RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Learned from the Project Adoption of Beneficial Management Practices for Dry Season Vegetable Production in Rural Ghana   1A.H. Abubakari, 1G. Mahunu, 2M.R. McDonald, 3D. Ceplis, 4P. Kumah, 4I Idun, F. Appiah, 5J. Owen and 6M.Pritchard 1University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana, 2 Dept. of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1 Canada, 3 Minnedosa MB Canada; 4Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, 5Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Bouctouche NB, Canada, 6University of Manitoba, Winnipeg MB, Canada Approximately 55 % of the farmers had no formal education. An oral test was given to the interviewees to confirm their understanding of the practices and 74% gave the correct answers to the 20 questions. However, less than 50% indicated that they could read and understand a pesticide label. The methods that were most widely adopted were fertilization, composing, pricking out of seedlings, mulching, pest and disease control (including neem) and bucket drip irrigation (Table 1). The methods least likely to be continued (<55%) were record keeping, seed treatment, green manure cropping and a value chain approach. When questioned about the procedures, 28% indicated no problems or did not respond. The highest portion, 45%, mentioned the increased skills and effort required; the tasks were tedious and time consuming. All the respondents indicated that they have observed improvements in the fields by 2010. Roughly 29% reported better crop growth, 20% observed fewer pests, diseases and weeds, 17% saw higher yields, and 16% mentioned improved soil fertility. INTRODUCTION The Upper West Region is one of the driest and poorest in Ghana. The dry season is eight months long, and household income is $1-3 a day. An International Twinning Partnership was established in 2001 to introduce irrigated vegetable production during the dry season, to improve nutrition and household income. Additional goals were improved gender equity and reduced migration of young people from the region. The Canadian Society of Horticultural Science and the Ghana Institute of Horticulturists cooperated to develop and deliver information on Best Management Practices for irrigated vegetable production. Four villages with access to water for irrigation were chosen. A B OBJECTIVE a Fig. 1 A. Upper West Region of Ghana. B. Demonstration of drip irrigation C. Vegetables at Karni village D. Receiving certificates at completion of Farmer Field School a a a a b a b b a To improve nutrition, income and gender equality through increased production of vegetable crops during the dry season in the Upper West Region of Ghana. Major changes in production and consumption reported by the villagers as a result of the project: Two-fold increase in the yield of vegetables compared to non project communities Increase in the availability of fresh vegetables from 5 months to 9 months. Diversity of vegetables increased from 7 to 12 Post harvest losses reduced by at least 20 % Three-fold increase in the consumption of vegetables. Diversity of vegetables consumed has increased New eating habits and tastes emerging Lettuce sometimes substituted for the local bean leafy vegetable. Cabbage now a substitute to “Alefu” (Amaranthus) and “Bra” (Hibiscus sabdarifa). More people now visit the communities to buy vegetables RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Table 1. Technologies learned by farmers from training workshops and Farmer Field Schools by 2011 METHODS Technology Learned from the Project Applied in the farm % Pricking out 97.3 82.7 Fertilization 94.7 94.0 Composting 96.7 87.3 Mulching 95.3 90.6 Staking 88.0 68.0 Sterilization of nursery beds 84.0 50.0 Seed treatment 81.3 43.3 Simple record keeping 90.7 51.3 Pest and diseases control 95.4 88.7 Harvesting and post harvest management. 85.3 50.7 Grading and quality control 90.0 60.0 Bucket kit irrigation 93.3 83.3 . . Faculty at the Ghanaian institutions, the University for Development Studies and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, cooperated with members of the Canadian Society of Horticultural Science to develop the training materials. The Ghanaian partners delivered Train the Trainer Workshops and trained and cooperated with local Extension Agents (EA’s) to conduct Farmer Field Schools. The EA’s had no training on irrigated vegetable production prior to the project. Demonstration gardens were established at the villages. Radio broadcasts in the local language, Dagari, and English, provided information to a broader audience. The number of farmers growing vegetables increased from 761 to 811 from 2006 to 2010; 369 farmers received direct training, including 165 women. Data were collected to evaluate the second term of the project, from 2006 to 2010. An interview survey of 77 males and 73 females was conducted in Fall 2010, to determine the uptake, benefits, and challenges of the beneficial management practices that were introduced. CONCLUSIONS Training through Farmer Field Schools, Train the Trainer Workshops and involving local Extension Agents resulted in higher yields of vegetable crops and higher incomes. Farmers recognized that Best Management Practices require more time, effort and skill, but will continue to use many of these because of the improvements in crop yield and quality This project was an International Twinning Partnership Program between the Canadian Society of Horticultural Science and the Ghana Institute of Horticulture and funded by the Canadian International Development Agency through the Agricultural Institute of Canada.