Trax Ghana Gender officer, Miss Barikisu Iddrisu completed a 3-month practical training in Akomadan in the Ashanti region on the use of greenhouse technology for farming.
One of the major challenges facing agriculture in Ghana is attracting young people to the profession, who are deterred by the outdated farming methods. Greenhouse technology, which is a fast-developing system of vegetable production, seeks to stem the flow of graduates from the sector. The course is intended to equip beneficiaries with hands-on techniques on how to use agro-technology for sustainable farming and as part of the government’s larger plan to train entrepreneurs in agriculture especially the high value end of production; mainly fruits and vegetables to support the development of the sector and the transformation of the economy. The training programme is collaboration between the government of Ghana under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and Agritop Ghana, an Israeli company and operators of the greenhouse villages in the country.
The training equipped participants with the knowledge, attitude, practice and skills needed to manage a farm business efficiently. The well-structured curriculum covers: land preparation, nursery management, transplanting, irrigation, fertilization, crop protection, agro-techniques and post-harvest among others. Special emphasis was placed on the production of high-value vegetables like tomato, cucumber and sweet pepper. A certificate was issued after successful completion of the part-theoretical/part-practical program.
According to Barikisu, the 3-month course has changed her mind-set on the concept of farming. She is currently looking for suitable production area and logistics support to apply the knowledge and skills gained in the value end commercial production of organic healthy vegetables with the involvement of women for local employment generation, stable source of income and poverty alleviation.
Trax Ghana 