Farmers urged to grow more with less as horticulture project promotes climate-smart methods

A young farmer from Asante Mampong says his confidence in agriculture has been renewed after seeing how simple technologies can improve vegetable production, highlighting the potential of practical training to change how farming is done in Ghana.

Obiri Yeboah Daniel had considered venturing into farming but was uncertain about how to begin. A visit to a demonstration farm under the Agricultural Colleges for Horticulture Innovation (ACHI) Project in Ejura exposed him to techniques he had previously only heard about.

“I have learned a great deal this morning,” he said, describing his first practical experience with drip irrigation, sprinklers and plastic mulch, which helps retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.

“When I return home, I will share what I have learned with others, especially members of my cooperative, and encourage them to adopt these innovative farming practices,” he added.

His experience reflects the approach of the ACHI Project, which is working with agricultural colleges, farmers and industry partners to bridge the gap between classroom instruction and the demands of commercial horticulture.

Supported by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), the four-year initiative, running from 2024 to 2028, is implemented by TU Delft and Holland Greentech in collaboration with five agricultural colleges in Ghana.

The project aims to equip students, graduates and farmers with practical production skills, business knowledge and access to improved technologies to help build a more productive and profitable horticultural sector.

Producing more from smaller plots

For farmers operating with limited land and resources, the project promotes methods intended to make better use of available water, improve crop quality and reduce avoidable losses.

At the demonstration farm in Ejura, participants were introduced to drip irrigation, plastic mulch, hybrid seeds and sticky traps used in integrated pest management.

Rather than relying solely on classroom explanations, trainees are assigned plots where they can practise the techniques and observe how the different technologies work together.

Programme manager at Holland Greentech, Deborah Anobil, said the objective was to ensure participants left with the confidence and skills to apply what they had learnt on their own farms.

“With the right technologies and practices, farmers can produce more from less land and increase their income,” she said.

According to Deborah, farmers who combine efficient irrigation with improved seeds and good agricultural practices can improve yields and produce better-quality vegetables with a longer shelf life.

The approach challenges the assumption that increasing production must always involve cultivating more land. Instead, it places emphasis on using available resources more efficiently.

For smallholder farmers, however, adopting these methods will depend on whether the technologies are affordable, accessible and suitable for their individual farming conditions. The project’s practical demonstrations offer an opportunity to assess their usefulness before applying them more widely.

From agricultural education to enterprise

The initiative also seeks to address a longstanding challenge for young people entering agriculture by turning technical knowledge into a sustainable source of income.

At Ejura College of Agriculture and Mechanisation Centre, students gain experience in irrigation, crop production, harvesting, grading and marketing.

A student and farm manager at the ACHI Garden, Elizabeth Aboagyewa Amoah, said the farm provides a practical learning environment for students who arrive with limited experience of modern production methods.

“We teach them how to use drip irrigation lines, sprinklers, and other irrigation facilities,” she said.

After harvesting, the farm’s produce is sorted and graded, while records are kept and vegetables distributed to markets in Kumasi and elsewhere.

The process exposes students to activities beyond cultivation, including quality control, record-keeping and marketing — skills that are essential to running a commercial farm.

The project’s training also includes business planning, financial management, production cost analysis and marketing. Students taking part in a four-month training programme are introduced to entrepreneurship and business pitching to help them develop commercially viable ventures.

Anobil said some graduates had already established businesses in produce aggregation and other areas of the horticultural value chain.

The wider ambition is to encourage young people to build enterprises not only in crop production but also in logistics, storage, aggregation and post-harvest management.

These activities could create opportunities for graduates who may not have the land or capital to establish large farms of their own, while helping address weaknesses in the movement and handling of fresh produce.

Taking the lessons beyond the demonstration farm

The ACHI Project’s model extends beyond agricultural colleges through demonstration plots, lead farmers and farmer field days.

The project reports that 85 demonstration plots have been established and 115 farmer field days organised, reaching more than 5,000 farmers. Over 900 participants have received training in improved horticultural practices and related skills.

The field days allow farmers to observe technologies in use, exchange experiences and consider how improved practices might work under their own conditions.

For the approach to deliver lasting benefits, the knowledge gained at demonstrations must translate into changes on farms. Continued access to suitable equipment, technical advice and markets will be important in determining whether farmers can sustain those changes.

His response points to one way agricultural knowledge can spread: through farmers learning from one another and adapting practical methods to local needs.

Principal of the Ejura College of Agriculture and Mechanisation Centre, Dr Bright Akoto, said agricultural education needed to go beyond theory.

“Addressing these challenges requires innovation, practical training, and the adoption of modern agricultural practices,” he said.

He identified low productivity, climate variability, post-harvest losses and limited access to improved technologies among the challenges facing farmers.

The project’s emphasis on water-efficient irrigation, improved production techniques and integrated pest management is intended to help farmers respond to some of these pressures while improving the quality and commercial value of their crops.

Its focus on entrepreneurship and the wider horticultural value chain also recognises that higher production alone may not guarantee better livelihoods if farmers struggle to store, transport or sell their produce.

The longer-term goal is to strengthen agricultural colleges as centres of practical learning, prepare graduates for employment and enterprise, and encourage investment and commercial partnerships between Ghanaian and Dutch businesses.