on the

Dzorwulu site is shaped by global,

regional and national forces such as

GDP growth (4.8 % in 2009, CIA

World Factbook), real estate

development and climate change.

• Fo r examp le , the ex tens i ve

urbanisation (3.4% pop. growth

1984-2000, CIA Fact Book) has

resulted in the increased generation

of wastewater (Onyasia Drain) that

is now used as an input in the

cultivation of vegetables.

• Global and regional forces also have

a positive impact on the usage of

imported processed inputs such as

chemical fertilisers and hybrid

seeds.


Hypothesis 1 – Monetised farm-ing inputs

The farmers’ use of monetised inputs such as chemical fertilisers, piped water and hired labour

increases their yields in the short term but leads to environmentally unsustainable practices and to

marginalisation of certain members of the community.

Diagnosis and FindingsThis hypothesis aimed at exploring the environmental, economic and social impacts of the increased monetisation of

production inputs with respect to their sustainability.

Since the 1970s, urban farming practices in Accra have

intensified and monetised as a result of rising pressure on

land due to urbanisation and growing farmer-land ratios.

Amongst other changes in farming practices, water for

irrigation turned increasingly pipe-borne rather than

stemming from drains and streams, imported chemical

fertilisers replaced and supplemented organic manure

and hiring workers increased the labour intensity.

However, it has become evident that some of these

changes have had negative social and environmental

impacts.

Government subsidies for chemical fertilisers have

encouraged their use to improve yields in the short term

but have led to a decline of soil fertility and consequently

increased input requirements over time. This leaves farmers today dependent on relatively expensive chemical fertilisers and

vulnerable to market and policy changes as a current subsidy intermission evinces (2010 subsidised fertiliser: 25 GHS/50g;

2011 non-subsidised fertiliser: 50 GHS/50g). Simultaneously, the majority of farmers in Dzorwulu uses besides chemical

fertilisers (approx. 60%) a more sustainable combination of saw dust and chicken manure (approx. 40%), which they obtain

from chicken farms in Labadi free of charge and which they

partly compost to improve its quality. However, there are barriers

preventing the farmers from fully moving away from chemical

fertiliser such as the previously mentioned soil depletion as well

as the promotion of chemical fertilisers by MoFA extension

officers and commercial inputs dealers.

In Dzorwulu, the use of piped water is a means to reduce labour

requirements for manual irrigation of those plots further away

from the streams and drains, which provide the other water

source. The relationship between the distance to the water

source and the type of water used for irrigation in each plot can

clearly be seen in the map (figure 5).


Figure 5. Relationship between the distance to the water source

and the type of water used for irrigation for each plot by

Dzorwulu farmers.

However, using piped water is comparatively more expensive

and unreliable due to water shortages and it poses additional

strain on the water supply of the underserved population of

Accra. On the other hand, the use of untreated water from

streams and drains poses health risks to farmers, labourers

and consumers as it contains wastewater from the city such as

surface run-off, sewage and household wastewater, for which

the city authorities struggle to provide adequate treatment.

During the 1980s farmers began hiring workers to assist in

highly labour intensive activities such as digging, planting,

watering, and weeding. Later, this posed an opportunity for some of the workers to obtain their own plots from the retiring

employers, contributing to the spatial densification of the site. During recent years, a shift of the worker’s profile indicates

dramatic social implications as all workers at the site are minors between the ages of 11 and 17 who were forced to

emigrate from Kominatenga, Burkina Faso to obtain work abroad as their families were no longer able to provide for them

and their school fees. Despite having only an informal agreement with the farmers and no work security, the strenuousness


of work, crowded living conditions and language barriers, the workers stated that farming was a preferred option due to its

higher profitability in comparison to other petty trading allowing them to send remittances to their families.

Strategy 1: Closing the “Water Loop“ - A Low-Cost Multi-Barrier Approach

Strategy Objectives

In order to address the findings, which were discussed in the previous chapter, it was challenging to design an intervention,

which could be implemented within the boundaries of the site and incorporates the following objectives:

• Reduction of impact urban agriculture has on the piped water system of Accra

• Reduction of labour input

• Reduction of use of chemical fertiliser

• Reduction of costs for all farmers in the long run

• Reduction of health risks for farmers and labourers who use waste water

• Improvement of food safety for end consumers

Furthermore, it has to be low-tech, low-cost and easily implementable to ensure maximum adoption by the farmers. The

intervention should consist of a modular structure to ensure maximum flexibility and usability in order to be easily adapted

and implemented in other projects.

Strategy

The planned intervention focuses in particular on the existing drain, which crosses the Dzorwulu site from North to South

which can be seen in Fig. 6. In comparison to the Onyasia River, which forms the southern border of the site this drain is not

governmentally but privately owned and therefore allows room for manoeuvre to implement a low tech, small-scale water-

upgrading scheme. The drain water is fed by household wastewater, stream- and surface water and agricultural runoffs and

is currently used by adjacent plot owners for irrigation purposes. Water fetching happens all along the drain and is based on

water intensive irrigation practices. According to the farmers the flow of water in the drain is constant throughout the year.


Planning limitations

To successfully implement a water treatment project the following limitations of the site have to be considered and

consequently abolished with the planned intervention.

• Geography - the site is too small to offer space for large waste water treatment facilities like oxidation ponds

• Land tenure - due to lack of land tenure permanent structures cannot be part of a solution

• Credit - the lack of sufficient credit limits the use of high tech and advanced water treatment methods

• Control over upstream water - no control over upstream water source for downstream agricultural use

• Alternative water sources - groundwater is not useable due to salt intrusion from the sea

• Tested and validated low tech solutions - there is a general lack of low-tech solutions for waste water treatment at a

small scale

Figure 6. Stream impacted by suggested intervention

The suggested water treatment scheme consists of 3 main parts. A pond system, a solar pump and storage unit and a

gravity based drip irrigation system. Within the boundaries of the North-South drain a pond system is created, which

consists of a series of consecutive, cascading ponds from North to South, which terminate in a final reservoir. A reduction of

pathogenic bacteria and viruses is achieved through the targeted and prolonged exposure to the natural environment (UV

light, oxygen, baffle system within the ponds, plants and natural predators like fish and algae) and sedimentation, which

consequently leads to a major reduction of helminth eggs and protozoa cysts. The second stage consists of a robust and

simple to use solar pumping system, which guarantees minimal maintenance for the farmers and is based on a carbon free

and sustainable energy source. The pump taps the water from the final reservoir and sends it directly into an elevated

storage tank from where the water is distributed across the site through a gravity based drip irrigation network. The system

delivers the water directly to the roots of the plants and has a predicted water savings of up to 80% over the mode of

operation. The drip irrigation works automatically and therefore saves labour and time for the farmers and their labourers.

Additionally it allows the targeted application of fertilisers and pesticides, which significantly lowers the amount of inputs

needed and consequently leads to more sustainable practices (see App. 4 for visualisation of strategy). It is important to

mention that the pathogen reduction of the system only works efficiently when the short-circuiting of water fetching is

suppressed. The longer the water is exposed to the natural environment the higher the cleaning processes are. Fig. 7 shows

a comparison of the current mode of water extraction and the changes suggested by the intervention.


Action Plan

Stage TIme Frame Actors Role Resources

Create ponds and

reservoir

2-3 months Farmers, labourers Labour Time

Labour

Installation of solar

pump and storage

tank, maintenance

training

2 weeks NOV Mono reps,

farmers, labourers

NOV Mono as

technical trainers

Time

Labour

Installation of drip

irrigation system

2 weeks Farmers, labourers Labour Time

Labour

See App. 5 for an analysis of stakeholders and motivations for Strategy 1.


Figure 7. Current mode of water extraction

from the stream (left) and the suggested

future mode of water extraction from the

stream covering the water demand of the

whole site (right).

The system can be easily implemented

with the help of the farmers, due to the

simple but effective design. One downturn

however exists within the intervention; the

livelihood of the helpers who currently

irrigate the fields may be jeopardised.

Before implementation, the situation of the

l a b o u re r s w o u l d r e q u i r e s p e c i a l

consideration as not to diminish their

livelihoods.

Monitoring and Impact Assessment

Action Potential Impact Indicators Monitoring Bodies

Build the ponds and the

reservoir

Cleaner water Water samples Farmers, IWMI, MoFA

Install the solar pump and

storage tank

Increased use of wastewater,

reduced spending on petrol,

water available for longer

during dry periods

Usage of piped water,

petrol expenditures,

water availability

Farmers, IWMI, MoFA

Install the drip irrigation

system

Reduction of pathogens

transmitted via foliage

Water samples Farmers, IWMI, MoFA

Begin irrigating with the

system

More efficient use of water,

fertilisers, pesticides and

reduced labour required

Yields, amount of water

used, amount of fertilisers

used, amount of pesticides

used, amount of labour

required

Farmers, IWMI, MoFA


Hypothesis 2: Planned Interven-tions and Knowledge Systems

The different governmental bodies and NGO interventions implemented in Dzorwulu have had a positive

impact on the sustainability of practices and on the maturation of the farmers’ hybrid localised

knowledge systems.

Diagnosis and FindingsThere has been a high frequency of

interventions by NGO‘s, research institutes

and MoFA in Dzorwulu in the last decade

and in comparison to other sites in Accra.

This hypothesis is aiming at unpacking the

impact it has on the hybrid localised

knowledge of the farmers as well as on

their farming practices.

Different types of planned interventions

have addressed different skills and issues

(see App. 6 for a detailed overview):

technical intervent ions on farming

practices (e.g. composting experiment by

RUAF and CHF, transplanting techniques

by MoFA and pesticides trials by private

input dealer), health interventions (e.g. safe

vegetables handling by IWMI, cholera

prevention by Poly clinic), marketing interventions (e.g. kiosks by RUAF/IWMI/EW/University of Ghana), organisational and

financial services interventions (e.g. Multi-features and capacity enhancing services and Eden Tree).

The high organisational capacity of Dzorwulu farmers appears to be one of

the main reasons why so many interventions take place. The association

has a Constitution, elects its executives, provides a fee structure with

saving accounts, sets up schedule of meetings and mechanisms for

settling disputes. However, there is conflicting information on the process of

how interventions are being chosen in the first place. According to the

farmers interviewed, they were not being consulted on which interventions

would be implemented on site whereas MoFA representatives stated that

interventions chosen at the annual planning meeting are based on

feedback from the MoFA agricultural extension officers.

The research has identified different flows of knowledge, from “within” and from “above”. First, farmers are benefiting to

different degrees, dependent upon their level of participation in the interventions and within the association. Overall, by

cooperating with external bodies, farmers learn organisational skills that further strengthen their organisational capacity; trial


outcomes are being shared amongst one

another by word of mouth and those

visiting workshops report back information

to the association members in their

meetings. However, two-way feedback

between farmers and organisations (e.g.

results from soil and water analyses done

by IWMI) is not always evident as

organisations are not forthcoming with

information and yet farmers are not

requesting it. Moreover, while knowledge

is currently shared informally amongst

Dzorwulu farmers and between Dzorwulu

and Plant Pool, farmers do not have a

consistent system for recording the results

of the interventions nor for disseminating

the knowledge. Finally, while some

technical planned interventions emphasise

the safe production of vegetables, they are

n o t n e c e s s a r i l y e n v i ro n m e n t a l l y

sus ta i nab le , and a re somet imes

contradictory (e.g. when MoFA promotes

mix ing compost ing with chemical

fertilisers).

The research has also identified various

power dynamics. In accordance with their

experiences, farmers exercise their power

to choose by deciding whether to adopt,

adapt or drop those practices. For instance, the urine project was not

adopted for logistic and cultural constraints while the nursery and

transplanting techniques was successful as the drilling of seeds in line allows

farmers to manage better their beds’ productivity. Other marketing

interventions, such as the management of kiosks, failed because of lack of

interest on the part of farmers in dividing their time between production and

post-production. Furthermore, the language used shows implicit value

judgments; for example, the IWMI composting experiment defines “good

practice” - that stands for the researcher’s - versus “farmers’ practices” and

MoFA representatives compare “proper” versus “primitive” agricultural

practices. Finally, more opportunities of access to credit have encouraged

individual investments in production equipment whereas previously those

goods would have been bought collectively and shared but “with people not

taking enough care or taking responsibility to repair”. This indicates that

collective power is not necessarily preferred by farmers because of practical

reasons.


Strategy 2: Increasing Farmer Power through Collaboration and Control over

Knowledge

Strategy Objectives

Through the exploration of Hypothesis 2, the data revealed that the farmers had

very little participation in the decision making process when it came to

determining which planned interventions would take place on the site. Therefore

the strategy objectives focus on the Dzorwulu Farmer’s Association collaborating

with other farmer’s associations, thereby increasing the amount of knowledge

sharing and dissemination of information that is currently happening. A second

objective is to increase the level of farmer participation and presence within

AWGUPA and MoFA, with particular attention paid to the decision making

process, specifically as it relates to planned interventions. An overall objective is

to raise awareness about UA and farmers’ problems and practices in the context

of Accra, and this could be facilitated by the Dzorwulu FA diversifying their

networks through increasing the number of stakeholders with whom they engage.

Additionally this diversification of networks could strengthen the farmers

negotiating capacity if some stakeholders would advocate on their behalf.

Strategy

The strategy that was devised to achieve the objectives would be implemented in three concurrent stages in the short and

long terms. Initially, a dialogue proposing a possible collaboration between the Dzorwulu FA and the Plant Pool FA would be

introduced. Through this engagement, the Dzorwulu FA would share organisational knowledge regarding the drafting of a

constitution, record keeping, enforcement of payment of dues, mechanisms for settling disputes, and establishing a regular

schedule of meetings.

The second step in the strategy is to form

an informal yet structured group involving

both farm sites with the purpose of

sharing, exchanging, and disseminating

knowledge. This knowledge would include

but not be limited to sharing of farming

practices, organisational and leadership

ski l ls, proposals for the col lect ive

purchasing of inputs, and concerns

regarding representation of farmers in the

urban areas. The group would also call for

more active participation by farmers in

AWGUPA, more meaningful interaction

with MoFA and their decision making

processes, and whatever else the farmers

would determine to be instrumental in their

development. Group visits to other UA

sites could lead to future collaborations and

a diversification of farmer networks and knowledge exchange opportunities, leading to more cohesion among urban farmers

in Accra. It would be necessary the group be formed in such a way as to be integrated into the cultural make-up of the two

communities; scheduling of meetings would be designed around tea or meal times or before or after prayers. This would

ensure regular attendance and not require any artificial time being imposed on the farmers’ schedules.


The final step in the strategy, and the most long term of the four stages, is to propose to the Greater Accra Cooperative

Vegetable Farmers and Marketing Union that they shift their focus from primarily economic concerns to emphasising the

importance of networking among urban farmers, knowledge sharing, and increasing presence and participation of farmers in

the decision making process at the city level. Farmers’ involvement in a larger, citywide, farmer led organisation would benefit

the farmers in their negotiating capacity, access to knowledge, and could lead to better representation in AWGUPA and

MoFA. Also, with a stronger presence, the farmers could expect better accountability from organisations and institutions and

improved communication and feedback that would assist in their knowledge sharing and dissemination capacity.

Action Plan


Dzorwulu FA meets

with Plant Pool FA to

share their

organisational

knowledge

0-6 months after PP

executive elections

Dzorwulu and Plant

Pool farmers

DZ – As mentors to

share their

experiences and

lessons learnt with PP

farmers to help build

their organizational

capacity

PP – As partners in

the process of learning

together and as future

collaborators

Time, association

records

Create an informal but

structured knowledge

sharing and

dissemination group

between the farmers

of the two sites

6-12 months Dzorwulu and Plant

Pool farmers

Both- As colleagues

who share knowledge

and practices,

functioning as

teachers and

students, building on

past experiences and

setting goals for the

future

Time, knowledge

Propose a shift in

focus by the Greater

Accra Cooperative

Vegetable Farmers

and

Marketing Union to

emphasize farmers’

networks, knowledge

exchange, and

increased presence in

decision making

process at the city

level.

Long term – after PP

has been organised

Dzorwulu and Plant

Pool farmers, Greater

Accra Cooperative

Vegetable Farmers

and

Marketing Union

DZ and PP – As a

cohesive group that

works together for

common goals but

retains separate

identities

The Union – As an

umbrella organisation

that is open to the

needs of its

membership and is

willing to adapt

accordingly

Time

Political commitment

People

Knowledge

Advocates





Dzorwulu FA meets with

Plant Pool FA to share their

organisational knowledge

Positive: PP builds their

organizational capacity and

DZ helps build a stronger

partner for future

collaboration.

Negative: PP duplicates

DZ’s organizational format

with no intention of

collaboration

Draft of a constitution for PP,

consensus on common

goals, records of payment of

dues, records of meeting

regularly (minutes)

DZ and PP Farmers, MoFA,

IWMI

Create an informal but

structured knowledge

sharing and dissemination

group between the farmers

of the two sites

Positive: Knowledge is

created, adapted, circulated

among the farmers and they

retain the control over it.

Practices are improved and

productivity is increased.

Negative: A knowledge

hierarchy is created and the

knowledge is controlled by

few

Record of attendance, notes

on topics discussed, notes

on shared practices and

innovations, record of

attendance at AWGUPA

meetings, written request to

attend MoFA planning

meeting


IWMI

Propose a shift in focus by

the Greater Accra

Cooperative Vegetable

Farmers and

Marketing Union to

emphasize farmers’

networks, knowledge

exchange, and increased

presence in decision making

process at the city level.

Positive: Farmers enjoy

better representation and a

stronger political voice

through a larger organization

and they are able to diversify

their knowledge sharing

network.

Negative: The needs of the

farmers are lost in the

context of an organization

with many diverse members

Membership in Greater

Accra Cooperative

Vegetable Farmers and

Marketing Union, record of

farmer presence at relevant

city planning sessions


IWMI


Hypothesis 3: Land Security

Because of the length of continuous land occupation in Dzorwulu, farmers do not perceive an immediate

threat of eviction; therefore there is a lack of strategies that would enhance their response to a positive

threat.

Diagnosis and FindingsThe land issue is one of the major problems related to UA in

Accra. The scarcity of spaces to cultivate, the lack of tenure

or security regarding the land and the absence of usufruct

rights have created fear among farmers who could lose the

area they farm at any time.

In Dzorwulu, farmers have been cultivating vegetables on 4

hectares of Institutional land owned by GRIDCO adjacent to

the power station and under the high-tension cables for

more than 35 years. Farming activity on the site first began

during the mid-1970s as a MoFa model farm (see site

description). After the project was terminated some of the

employees stayed and continued to farm the area, inviting

family and friends to cultivate on vacant land. Currently, the

site is divided among 31 farmers, with no land going

unused.

An informal agreement with GRIDCO to use the land exists

as a mutually beneficial relationship: from the GRIDCO

perspective, farmers are maintaining land that used to be

ove rg rown, c l ean ing the a rea and p reven t i ng

encroachments; from the point of view of the farmers, they

are cultivating the land as a means of livelihood. However,

farmers do not have any legal agreement with GRIDCO to

secure their presence in the area.This hypothesis was

elaborated based on the 2009 ESD Report which did not

explore the matter of land insecurity and attested that “a

perception of secure land tenure is shared by both the

farmers and government institutions such as MoFA and the

Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines”.

Although the farmers interviewed confirmed that they had

never had problems about cultivating the land, the research

revealed that most of them are aware of the vulnerability and

insecurity of the land. Dependent on where farmers are

cultivating on the site, they face the challenge of varying

levels of land insecurity (see map, fig. 8).


“I don’t feel secure. If someone comes and says go, I

am ready to go. Because land is small, I am looking

for a larger land outside Accra”

(Alhassan Idrissu)

The farmer’s association is presently looking to secure additional land in rural and peri-urban areas, but some farmers are

also searching individually to rent land outside Accra. As a result of the collective action towards securing more land, in

October 2010 a group of Dzorwulu farmers signed a MoU with Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, which allow the farmers

to cultivate atomic land in Legon near the University of Ghana; during the same period farmers were looking at renting private

land to farm in Bator outside of Accra.

Nevertheless, the current land situation of Dzorwulu farmers remains delicate: from the farmer’s perspective it has been very

difficult to secure land in Accra, as a result of the process of rapid urbanisation. As was by Dr. Larbi, Chief Executive of the

Land Commission, “UA is not considered an urban land use by the Commission.” In 2010 the farmers, with the support of

Enterprise Works, attempted to arrange a negotiation with GRIDCO with the goal of signing a MoU, but GRIDCO did not

attend. The workshop designed to bring the different stakeholders together was organised by RUAF and AWGUPA, but due

to the unwillingness of GRIDCO to negotiate, the process of clarifying the farmers’ status on the land was suspended.

Figure 8. Farmers are subjected to different levels of vulnerability due to threats of encroachment and eviction, as there are

different land use policies and regulations in place on the site: Red area: Buffer zone, legally protected from construction;

Green area: Outside buffer zone, legally not protected from construction; Blue area: Buffer zone, legally protected from

construction, but under caterpillar impacts from stream maintenance.


Strategy 3: Secure Usufruct

Rights in other Localities and

in Situ

Strategy Objectives

Having taken into account the findings and

diagnosis, three objectives have been set up: 1)

increase negotiation capacities of farmers on

issues of land and usufruct rights; 2) increase

farmers’ resilience through the development of a

safety net strategy; and 3) intensify the farmers’

collective voice by creating a network of

advocates. As farmers stated during interviews

and focus groups, if the land use were more

secure, they would be willing to invest more in

vegetation on the site, which would improve the

food production cycle within Accra.

Strategy

Based on the objectives, a two-step strategy is

proposed. The first step is to secure the usufruct

rights of land in other localities as a backup

strategy in the case of eviction; farmers would

look for alternative and additional land in rural or

peri-urban areas. Dzorwulu farmers have already

begun this process last October. It would be a short-term strategy to secure their livelihood. During the focus group, most

male farmers expressed their willingness to find additional land outside of Accra, because of more economic opportunities.

Looking at the socio-political dimension, securing additional land would strengthen their negotiating capacity to obtain

usufruct rights and increase farmers’ resilience by developing a safety

net strategy.

The second step of the strategy is to secure usufruct rights in situ.

The strategy mentioned in the section on Hypothesis 2 proposes that

farmers push the existing union to shift their focus from economic

activities to helping farmers build networks and knowledge sharing

capacities; this strategy suggests establishing a collaborative land

committee, which would involve support from more diverse

stakeholders, such as political advocates, non-governmental

organisations, and the media. For example, one potential partner

could be Land for Life. The Former Minister for Land, Mr Nartey,

explained that Land for Life has been encouraging farmers to secure

land through land regularisation. Land regularisation is one of the

proposals of Ghana’s Land Administration Project (LAP) which aims

to improve land governance at the national level, including land tenure

issues for agriculture. By strengthening collaborations amongst

various actors, the farmers would have a stronger voice in

negotiations with GRIDCO for obtaining usufruct rights.


Action Plan


Feasibility Study Long term, On-

going

Dzorwulu Farmers

MoFA

AMA

AWPUPA

RUAF

IWMI

Enterprise Works

Land for Life

LAP

CICOL

Coordinate opportunities for

networking and knowledge

sharing on land issues

amongst different

stakeholders

Research potentials of policy

and regulatory framework

Human resources, Finance

for researches, Technical

knowledge of land policies

Step1:

Develop a safety

net strategy by

securing the

usufruct rights of

land outside of

Greater Accra

3-6 months Dzorwulu Farmers

Land owners

Look for land in other

localities

Sign a document to allow

farmers to use land for

vegetation

Land, Financial resources,

Labour, Legal

documentation skills

Step2:

Establish a

collaborative land

committee

3-6 months to

establish, On-

going meetings

Dzorwulu Farmers

Delegates from other

FAs in Accra

Knowledge sharing

Document the shared vision,

goals, and timeline of the

committee

Search aggressively for

opportunities to secure land

for the groups

Strengthen the farmers’

negotiation capacities as a

collective voice

Active participation by each

actor, Financial input for

start-up

Regular meetings

Documentation in the form

of meeting records

Create and

strengthen the

connectivity

between

stakeholders

from

government,

communities and

private sector in

Accra

Long term, On-

going

Dzorwulu Farmers

MoFA

AMA

AWPUPA

RUAF

IWMI

Enterprise Works

Land for Life

LAP

CICOL

WIAD

FEDUP

Politicians

Media outlets

Organise meetings and

workshops to invite diverse

stakeholders to discuss land

issues

Propose political support in

discussion with GRIDCO

Disseminate the merits of

urban agriculture and its

insecure land issues through

media

Human resources, Network

with political advocates,

Financial input for media

campaigns



Negotiate with

GRIDCO upon

usufruct rights in

situ

6 months – Long

term

Dzorwulu Farmers

GRIDCO

MoFA

AMA

Organise meetings between

farmers and GRIDCO to

discuss land use issues and

potentials

Sign a document between

GRIDCO and farmers on

usufruct rights under the

observation of the third party

Human resources, Strong

incentives for negotiation,

Legal documentation skills

and knowledge





Step1:

Develop a safety net

strategy by securing the

usufruct rights of land

outside of Greater Accra

Create farmers’ resilience

and improve their livelihood

by increasing their incomes

Strengthen their negotiating

capacities on usufruct rights

for current land

Location and size of the

additional land

Increase of farmers’ income

Number of farmers who

secure additional land

Written contracts for land in

other localities

Farmers

IWMI

Enterprise Works

Land for Life

LAP

CICOL

Step2:

Establish a collaborative land

committee

Create opportunities for

farmers to share knowledge

and information

Strengthen the collective

voice of farmers

Approach to potential

advocates

A constitution of the

committee

Number of committee

members and FAs involved

Frequency of regular

meetings

Recording documents

Number of meetings with

potential advocates

Accountability of the

meetings

Farmers

MoFA

AMA

AWGUPA

RUAF

IWMI

Land for Life

LAP

CICOL

Create and strengthen the

connectivity between

stakeholders from

government, communities

and private sector in Accra

Support and disseminate

the farmers’ voice in public

Reflect farmers’ voices for

land use planning in Accra

Number of political

advocates involved

Number of contacts with

GRIDVO under the political,

private and public supports

Number of workshops for

land, organised by research

institutes and NGOs

Farmers

MoFA

AMA

AWGUPA

RUAF

IWMI

Enterprise Works

Land for Life

LAP

CICOL

Negotiate with GRIDCO

upon usufruct rights in situ

Secure usufruct rights for

farming in Dzorwulu

Increase farmers’ incomes

by more investments in

vegetation

Number of meetings

between farmers and

GRIDCO

Signed MoU between the

farmers and GRIDCO

Description in the MoU to

secure usufruct rights of

farmers

Farmers

MoFA

AMA

AWGUPA

RUAF

IWMI

Enterprise Works

Land for Life

LAP


Conclusion

The findings of the research have revealed the ways in which

flows of power, knowledge, and resources can create

interdependencies amongst the different stakeholders and

between the farmers and resources such as labour, water, and

chemical inputs. The most dramatic conclusion drawn from

the research findings was surrounding the farmers’

perceptions of the insecurity of their land tenure and assumed

land use rights. Their ongoing collective search to secure

additional land for cultivation and their previous attempt at

institutional negotiations for usufruct rights demonstrate their

organisational capacity and their ability to adapt to change and

respond to external shocks. Through the lens of UPE, it was

shown that the farmers in Dzorwulu engage with the urban

system with varying degrees of participation, sometimes exercising control over flows (labour, wastewater, collaboration),

and at other times being controlled from above (chemical inputs, water cuts, land insecurity, planned interventions, land

policy). The strategic recommendations address these peaks and valleys of power and weakness by showing how the

farmers can, through building on existing networks and organisational capacities, increase their control over flows of

knowledge, power, and resources, thereby creating conditions under which change can happen.

The flow of labour and the farmers’ control over it is an area that requires much more careful examination. The finding that

all of the labourers employed on the Dzorwulu site are boys aged 11 to 17 and have emigrated from rural Burkina Faso is

particularly interesting from the theoretical perspective of UPE since they represent a resource flow of labour into the

Dzorwulu site. This represents a complex set of interdependencies, which may be viewed simplistically as labour flowing into

the site, knowledge, power, and some natural resources circulating within the site, economic flows going in and out of the

site, and depending on the migration patterns of the labourers, knowledge and power could be flowing in and out of the site

as well. A critical examination of these flows of knowledge, power, and resources and the resulting interdependencies, and

their impacts on how the non-material resources evolve or devolve and how they impact those within their sphere of

influence could produce fascinating and socially important research.


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https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gh.html

Appendix

Appendix 1

App. 1a. Overview of Stakeholders Involved in Urban Agriculture in Accra

Stakeholder Description

Accra

Metropolitan

Assembly

(AMA)

AMA has a total land size of 200 square kilometres and is made up of 11 sub metropolitan districts

namely Ashiedu Keteke, Osu Klottey, Ayawaso East, Ayawaso Central, Ayawaso West (which consists

of five electoral areas: Abelemkpe, Dzorwulu, Roman Ridge/Airport Residential Area, Okponglo and

Legon), Ablekuma South, Ablekuma Central, Ablekuma North, Okai Koi South, Okai Koi North and La.

[http://ama.gov.gh/ama/page-5052/c_offset-0]

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly, like any other District Assembly is a corporate body and the highest

political and administrative arm of the Government at the local level. The full membership of the

Assembly is 104; of this, 70% are elected and 30% are government appointees. AMA oversees the:

• Metropolitan Education Department

• Metropolitan Public Health Department

• Waste Management Department

• Department of Food and Agriculture

• Town and Country Planning Department

• Metropolitan Works Department

• Metropolitan Planning and Co-ordination Unit

• As well as the above mentioned Sub-Metropolitan District Councils

[http://ghanadistricts.com/districts/?r=1&_=3&sa=3037]



Accra Working

Group on Urban

and Peri-Urban

Agriculture

(AWGUPA)

AWGUPA was constituted at the multi-stakeholder forum organised by the Accra Metropolitan

Assembly-Ministry of Food and Agriculture (AMA-MoFA) and IWMI-RUAF in 2005. AWGUPA

coordinated the implementation of a joint situation analysis on urban agriculture in Accra metropolitan

area and the multi-actor preparation of a City Strategic Agenda on urban and peri-urban agriculture.

AWGUPA member institutions:

Accra Metropolitan Authority:

• Department of Food and Agriculture,

• Planning and Coordination Unit,

• (Public-) Health Department,

• Town and Country Planning unit.

University of Ghana:

• College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences

• Department of Geography and Resource Development;

Furthermore: CSIR-STEPRI, IWMI-Ghana, Environmental Protection Agency-Accra, Ministry of Food

and Agriculture, Directorate of Extension, Enterprise Works, Ghana (NGO), Ghana Agriculture Workers

Union, New Times Corporation, Crop farmers Association, Livestock Farmers Association.

[http://www.ruaf.org/node/498]

Ayawaso West

Sub Metropolitan

District Council

West Ayawaso Sub-Metro is one of the eleven Sub-Metro District Councils of the Accra Metropolitan

Assembly. Dzorwulu electoral area is one of five electoral areas making up West Ayawaso Sub-Metro.

The Sub-Metro is made up of:

Administration Department, Treasury Department, Audit Unit, NADMO, Birth & Deaths Registry,

Metropolitan Guards Unit, Waste Management, Metro Health, Building inspectorate, and Roads Unit.

[http://ama.gov.gh/ama/page/5063/ayawaso-west--sub-metro]

The Civil Society

Coalition on Land

(CICOL)

The CICOL is a network of Civil Society Organizations working and advocating equitable land tenure

practices, policies and management in Ghana.

The goal of the workshop was to enhance the capacity of the participants to effectively advocate

equitable access; transparency; accountability and fairness in dealing with land rights and

administration for the marginalized and the poor in policy formulation.

http://www.modernghana.com/news/246681/1/cicol-school-stakeholders-in-upper-east-on-land-ri.html

Consultative

Group on

International

Agricultural

Research

(CGIAR)

The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) is a global partnership that

unites organizations engaged in research for sustainable development with the funders of this work. The

funders include developing and industrialized country governments, foundations, and international and

regional organizations. The work they support is carried out by 15 members of the Consortium of

International Agricultural Research Centers (one of which is IWMI) in close collaboration with hundreds

of partner organizations, including national and regional research institutes, civil society organizations,

academia, and the private sector. [http://www.cgiar.org/who/index.html]



Council for

Scientific and

Industrial

Research

(CSIR)

CSIR‘s mission is to generate and apply innovative technologies, which efficiently and effectively exploit

Science and Technology for socio-economic development in the critical areas of agriculture, industry,

health and environment and improve scientific culture of the civil society. Technologies developed will be

commercialized for Private Sector Development in Ghana and abroad.

[http://www.csir.org.gh/index1.php?linkid=79]

Department of

Cooperatives

The Department of Cooperatives exists to facilitate the development of vibrant cooperative and other

group enterprises that are capable of contributing positively to sustainable employment generation,

poverty reduction and community development. This is achieved through mobilization of the people to

form co-operatives, capacity building, policy implementation coordination, monitoring, evaluation, and

regulation based on the belief in effectiveness of group action.

• The main objectives of the Department are:

• To create an enabling environment for the operations of co-operatives and non-co-operative

groups.

• To facilitate the formation of co-operatives and other groups for employment generation and

poverty reduction.

• To build the capacity of co-operatives and other groups (Boards, Managers and Staff, Rank and

file members) for effective and efficient service delivery.

http://www.lmisghana.org.gh

Department of

Food and

Agriculture

In line with the Government’s policy on decentralisation, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture was

restructured by decentralising extension activities to the district level to facilitate grassroots participation

in the implementation of agricultural policies and programmes.

The decentralization programme took effect from the 15th of October, 1997 with the merger of the

following departments – Veterinary Services Department, Crops Department, Extension, Fisheries,

Animal Production, Plant Protection and Regulatory Services & Agricultural Engineering all coming under

one umbrella as District Agricultural Development Unit (DADU).

[http://ghanadistricts.com/districts/?r=1&_=3&sa=3037]

EnterpriseWorks/

VITA (EWV)

EWV, based in Washington DC is an international not-for-profit organization working to combat poverty

through economic development programs based on sustainable, enterprise-oriented solutions.

EWV reduces poverty and raises living standards in developing countries by identifying opportunities for

economic growth among small-scale businesses — increasing employment and incomes along the

entire value chain.

EWV has developed a proven, sustainable approach for promoting appropriate technologies, building

markets, expanding trade, and broadening access to financing, with an emphasis on irrigated

horticulture, tree crops, agro-processing, household energy, natural products, and potable water.

[http://www.enterpriseworks.org/display.cfm?id=2&sub=1]





Environmental

Protection

Agency (EPA)

The Environmental Protection Agency is the leading public body for protecting and improving the

environment in Ghana.

EPA‘s general objectives are:

• Create awareness to mainstream environment into the development process at the national,

regional, district and community levels;

• Ensure that the implementation of environmental policy and planning are integrated and

consistent with the country’s desire for effective, long-term maintenance of environmental

quality;

• Ensure environmentally sound and efficient use of both renewable and non-renewable resources

in the process of national development;

• Guide development to prevent, reduce, and as far as possible, eliminate pollution and actions

that lower the quality of life;

• To apply the legal processes in a fair, equitable manner to ensure responsible environmental

behaviour in the country;

• Continuously improve EPA’s performance to meet changing environmental trends and

community aspirations;

• Encourage and reward a commitment by all EPA staff to a culture based on continuous

improvement and on working in partnership with all members of the Ghanaian community

[http://www.epa.gov.gh/]

EPA has taken up issues of urban agriculture as defined in the City Strategic Agenda


Ghana Irrigation

Development

Authority (GIDA)

GIDA was mandated to perform all functions related to irrigation development, including co-operation

with health authorities to contain any water-related health problems that may arise out of an irrigation

project. Irrigation in the inner cities could be considered under informal irrigation and has not formed

part of the activities of GIDA.

[http://www.waterfoodecosystems.nl/docs/Wastewater/fh030624_GHANA_final.PDF]

Ghana Water

Company Limited

(GWCL)

GWCL is publicly owned and replaced Ghana Water and Sewage Cooperation (GWSC) in 1999. Today,

GWCL is responsible for urban water supply, whereas District Assemblies are responsible for sanitation.

The regulation of water supply has been shifted from the government to independent agencies: Public

Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) and the Water Resources Commission (WRC)

[http://www.gwcl.com.gh/aboutus.php]

The Institute of

Local

Government

Studies (ILGS)

The ILGS strives to be a centre of excellence for education, training, research, advisory, consultancy,

and information management services responding to demands of modern local governance in Ghana.

The Institute’s training and education services are intended to facilitate continuing professional

development for effective local governance in Ghana. Educational programmes tailored to suit the

requirements of local government functionaries and stakeholders and are conducted on-site as well as

through distance learning and experience-sharing events.

[http://www.ilgs-edu.org]


http://www.ilgs-edu.org

http://www.ilgs-edu.org


International

Water

Management

Institute (IWMI)

IWMI is a non-profit organisation and one of 15 international research centres supported by the

Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). IWMI's Mission is to improve the

management of land and water resources for food, livelihoods and the environment.

[http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/About_IWMI/Overview.aspx]

IWMI's sub-regional research portfolio focuses on efforts to reduce poverty and to provide improved

food security through sustainable and efficient agricultural water use. Related projects range from the

analysis of adoption factors for different farming technologies to basin-scale modelling, irrigation policy

development, understanding the relationship between malaria and irrigation, and identifying and

implementing health risk reduction measures for safer wastewater reuse. Projects are currently

distributed over five major research areas:

• Adaptive management strategies to address climate change

• Improving land and water management in agricultural river basins

• Identifying promising agricultural water management solutions

• Sustainable groundwater use

• Urban agriculture and resource recovery from liquid and solid waste

[http://westafrica.iwmi.org/iwmi-in-west-africa.aspx]

Lands

Commission

In December 2008, a new act was enacted and gazetted to establish a new Lands Commission to

integrate the operations of public service land institutions under the Commission in order to secure

effective and efficient land administration and to provide for related matters. The new Lands

Commission is made up of the Survey and Mapping Devision, Land Registration Devision, Land

Valuation Devision and the Public and Vested Lands Management Devision.

[http://www.ghanalap.gov.gh/index1.php?linkid=244]

Metropolitan

Planning &

Coordination Unit

The new Local Government Act 1993 (Act 462) section 46(3) established for each Assembly a District

Planning Coordinating Unit (DPCU). The DPCU or the Metropolitan Planning Coordinating Unit (MPCU)

is to serve as a Secretariat to the Metropolitan Planning Authority and to advise on planning,

programming, monitoring, evaluation and coordination of development plans, policies, programmes and

projects within the Metropolis.

[http://ama.gov.gh/ama/page/5116/planning]

Assists urban agriculture by building market infrastructure for farmers to sell their produce. It educates

and raises public awareness about urban agriculture and food safety.[RUAF, 2008]

Ministry of Food

And Agriculture

(MoFA)

The main goal of the Ministry is to create an environment for sustainable growth and development in the

Agricultural Sector including: Provision of food security, Supply of raw materials for industry, Creation of

employment, Reduction in poverty and the creation of wealth, Greater contribution of the sector to GDP

and the Generation of foreign exchange earnings. The Ministry has departments at the metropolitan,

municipal and district level

[http://www.mofa.gov.gh/]

MoFA reviewed the overall policy document „Food and Agriculture Sector Development

Policy“ (FASDEP), is now incorporating urban agriculture and expecting its urban departments (Metro,

districts and municipalities) to deal with urban agriculture.




Ministry of Local

Government

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development exists to promote the establishment and

development of a vibrant and well resourced decentralized system of local government for the people of

Ghana to ensure good governance and balanced rural based development.

This is being done by:

• Formulating, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and co-ordinating reform policies and

programmes to democratize governance and decentralize the machinery of government.

• Reforming and energizing local governments to serve effectively as institutions for mobilizing and

harnessing local resources for local national administration and development.

• Facilitating the development of all human settlements through community and popular

participation.

• Facilitating the promotion of a clean and healthy environment.

• Facilitating horticultural development.

• Improving the demographic database for development planning and management.

• Promoting orderly human settlement development.

• The Ministry believes in efficiency, effectiveness and transparency.

Focus on the above will be based on two divisions:

• Local government - Strong Structures, Revenue Mobilization and Collection, and Sanitation.

• Rural Development - Rural roads, Information and Communications Technology, Tourism and

Agric Processing.

[http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/republic/ministry.profile.php?ID=27]

Public Utilities

Regulatory

Commission

(PURC)

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission of Ghana is an independent body set up to regulate and

oversee the provision of the highest quality of electricity and water services to consumers.

PURC’s key tasks are to:

• Provide guidelines for rates to be charged for the provision of utility services.

• Examine and approve water and electricity rates;

• Protect the interest of consumers and provides of utility services;

• Monitor and enforce standards of performance for provision of utility services;

• Promote fair competition among public utilities;

• Receive and investigate complaints and settle disputes between consumers and public utility.

• Advise any person or authority in respect of any public utility.

[http://www.purc.com.gh/]

Resource Centre

on Urban

Agriculture and

Food Security

(RUAF)

The RUAF Foundation is an international network of resource centres on Urban Agriculture and Food

Security, which is made up of Partners representing eight defined regions of the world. International

Water Management Institute (IWMI) is the Partner representing Anglophone West Africa.

The mission of the RUAF Foundation is to contribute to urban poverty reduction, employment

generation, food security, participatory city governance and improved urban environmental

management, by creating enabling conditions for empowerment of male and female urban and peri-

urban farmers, developing the capacity of local authorities and other stakeholders and facilitating the

integration of urban agriculture in gender-sensitive policies and action programmes of local

governments, civic society organisations and private enterprises through participatory approaches.

[http://ruaf.iwmi.org/home.aspx]


http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/republic/ministry.profile.php?ID=27

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/republic/ministry.profile.php?ID=27


SWITCH SWITCH is an action research programme, implemented and co-funded by the European Union and a

cross-disciplinary team of 33 partners from 15 countries around the world. The SWITCH Consortium

represents academics, urban planners, water utilities and consultants. SWITCH aims to bring about a

paradigm shift in urban water management away from existing ad hoc solutions to urban water

management and towards a more coherent and integrated approach. The vision of SWITCH is for

sustainable urban water management in the 'City of the Future'. Accra is one of 12 cities in which

SWITCH has been involved in developing a vision for water, 30 to 50 years into the future.

[http://switchurbanwater.lboro.ac.uk/index.php]

University of

Ghana

The University of Ghana is a member of AWGUPA with involvement of the College of Agriculture and

Consumer Sciences and the Department of Geography and Resource Development.

In January 2011, the IWMI-RUAF Supported FStT project has commissioned two vegetable sales

outlets at the University of Ghana and at the Ministries. The launch was attended by Urban Agricultural

farmers from Dzorwulu, Plant Pool and Roman Ridge, Dean and lecturers of the College of Agric. and

Consumer Sciences, Representatives from MoFA-AMA, Enterprise Works Ghana, Department of

Cooperatives, IWMI and members of the general public.

[http://ruaf.iwmi.org/events.aspx]

Waste

Management

Department

(WMD)

One of the major tasks given to District Assemblies (or Metropolitan Assemblies) when they were

created was to manage the waste generated within their jurisdiction. They have created Waste

Management Departments (WMD) to manage their liquid and solid waste. In exercising the power

conferred upon them by section 79 of the Local Government Act of 1993, the DA‘s have made by-laws,

which help the WMD‘s to perform their functions. [http://www.waterfoodecosystems.nl/docs/

Wastewater/fh030624_GHANA_final.PDF]

The department has been decentralised to the eleven Sub-Metropolitan District Councils at Ashiedu

Keteke, Osu Klottey, Ayawaso East, Ayawaso Central, Ayawaso West, Ablekuma South, Ablekuma

Central, Ablekuma North, Okai Koi South, Okai Koi North and La. These offices are headed by a District

Cleansing Officer (DCO) and supported by Cleansing Guards.

[http://ama.gov.gh/ama/page/5122/waste-management]

Water Resources

Commission

(WRC)

The Water Resources Commission was established by an Act of Parliament (Act 522 of 1996) with the

mandate to regulate and manage Ghana’s Water Resources and co-ordinate government policies in

relation to them. The Act stipulates that ownership and control of all water resources are vested in the

President on behalf of the people, and clearly defines the WRC as the overall body responsible for water

resources management in Ghana. The Commission, which provides a forum for integration and

collaboration of different interests, is composed of the major stakeholders involved in the water sector.

[http://www.wrc-gh.org/]

Women in

Agriculture

Development

(WIAD)

Unit under the ministry of food and agriculture. Mission: To assist rural households and other women in

the agricultural sector to improve their standard of living through improved agricultural practices. Vision:

To improve access of women and other target groups to information, 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.

[http://mofafoodsecurity.wordpress.com/women-in-agriculture-development/]


http://mofafoodsecurity.wordpress.com/women-in-agriculture-development/%5D

http://mofafoodsecurity.wordpress.com/women-in-agriculture-development/%5D

App. 1b. Power-Interest Mapping


Appendix 2

App. 2a. Overview Field Methodology

Method Application

Participatory mapping 3

Transect walks 3

Focus groups 4

Unstructured interviews 5

Semi-structured interviews 3

Structured interviews 31

Video documentary 1

Market visits 2

Review of minutes from Association

meetings

1

App. 2b. Reasoning Behind the Choice of Methods Used

Question and answer sessions with the various stakeholder groups provided the research team with an opportunity to clarify

stakeholders’ level of involvement with, advocacy for, and influence on the Dzorwulu farmers as well as their organisational

beliefs.

The mapping exercises aimed at addressing the issues in the first and third hypotheses through the analysis of the spatial

dimensions of the site, highlighting differing levels of access to resources. The mapping also intended to graphically depict

the relationships between the farmers, the site, the infrastructure, and neighbouring institutions within the context of the site.

The maps produced through the exercises are to be given to the farmer’s association and used in whatever capacity the

farmers decide.

The aim of the focus groups was to gather information on the site, the farmers, and their practices for comparison with

secondary data already reviewed, and to engage the farmers in discussion on issues surrounding the three hypotheses. It

was anticipated that out of these discussions the underlying factors would emerge and possible strategies would be

devised. It was also expected that the power relationships within the farmer’s association would be revealed in the displayed

levels of participation or non-participation in these exercises.

The intentions behind the structured interviews with the members of the farmer’s association were to gather quantitative data

on the individual farmers and to acquire preliminary information on their farming practices. It was hoped that through the

analysis of the data correlations could be made and conclusions drawn regarding power relationships based on access or

lack of access to resources. The profiles produced by the structured interviews provided the research team with a tool

which they are able to give to the farmer’s association to enhance their organisational capacity.

While the main intention of the video was to document farmers’ perceptions of traditional rural farming practices and

conventional urban practices, the by-product of the video was the creation of a tool to enhance knowledge sharing among

farmers and stakeholders and a way to raise awareness on urban agriculture in Accra.

On two occasions, members of the research team helped farmers transplant vegetable seedlings, and while this was meant

only to be a gesture of gratitude towards the farmers for participating in the research, these actions assisted the team in

building rapport with the farmers and increased the team’s knowledge of the current practices.


The two market visits that were conducted by members of the research team were intended to confirm or challenge

assumptions based on previously reviewed secondary data and to provide deeper insight into power relations between

farmers and market traders as well as an understanding of how these relations affect the farmers’ position in the value chain.

The semi-structured interviews allowed the researchers to more fully explore issues raised in unstructured interviews and to

examine informant perceptions that would not necessarily have been shared in focus groups or unstructured interviews

where other people would have been present.

The unstructured interviews were conducted to collect general data to confirm and/or challenge previously gathered data

and to inform subsequent interviews.

The transect walks were intended to familiarise the research team with the site and offered the opportunity for them to begin

building rapport with the farmers. The walks also provided the team with a notion of the scale of the site and an initial

assessment of the spatial relationships and inherent advantages and disadvantages implicit in the first hypothesis.

Additionally, the walks began to reveal to the researchers the power dynamics at play on the site: between the farmers and

the institutions, between the farmers and the land, and between the farmers themselves.

App. 2c. Overview of Field Trip Activities

DATE ACTIVITIES & METHODOLOGY OUTCOMES

Mon. 10 May

(IWMI Day)

Plenary sessions

Presentation of each group

Feedback and Q&A from IWMI and facilitators

Meeting with our facilitator (Ms Eunice Agyarko,

a MoFA extension officer)

Received the grounded feedback and useful advices from

Rika, Larbi (IWMI), facilitators and DPU lecturers after the

presentation.

Eunice hinted us about the issues of management of

kiosks in Roman Ridge.

Tue. 11 May Field visit 1

Discussions with farmers in Roman Ridge and

IWMI (Mr Philip)

Profiling (Questionnaires and Photographs)

Transect walk 1 with a famer in Dzorwulu and

Alex

Transect walk 2 with a farmer, Philip and Eunice

Understood the issues of Roman Ridge with Kiosks and

research institutions

Learned the basic geographical and historical

backgrounds in Dzorwulu through transect walk

Conducted questionnaires and collected data for famers’

profiling

Wed. 12 May

(PLANNING

DAY)

Plenary sessions (Presentation and Q&A)

Millennium Village Project and Accra

Metropolitan Associate (AMA)

Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS)

Ministry of Local Government

Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic

Research (ISSER)

Grasped the main objectives and contexts of Millennium

Village Project, as well as the structures of AMA and Sub

Metro

Learned the New Local Governmental System in Ghana,

which emphasises decentralisation, and the 2010-2013

DMTDP-IN line with National Vision, which is under

GSGDA (Ghana Shared Growth and Development

Agenda).



Thu. 13 May Field visit 2

Weekly Dzorwulu FA meeting

Demonstration by IMWI (Mr Philip) how to wash

vegetables for selling them at kiosks

Demonstration of CHF (NGO)’s organic

composting on the site

Focus group 1 on Knowledge Systems &

Planned interventions

Focus group 2 on Land

Profiling (Questionnaires + Mapping +

Photographs)

Unstructured interviews with farmers


ZoomLion (ZL) (2 Waste Researchers and 1

Communication Employee)

Department of Cooperatives (DC) (Mr Nyarko)

Observed the weekly FA meeting

Learned how planned interventions (Kiosks and CHF’s

composting) are carried out in Dzorwulu

Grasped what types of planned interventions have been

carried out and their impacts on farmers’ practices

Understood the background of the site and farmers and

issues related to land

Mapped out all farmers’ plots

Conducted questionnaires and collected data for famers’

profiling

Learned about their inputs (seeds, fertiliser, pesticides,

etc.)

Learned about ZL’s Pilot compost project with CFH: at the

depot near plant pool, where the organic waste comes

from the households around, free compost to farmers

(during the pilot project), and the farmers will be trained to

do their own compost.

At the DC we found out that Dzorwulu farmers were

perceived as more organised than Roman Ridge: “they

are mature, enlightened and learned”.

Fri. 13 May

(LAND DAY)


Enterprise works (Mr Seth Mahu)

CICOL (The Civil Society Coalition on Land) (Mrs

Lillian Bruce, Co-ordinator))

Land for Life (Mr Nartey, Former Minister for

Land)

People’s Dialogue and Ghana Federation of the

Urban Poor

Learned about "“From Seed to Table” project,

establishment of kiosks, composting schemes,

constraints with access to credits, water quality and

piped water, and land security, particularly related to three

farmers’ groups (Dzorwulu, Plant Pool and Roman Ridge)

Grasped current land tenure issues in Ghana, the roles of

governments and on-going Ghana Land Administration

Project (LAP)



Sat. 14 May Morning meeting (Interview and Q&A)

Mr Philip from IWMI

Field visit 3

Profiling (Questionnaires + Photographs)

Interview with a staff from a NGO “Multi-Feature

and Capacity Enhancing Service”

Unstructured group interview and Q&A with

Fuseini and Olu

Unstructured interviews with individual farmers

Market visit 1

Market women’s association at Ozona Market

with Eunice

Visit to Eden Tree (NGO for credits) (Catherine)

Learned from Philip about more details upon SWITCH

projects and From Seed to Table (FStT) as well as piped

water systems in Dzorwulu

Collected information about markets women, farming

practices, credits, composting, planned interventions,

water-related problems, land tenure issues, FA, etc.

Learned about the NGO “Multi-Feature and Capacity

Enhancing Service”, which provides credits to certain

famers in Dzorwulu

Learned the organisation of a recent market women’s

association and their perception over urban agriculture

produce

Learned from Eden Tree that farmers need to have piped

water to access loans.

Mon. 16 May

(VALUE-

CHAIN DAY)

Market visit 2

Agbogbloshie Women Market Association with

Sowah

Plenary sessions

MoFA extension officer (Mr John Lovelace)

Department of Agriculture extensional services

(Mr Theophilas Osei Owusu, Deputy Director)

Women In Agriculture and Development (WIAD)

(Ms Paulina Addy, Executive Director)

Waste (Mr Blay, Director Waste Department

AMA)

Town and County Planning (Ms Gadys)

Planning Coordinating Unit, AMA (Mr Timothy

Oman, Director)

Learned the organisation of one of the largest market’s

association in Accra and their perception over urban

agriculture produce

Learned about MoFA’s training to promote more

technology in farming practices, regulations on fertilisers

and current conditions of promotion of organic farming

(sustainable farming practices).

Learned from Mr Theophilas about technical support of

NACE, started from 1993-94, such as trainings for

machinery and material supplies.

Learned from Mr Theophilas about issues of land,

assessment of water quality, on-going land survey with

the geographical specialist

Learned about IWMI’s trainings for female farmers, such

as appropriate processing after productions



Tue. 17 May Field visit 4

Unstructured group interviews with three women

farmers and Olu

Interview with a staff from Ghana Water

Company (bill delivery government officer)

Focus Group 3 with labourers

Focus Group 4 about monetised farming inputs

Collected more details about fertilisers/composting,

labourers, water, FA, kiosks, other alternative work (for

ladies).

Learned about water supply systems from Ghana Water

Company.

Learned from labourers about their backgrounds, salaries,

farming practices, their relation with market women, etc.

Learned about farmers’ incomes, yield, inputs (seeds,

water, fertilisers/composting), labourers, and asked what

they want to be changed in terms of farming.

Appendix 3

History of the Site and Flows of Power, Knowledge and Resources. 1970-2011

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 ! !!

First MoFA model farm !

SAPs/Trade and Currency Liberalisation/Real Estate and Infrastructure Development!

Change from planting traditional crops to more profitable foreign crops!

Usage of chemical fertilisers!

Decrease in the quality of water and increase in the amount of waste!

Decrease in the quality of soil due to chemical fertilisers!

Hiring of family/friends as farm helpers!

Hired foreign labour!

Expanded piped water system!

Farmers’ Association!

Regular planned interventions!

!Structural changes resulting in flows of knowledge, power, interdependencies and altered ecological flows!

Flows of knowledge and power that have affected practices and ecological flows that have resulted in environmental degradation!

Flows of power resulting in the marginalisation of groups in the society!

Flows of power strengthening capacity!

Flows of knowledge influencing farmer practices!

Farming continued informally on land owned by GRIDCO!


Appendix 4

Visualisation of Strategy 1 - Closing the “Water Loop“

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26)26(0'7$8&'()$+,/-0'64'7$0'$6$9'6:$/,),/5&0/$

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),(0-,'+64&'$

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,>8&)3/,$+&$+;,$'6+3/6:$,'50/&'-,'+$?35@$&>*7,'#@$-6>0-0<0'7$/,+,'4&'$4-,)@$8:6'+)$6'($'6+3/6:$8/,(6+&/)$

A"#$.&:6/$83-8$B$)+&/67,$+6'C$

%3-8$0)$8&D,/,($=*$6$26/=&'E1/,,$6'($)3)+60'6=:,$

,',/7*$)&3/2,$

.0-8:,$6'($/&=3)+$)*)+,-@$D;02;$,')3/,)$+;6+$

-60'+,'6'2,$0)$-0'0-6:$6'($),/502,$&/$/,860/)$26'$=,$2&'(32+,($=*$+;,$16/-,/)$

+;,-),:5,)$

F&'',2+,($+&$,:,56+,($)+&/67,$+6'C$

G"#$H/650+*$=6),($(/08$0//0764&'$)*)+,-$

I/08$0//0764&'$(,:05,/)$D6+,/$?6'($1,/4:0<,/#$(0/,2+:*$+&$+;,$

/&&+)$&1$8:6'+)$%/,(02+,($D6+,/$)650'7)$&1$38$

+&$JKLMKN$O,/4:0<,/@$8,)420(,@$6'($:6=&/$)650'7)$&5,/$2&'5,'4&'6:$

0//0764&'$)*)+,-)$

URBAN AGRICULTURE - ACCRA - DPU - ESD 2011

DZORWULU

Appendix 5

Hypothesis 1: Analysis of stakeholders and motivation

Stakeholder Motivation

Farmers Reduction in pathogens, reduction in chemical inputs (lower cost), reduction in labour

Labourers Initially more opportunity for employment during the pond-building stage, but less demand for

labour after system is installed

NOV Mono Financial, can be used as an example when trying to sell for use in UA

IWMI Can be studied as a potential solution to the wastewater issue

Can be seen as a way to promote UA in the city

MoFA Using project as an example for waste water usage as a model for other UA sites within

Accra


Appendix 6 Overview of Planned Interventions Taking Place in Dzorwulu since 2006

External

interventions in

Dzorwulu

Actors Date What Results

Research on soil and

water quality

IWMI 2006 N.A. N.A.

Farmer field school on

integrated pest

management

MoFA 2006 N.A. N.A.

Research on compost

and Neem extract

using lettuce as a test

crop

MoFA 2007 N.A. N.A.

Demonstrations on the

correct use of agro

chemicals

MoFA 2007-2009 To apply the right amount at the

appropriate time

N.A.

Research on using

urine as a fertilizer

IWMI 2009-2010 Field trials (compare the effects of

urine coupled with NPK, faeces

or poultry manure on the yield of

cabbage); Provide training and

sensitise farmers and extension

officers for the topic

Not adopted. Logistics and

cultural barriers. The first run was

successful, however the second

one during the dry season

showed negative impacts on the

productivity. After termination of

the trials, the practices were not

taken up by any of the farmers

Capacity building on

group strengthening

Dept. of

Cooperatives

, funded by

Enterprise

Works

2009 N.A. N.A.

Kiosks Enterprise

Works,

funded by

IWMI

2010 -

onwards

Improve the Dzorwulu, Plant Pool

and Roman Ridge farmers’

position in the value chain by

training them to market their own

produce and to create an

additional and stable marketing

channel. 30% of each sites’

produce were aimed to be sold

through the kiosk

On-going. Only 5 % of the

vegetables produced at

Dzorwulu are being sold to the

kiosk at present. The farmers are

not managing the marketing

themselves.

Composting

experiment

RUAF-IWMI February

2011

Compare “farmers practices” and

“good practices” of use of

composted and non-composted

poultry manure in terms of

pathogen contamination and

yields

On-going

Composting

demonstration and

trials

CHF May 2011 Provide farmers with a sample of

the compost and offer work

opportunities at the composting

plant in exchange for compost

N.A.


External

interventions in

Dzorwulu

Actors Date What Results

Fungicide, Herbicide

and Insecticide trials

Israeli input

dealer,

Dissengulf

March 2011 Provide farmers with a free

samples of the products for

marketing purposes

N.A.

Nursery and

transplanting

techniques

FstT-RUAF N.A. Training on sowing seeds and

transplanting techniques to

improve the yields, reduce the

amount of seed waste and

enable farmers to facilitate easy

crop counts

Adopted. Farmers combined it

with their conventional practices

and came up with new

outcomes. Farmers can count

the number of products from the

beds more easily. That provides

more clarity about their future

incomes.

Intercropping and crop

rotation

MoFA N.A. Introduce natural pest control and

preserve soil quality

Partially adopted

Demonstration of safe

vegetable washing

and handling

IWMI On-going N.A. N.A.

Credits, loans Multi-

features

capacity

enhancing

services

---------------

Eden Tree

2010-2014

(5 year

project)

N.A. The credits allow farmers to buy

their personal equipment

(pumps, pesticide canisters etc.).

Previously, farmers borrowed

money from customers, which

had led to problems, so farmers

appreciate the new system.


Appendix 7


Actor Motivation

Dzorwulu Farmers To increase their control over how their knowledge is created, shared, disseminated, and

used.

To increase their control over how and which interventions are chosen for their site

To improve their capacity for negotiating with institutions and other stakeholders

Plant Pool Farmers To improve their organizational capacity thereby improving their efficiency

Greater Accra Cooperative

Vegetable Farmers and

Marketing Union

To gain more political power through increased membership

MoFA To simplify MoFA-farmer interactions and reduce overall Ag Extension Officer workloads.

IWMI To fulfil part of their aims and objectives to support UA

To simplify the coordination of planned interventions across multiple farm sites and reduce

duplication

Appendix 8


Actor Motivation

Dzorwulu Farmers

Association and Farmers

Secure land tenure

AWGUPA/RUAF, IWMI Fulfil part of their aims and objectives to support UA

MoFA Demonstrate the case as a blueprint to show the potentials for UA

GRIDCO. Benefit from more responsibilities of famers to take care of the site

Political advocates Support UA as their political platform

Media (Radio, Television,

Newspaper, Magazines,

etc.)

Pursuit social ethics and disclose the accountabilities

Enterprise Works Continue the negotiation process with GRIDCO

Land for Life, Ghana’s LAP

(Land Administration

Project), CICOL (The Civil

Society Coalition on Land)

Fulfil part of their aims and objectives


Documents

Promoting sustainable urban and peri-urban agriculture in greater Accra, Ghana: Dzorwulu case study