To strengthen grassroots efforts in managing crop pests and diseases, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), organized a two-day Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop for selected Agricultural Extension Agents (AEAs) and community radio personnel in Tamale.
As part of the European Union-funded Food Security Response in Northern Ghana project, the training aimed to build the capacity of frontline communicators and agricultural advisors to deliver timely, practical guidance to farming communities, especially those cultivating maize and groundnut, two of Ghana’s most important staples. The workshop brought together agricultural extension agents from the Savanna, North East, and Upper East regions, as well as media personnel from four community radio stations that host popular agricultural education programmes.
“This training has equipped me with practical tools to identify common pests and diseases and respond quickly. I now feel more confident in supporting farmers to make better decisions and protect their crops,” said Moses Dutt a MoFA Agricultural Extension Agent from Bunkpurugu Nakpanduri District.
Participants were taken through the identification and diagnosis of maize and groundnut pests and trained in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approaches. The sessions combined technical briefings with participatory methods, including group discussions, hands-on demonstrations, and video presentations. Participants were also introduced to AI-driven tools for identifying, mapping, and reporting outbreaks of pests and diseases in both crops and farm animals.
An app used for identifying crop diseases and treatments.
Alfred Kutajera, a radio presenter from Nabinaa Radio in Kassena Nankana West District, one of the project’s beneficiary districts, emphasised the impact of the training: “There is a lot of misinformation among farmers on pests and diseases, and this workshop has provided me with the right information to disseminate through radio.”
The training is expected to significantly enhance the capacity of both extension agents and local media to engage livestock and crop farmers with accurate, actionable information, helping to reduce yield losses and promote sustainable farming practices.
About the European Union Food Security Response Project
The European Union Food Security Response in Northern Ghana Project, funded by the European Union and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in partnership with Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), is delivering tangible results in its effort to improve food security and livelihoods across six of the most food-insecure districts in the Savannah, North East, and Upper East Regions.
Since its launch in September 2023, the project has reached over 12,000 farmers with Good Agronomic Practices (GAP) training, distributed essential inputs including improved seeds, fertilizers, and poultry manure enabling the cultivation of nearly 5,000 hectares, and linked maize producers to structured markets. It has strengthened pest and disease surveillance through the training of 80 Agricultural Extension Agents on tools such as the FAMEWS app, distributed 70 threshers to reduce post-harvest losses, and vaccinated 7,000 small ruminants against PPR. These interventions aim to improve productivity, reduce losses, and build resilience in Northern Ghana’s farming communities.
Article on FAO Website