1. FarmVillage: The AgEx Game Form groups of 5 around a square Introduce yourself: Name, role in the chapter, favourite agricultural product – this is a farming game, after all! Read the instructions in your starter kit Choose a Farmer Group name We’ll get started very soon…

2. FarmVillage: The AgEx Game We will spend 10 minutes on each “month” in the game, starting NOW! (ok, as soon as we finish this slide…) As a Farmer Group, your goal is to make the most of your farming activities. Through the game, you will start to learn about the agriculture sector in Ghana from a farmer’s perspective, particularly regarding information flows. Pay attention to things that feel particularly useful, frustrating, etc. – we’ll talk about them in the debrief!

3. Debrief FarmVillage So… what happened there?!

4. Debrief FarmVillage Agricultural extension is the provision and sharing of agricultural information, from the latest agricultural research, to best practices and techniques, to business planning, to market information. Agricultural extension is the primary way for farmers to improve their livelihoods beyond the limits of their own learning and innovation.

5. Agricultural Extension (AgEx) Venture

6. What is AgEx? AgEx stands for Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services – the information, resources and services farmers need to have successful farms and livelihoods We are one of EWB’s Africa-based Ventures We have been working in Ghana since 2004, with our primary partner being the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA)

7. AgEx Vision & Mission Vision: AgEx envisions an inclusive agricultural system that improves livelihoods, generates food security, and promotes sustainable human development. Mission: AgEx works to support the development of an innovative, coordinated, inclusive, and demand-driven agricultural extension and advisory system in Ghana.

8. Our Strategic Focus Areas 1. Innovation at Ghana’s Agricultural Colleges AgEx is working to build the capacity of Ghana’s Agricultural Colleges to be centers of innovation, to enable greater testing in high-quality, farmer- focused agricultural approaches, technologies and information. Education enhancements (curriculum developments, practical learning opportunities) and innovative partnerships (research institutions, NGOs, extension service providers) will change the paradigm of the agricultural colleges to centres of innovation, raising the standard of extension in Ghana and showcasing what is possible in the sector.

9. Our Strategic Focus Areas 2. Ghana Country Forum for Agricultural Extension AgEx supports the Ghana Country Forum for Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services for greater knowledge sharing and coordination among stakeholders. This forum has the potential to shape the priorities and functioning of the extension system in Ghana, and AgEx can play an important role as a network facilitator in shaping its success, relevance to farmers and impact for extension service provider.

10. Questions? Contact Us! Miriam Hird-Younger, Venture Leader miriamhird-younger@ewb.ca Broghen Aitkin, Partnerships Coordinator and Strategic Advisor, Ghana Country Forum broghenaitkin@ewb.ca Courtney Robinson, Innovation Advisor, Agricultural Colleges courtneyrobinson@ewb.ca

11. Thanks for Coming! MAKE SURE YOU EDIT THIS SLIDE!!! Our next chapter meeting/event will be… Don’t forget to sign up for… Any other announcements…