The School of Agriculture at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) has in collaboration with the Department of Agric in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipality in the Central Region, trained some 25 vegetable farmers in the constituency on heat resilient crops and how to nurse seeds.

The training program which saw farmers schooled on how to increase yields, equally had farmers taught on how to turn farm level wastes into organic compost (fertilizers) to be used on their crops.

The training dubbed 'increasing small holder vegetable farmers resilience to climate change' is a DANIDA (Danish Government) sponsored fruit bunch project which has tertiary institutions like the University of Cape Coast, University of Ghana and the Aarhus University of Denmark as its coordinators.

In the midst of the present global climate challenges which seeks to have a toll on farmers and their farm produce, the project seizes to create a sustainable avenue for farmers to grow vegetable seedlings and cultivate bountifully no matter the weather condition.

Speaking in an interview with Sompa TV's Eric Annan after the training, Dr. Alexander Tetteh Kwasi Nuer, a Senior Researcher to the project, a Senior Lecturer and an Agribusiness Expert at the Agric Economics and Extension of UCC recounted the fruit bunch project to have started some four (4) years ago, as the vegetable farmers were first trained in June 2024.

Dr. Tetteh Nuer noted with pleasure that together with the KEEA Agric Department and the farmers, a demonstration (Demo) field has been acquired at Ankaful to be used as practicing grounds for the farmers on that which they have been taught throughout the training session months back.

He again shared excitement over the fact some farmers have already started putting their knowledge acquired from the training into use on their various farm lands.

Ms. Margaret Quarm, Officer in charge of Women in Agriculture at the Department of Agric in the KEEA Municipality, expressed appreciation to organizers of the training for the partnership and the indepth knowledge impacted onto the farmers on types of soil and the particular crop to sow at whatever period or time, which to her will be of immense help to the farmers.

Some of the farmers in a sense of gratitude, shared excitement over their knowledge acquired from the training which to them will increase their produce in the upcoming years by promoting healthy food production through the application of organic compost and also enhance an efficient waste management skill.

Additionally, they observed not to waste much in purchasing seeds for sowing, having been taught how to nurse seeds themselves at the training.

The training which witnessed 40 participants, saw all 15 staffs of the KEEA Agriculture Department getting trained together with the 25 selected vegetable farmers.

These staffs were intentionally added to the training with the aim of transferring the knowledge acquired from the training to other farmers within the constituency who didn't get the opportunity to partake in the training.

Sompaonline.com/Eric Annan