EfD Ghana organized a workshop to train farmers on climate change. It was held near farming communities in the Eastern Region of Ghana and delivered in simple non-technical language using a blend of English and vernacular. The workshop gave the farmers and community leaders knowledge on new evidence-based climate information and adaptation strategies.
“Today, I’ve learned about new ways to better manage rice straws on my farm to reduce my impact on the environment and make a positive contribution to climate action,” says Mr. Charles Tetteh Hombey, a rice farmer.
Reduce negative environmental impact
“A beneficial workshop that has opened my eyes to the negative environmental impacts of some of our practices. I look forward to sharing lessons with my farmworkers and other women,” adds Madam Regina Mensah, a rice farmer, and a women’s group leader.
The workshop was held on 16th December 2021 at the conference hall of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD), in Somanya in the Eastern Region of Ghana. It featured three main presentations, with speakers addressing sub-themes on climate change.
Two-way learning by researchers and farmers
ISSER Senior Research Fellow, Dr. Simon Bawakyillenuo gave a presentation on Farmers’ vulnerability to Climate Change and the implications for their adaptive capacities, while UESD lecturers Dr. Ishmael Lente and Dr. Peter Asare Nuamah respectively spoke on Information puts “smile” on faces of farmers, and Scaling up climate-smart agriculture practice amidst Climate Change in smallholder agriculture systems. Also, Prof. Anthony Amoah, a Senior Research Fellow of EfD Ghana and Acting Dean of the School of Sustainable Development at UESD made brief remarks on the subject.
This was followed by experience sharing by farmers and open discussions during which participants – including the Municipal Chief Executive for the area, chiefs, representatives from the local unit of the Ghana National Service, farmers, and leaders of farmers’ groups – engaged actively in the workshop, enriching discussions with their experiences of climate change.
Regina Mensah expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to engage with researchers, adding: “We look forward to regular engagements of this kind to give us access to the information we need to help improve our livelihoods while protecting the environment.”
The workshop was organized as a joint activity by EfD Ghana, ISSER (Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research), and UESD.
