Chemicals

Problem definition Over the years, farm outputs/yields have declined considerable due to increasing poor soil quality on the farmlands. The soils in the area are predominantly of Toje series (Cambisols), Aveime-Zipa series (Luvisols) and Nyigbenya Soil Associations (Gleysols) which are highly leached, and deficient in nitrogen and phosphorus and have low nutrient reserves. among others. Although these soils are suitable for the cultivation of food crops (cassava, maize, millet, sorghum, tomatoes, pepper, okra, water melons, etc) and cash crops (cashew, mangoes, pineapples and cotton), the low nutrient levels has led to low yields. To improve farm output, the farmers resort to the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides for soil nutrition and pest control, respectively. Over the years the farmers have realized that the net benefit has not been significant in economic as well as environmental terms. Farmers continue to apply greater quantities of fertilizer in order to maintain farm yields as the soil conditions continue to deteriorate and fertilizer components leach into the surrounding environment. This farming practice continues to impoverish the soil and pollute the general environment including lagoons and streams downstream. The net result is that the farmers spend more money to produce the same quantity of food crop leading to economic loss. The farmers have also noticed that farm products arising from chemically treated soils have shorter shelf-life or storage period and are less valued on the market. Farmers in the area have realized the need to adopt alternative means to improve farm yields while improving and maintaining the soil integrity. Producing crops with high market acceptability is also important to these farmers. They have therefore considered the possibility of venturing into farming which applies organic inputs as fertilizers with little or no chemical fertilizers. The farmers are convinced that this approach will change their economic fortunes while protecting lands on which their livelihood depends. The need to process organic wastes such as livestock (cattle, goats/sheep, pig and poultry manure) as well as household and market wastes into compost for use as fertilizer and soil conditioner on farms has been identified as an alternative to the use of chemical fertilizer. Also identified is the production of biogas as alternative domestic energy source. Under this project, natural plant products (neem plant, which is abundant in the area) will be processed for the control of pest on the farms. The principle underlying this project is to use the abundant local resources (organic waste) which otherwise go waste for soil enrichment and conditioning for increased crop yield and for the production of energy for domestic use (heating, lighting, etc.). Also, there will be less reliance on chemical pesticides as there will be the processing of natural plant parts into plant pesticides to be used to control pests on the farm. 2.3 Project Objectives The goal of the project is to process and utilize organic waste materials into useful organic fertilizer for increased farm yield, improved crop quality, and domestic energy supply for poverty reduction and maintenance of environmental integrity. Specific Objectives The project seeks to: i. train farmers to collect, sort and harness organic waste for compost production process plants into pesticides ii. support farmers to apply improve soil nutrients and soil conditioning for better crop yield Project strategy and description of activities This project consists of setting up of a demonstrative composting facility at Osaekrodua for training of environmental entrepreneurs in the conversion of organic waste into good quality compost. The Plant Model: The project aims at an area or a cluster, or a village) which shall have a population of 5,000 people covering 1000 households including commercial establishments. Considering a waste generation of 400 grams of per capita, around 1 tonnes/day of MSW shall be generated for utilization into composting and recovering as recyclable waste. 1. Approach and Methodology Step 1: Awareness creation and setting up of environmental entrepreneurs in the pilot communities. The project will mobilize all the stakeholders and community members within the area and encourage them to form groups of 10 members each. These groups would be registered under the project and given special training in waste management. The groups shall be encouraged to motivate and engage the public in continuous public awareness campaigns based on a public IEC strategy. Activities will, for instance, include promotion of the RRR-slogan reduce, reuse, and recycle advertisement on publicity boards, on local FM radio channels, and in local newspapers, as well as workshops, exhibitions, lectures, street plays, etc. They will form and maintain eco-clubs at schools and youth groups together with volunteers. The Enviro-entrepreneurs would undertake the following activities: 1. Educate the public on how to segregate waste at source into biodegradable (wet) waste and non-biodegradable (dry) waste. The non-biodegradable (dry) waste shall thereafter be segregated into recyclables, non-recyclables, and domestic hazardous waste; 2. Supply two containers to households (free of charge) in different colors for the wet and the dry waste respectively; 3. Inform the public about the daily door-to-door waste collection and handing over of the waste

Ghana