Activities in Ghana

Primary industry such as agriculture and agricultural product processing is a key industry in Ghana and those require further development to aid the poverty-stricken Upper West Region. The region's poverty rate is high, where 80% of the population engages in agriculture and the rate earning an annual income less than 375 dollars (needed for everyday necessities and the required caloric intake) is 84%. To alleviate these conditions, the Study on Upper West Integrated Agricultural Development has been implemented to improve agricultural and rural development techniques in the Upper West Region.

The first stage of this project will be to investigate the climate conditions and vulnerabilities of the Upper West Region. The results will be incorporated into guidelines for development and diffusion of agricultural and rural development techniques, and then a master plan proposing development activities is drawn up to enhance the capabilities of Ghanaian agency- and community-based organization to develop agricultural and rural areas. The project will be working on raising small-scale local farmers' income and reducing poverty.

Local residents and government agricultural administrators are working together to study specific areas and draft plans for implementation. For example, based on individual needs, they set plans for stakeholders in each district, region and community to enable to take initiative. Innovative methods are also applied for local residents to be able to enjoy the benefits of the project through cost sharing at community level as much as possible.