Northern Ghana Food Security Resilience Project (NGFSRP)

During the 2011 cropping season, the NGFSRP supported 6,988 farmers with maize seeds (18.82 tons), groundnut seeds (8.37 tons), NPK (496.4 tons) and Sulphate of Ammonia (246.7 tons). The beneficiary farmers were made up of 2,113 new farmers and 4,875 old farmers whose in-kind repayment were monetized to procure agro-inputs and services for them. The success of the repayment concept introduced into the project implementation as a sustainability measure enabled some beneficiary farmers to increase their acreages from one (1) acre to two acres and others to three acres.

The farmers were trained in good agronomic practices and marketing, group development. HIV and AIDS prevention messages were also disseminated
among the farmers. 7887 farmers also received training in Postharvest and value chain service

Project Impacts:

Final project evaluation in August, 2011 indicated the following:
• Crop yields increased by 300-400%. Farmers increased their yields from 3 bags/ acre to 8-12 bags/ acre. Best farmers reached 15 bags/ acre (about 500% increase);
• Household hunger months were reduced from 3-4 months to 1 month in the year;
• Household income increased by an average of between 17% and 47%;
• Improved coping strategies to food insecurity were applied by targeted household; and
• The project aired 12 hours of radio programmes and two-30 minutes video documentary
highlighting the techniques that can improve food security in the targeted
areas. Over 70% of farmers in the project catchment area were reached through these radio programmes.

• Training farmers in primary processing led to an increased price/kg of maize of between 17.6% and 47%. For example, whilst at the time of sale of farmers pay-back maize price at Tamale market was GH¢ 34.00 per 100 Kg, project clients were able to sell their pay-back produce at between GH¢40.00 and GH¢50.00 per 100 Kg of maize;
• About 700 Volunteer Extension Workers were trained and equipped to continue
to provide extension services support to their communities;