A climate-smart agriculture initiative is transforming livelihoods in Namiyela in the West Mamprusi Municipality, where more than 60 women smallholder farmers are benefiting from improved onion production and value chain support.
The project, dubbed “Sustainable Agricultural Value Chain Empowerment,” is designed to enhance productivity through climate-resilient farming, efficient irrigation systems, improved post-harvest handling, and stronger market access.
Implemented by ReliefEcho Ghana, the intervention is supported by GIZ, EWS Group, and Deutsche Postcode Lotterie through TU eMpower Africa e.V.
Since its inception, the project has delivered a series of targeted training programmes, including community sensitisation, agronomic skills development, and cooperative strengthening, aimed at equipping women farmers with practical knowledge and technical capacity.
Mr Joshua Taiwo Adefila, Founder and Executive Director of ReliefEcho Ghana, said the initial phase focused on improving farmers’ understanding of sustainable onion cultivation, soil fertility management, and efficient water use.
He noted that the training addressed critical challenges such as poor irrigation practices and soil moisture stress, which had previously constrained dry-season farming.
Participants were trained in land preparation, crop rotation, composting, mulching, organic soil management, and environmentally friendly pest and disease control methods.
Mr Adefila explained that the farmers were also introduced to irrigation scheduling techniques and maintenance of solar-powered irrigation systems, which could reduce water usage by between 20 and 40 percent while increasing yields.
As part of the implementation phase, women farmers established demonstration onion fields along the White Volta, cultivating a one-acre plot under cooperative management.
To support year-round farming, the project constructed a 10,000 cubic metre water storage facility to supply spray tube and drip irrigation systems, with an additional facility of similar capacity currently under development to serve a four-acre irrigated farmland.
The intervention also provided a 50-tonne onion storage facility to minimise post-harvest losses and improve market competitiveness.
Mr Adefila said the progress made so far reflected strong community participation and readiness to scale up climate-smart agriculture in the area.
Beyond production, the project has strengthened farmers’ capacities in value chain management, post-harvest handling, financial literacy and cooperative governance.
Mr Nicholas Atubiga, who facilitated the training sessions, said beneficiaries had gained practical business skills, including grading, storage, pricing strategies, bookkeeping and business planning to enhance profitability.
In addition, the project supported the formation of the Agurekankang Cooperative to improve coordination and collective marketing.
Mr Joshua Asochiga explained that a nine-member leadership had been inaugurated to oversee the cooperative’s operations, strengthen accountability and expand market access over the next two years.
He recommended continuous mentoring, refresher training and the establishment of a community irrigation management committee to sustain the infrastructure and ensure long-term impact.
Ms Ophelia Ayamga, who also facilitated training sessions, urged the women to take ownership of the initiative to improve incomes and enhance food security in their households.
Beneficiaries expressed appreciation for the intervention and called for continued technical support, expansion of irrigation infrastructure and stronger market linkages to scale up onion production across Northern Ghana.
