Five (5) districts in the Upper West region are currently benefitting from the final stage of the second phase of the 1Household 1Garden Project. The districts include, Duffiama Bussie Issa, Nadowli, Sissala East, Sissala West and Wa East.
A Visually impaired dry season farmer in Bouti in the Sisaala West District has eulogies Agrihouse Foundation and its partners for the one house, one garden project, emphasizing that, dry season farming is their main source of livelihood, especially during the dry season.
According to Baba Sidiki Kouro Moah his family feed from the vegetable farm and sells some for the children’s school expenses. Indicating his wife even sells some of the crops for his regular medications.” However, like Oliver twist” he used the opportunity to appeal for more fence to keep animals from away their gardens.
On the part of another beneficiary, Afusata Yahaya said dry season gardening came together for them as a blessing and the one household, one garden will help alleviate their challenges. She said hitherto they depend on seasonal farming and before the next season comes, they had spent all of their capital.
Meanwhile, the Unit Committee Chairman of the Bouti electoral area said the support given to the women will help in eradicating poverty and empower the women farmers.
The Regional Manager for Action for Community Development Hudu Muoh thanked Agrihouse Foundation and its partners for the support. He assured the team that, the support and knowledge that impacted them will be put to practice and transferred to their children.
In a press statement, Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, revealed that, over 600 beneficiaries in the Northern and North-East Regions respectively, have directly benefitted from the initiative in the past year.
The beneficiary districts included Tempane District, Daffiama Bussie Issa, Nadowli, Sissala East, and Sissala West. The rest are Wa East, East Mamprusi, Mamprugu Moagduri, Mion, Sagnarigu, Nanton, Gushegu, Karaga, Yendi Municipal, Bawku Municipal, Bawku West and Garu in the Upper East.
While indirectly, the 1H1G project has benefitted about 7200 beneficiaries, she said, Agrihouse and partners are pleased and motivated therefore committed to ensuring that 1H1G continues to contribute significantly to food security and nutrition in the districts, by providing direct access to fresh healthy foods for households.
“We are excited to know that the project is not only contributing to bridging the gap between food insecurities and global shocks, but also enhancing food nutrition in homes across the northern regions,” she said.
Beneficiaries like Rabbi Mohammed, a physically challenged woman residing in Gushegu has described the project as “life-saving,” adding that, the training has improved her knowledge in farming, also helped her to provide for her family, because of the recent increase in her vegetable production and income.
From the Nalerigu Community, Lamisi Moses, a visually impaired woman has noted that the training will enable her to save more money, since she will be cultivating and harvesting her own vegetables going forward, and will be able to sell the excesses in the market.
Chief Abukari, a visual impaired man participated in the project intending to use the produce for personal consumption. He grew garden eggs and cabbage and had a successful harvest. After using what he needed, he was able to sell the remaining garden eggs.
The 1H1G project makes room for beneficiaries to undergo weeks of intensive training in vegetable backyard farming, preparation of organic manures, neem pesticide oil. They are further supported with 11 vegetable seeds and seedlings (Okra, bra, Lettuce, alefu, Chili/ Green pepper, garden eggs) as gardening starter packs.
In view of these successes, Ms. Akosa expressed the hope that government, through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) will consider partnership with Agrihouse Foundation, to scale-up implementation across the sixteen (16) regions of the country.
“We are hoping that in the near future government will consider a partnership with Agrihouse Foundation that will scale–up the project to cut across the sixteen (16) regions. Already, the initiative is triggering and reviving a national interest in backyard gardens. We are certain that a nation collaboration with government will scale up interests even more.”
She said presently, Agrihouse is working with key stakeholders on the project, to empower rural smallholder farmers and households, particularly in the northern regions. With technical assistance from District Extension Officers, the wheels of Agrihouse Foundation will drive the initiative’s mission through these districts for public engagement and sensitization on backyard gardening,” she added.
The ‘One Household One Garden’ has over the past two (2) years been funded by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), with funding from USAID- Feed the Future Program.
