The Ghana ACCESS project, funded by Global Affairs Canada, is making big changes in the life of smallholder farmers in Ghana. Our team conducted a rapid data collection, and the results are in: 98% of the 791.16 hectares (1.995 acres) of maize farms cultivated by smallholder farmers with the project’s support were successful. The analysis indicated that average yield is about 250kg (5 mini-bags of 50 kg/bag/person), Some farmers commented: “we are very happy and excited about the support provided by the ACCESS project during this COVID period, now a 50kg of maize is expensive because most farmers did not get access to planting inputs. Through the support of the project, we have enough food to take care of our families”
Danpuori Tagaasori is a 40-year old smallholder farmer in Maasi in the Wa West District of the Upper West Region of Ghana and a beneficiary of the ACCESS project. Due to the general hardships brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, Madam Tagaasori and her family of 14 only managed to cultivate 10 acres of maize instead of their usual average of 15 acres. But a prolonged dry spell in July greatly affected the performance of the maize and caused it to almost completely wilt. “Three weeks after we planted the maize on our 10 acres farm, there was a bad drought which consumed the entire maize field leaving us with nothing”. Madam Tagaasori was however overjoyed after she and her household received four (4) 100KG bags from the Access project. “I am so happy to get this harvest since it can sustain us till the next production season”. She expressed her appreciation to the ACCESS project for the timely support and hoped that the project continues in the next production season.