Top Stories

    Warning: foreach() argument must be of type array|object, null given in /home4/watchgha/public_html/views/partials/navigation.php on line 177
FEATURE BY DENNIS PEPRAH
News

FEATURE BY DENNIS PEPRAH

Permaculture is a practice which combines hundreds of species, plant and animals, into fertile-regulating ecosystem rather than planting large tracts of one crop.

By attempting to reproduce the ecology of natural areas in a planned and managed way, without the aid of artificial inputs, permaculture has the potential to provide economic solutions to environmental problems.

It integrates land resources, people and the environment through mutually beneficial synergies – imitating the no waste, closed loop systems seen in diverse natural systems,

The operational concept of permaculture is woven under a practical design – the design is a system of assembling conceptual, material, and strategic components in a pattern which functions to benefit life in all its forms.

Philosophy behind Permaculture is one of working with, rather than against, nature; of protracted and thoughtful observation rather than protracted and thoughtless action; of looking at systems in all their functions, rather than asking only one yield of them; and allowing systems to demonstrate their own evolutions.

Even though permaculture is seen as new agricultural concept, it has contributed immensely towards the livelihood of rural poor in Ghana and its benefits for rural farmers cannot be underestimated.

Permaculture in Ghana is an evolving business, but with a large following as it makes agriculture more sustainable, restores soil, conserve water, and redirect waste streams. 

     Problem

The primary goal of adopting Permaculture principles is to empower individuals to be their own producers and move away from being dependent consumers.
  

These techniques are practiced in very different ways globally based on climate and resources particular to the region. While there is variety in the methodology of Permaculture practices, the holistic approach remains constant.
    
Presently one recognized area that needs government attention is permaculture business. This is because it is considered as one of the less invested agro businesses that have thrived and sustained most families and communities in some part of the western countries.
 
Many would have expected that, since a sizeable number of farmers operating within Brong Ahafo and other forest zones in the country have testified the potency and the reliability of the Permaculture industry, authorities would intervene to support its operations and activities. However, the story seems more pathetic as they have not been getting such recognized support and policy protection.
   
Farmers with skills training support from the Ghana Permaculture Network (GPN) continue to do their best to organize interested farmers at the local levels in the pursuit of enhanced permaculture business in Ghana.    The desired impact is however, not felt.  

 Permaculture business is new, but fast growing in Ghana both in geographical and numerical coverage. For instance, in terms of numbers, experts say an estimated 8,000 and more people are involved in it in the country.
    
Undeniably, permaculture business helps mitigate climate change and enhance the eradication of poverty.  Despite what the business stands for with all its prospects, the lack of permaculture policy in Ghana leaves it and its actors not protected.

Thus, there is high level of insecurity prevalent in the business which inhibits actors to roll out their full potentials for optimum benefits. It is therefore lowering the incomes of actors with a number of them losing interest in the permaculture business and thus exiting often after entry.
     
 Short History

  It is impossible to know exactly where and when plant cultivation was first invented, however, due to accelerated mass spectrometry testing of plant remains, scientists have been able to date domesticated squash, maize cobs, and common beans back 10,000 years.

Agricultural knowledge developed over centuries shows the co-existence and co-development of culture and nature.
Foto
Biological efficiency along with contribution to familial diet can be found in the corn/bean/squash system (“three-sisters” system) of Mexico and South America. Indigenous communities would intercrop maize plants with bean and squash for multiple reasons. In the United Kingdom, Sir Albert Howard began laying the social and practical groundwork for the organic gardening movement. Around the same time in Germany, Demeter Association produced the first official organic label in 1928. Beginning in the 1940’s many organizations, such as the Rodale Institute of the United States, the Soil Association of the United Kingdom, and Soil and Health of New Zealand, began forming with focus on the study and promotion of organic farming. Advocacy Action It is against background and several challenges that the GPN, a farmer-based organization in the Techiman Municipality with support from the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) Fund is implementing advocacy project for a national policy framework to push and sustain permaculture development in the country. With support from the Center for Posterity Interest Organisation (COPIO), service providers and facilitators of the project, the GPN/BUSAC GHC189,000 advocacy project further seeks to mitigate climate change impact in the country. According to Mr Paul Yeboah, the Chairman of the GPN which has 7000 members comprising 4,800 male and 3,200 female, a policy framework on permaculture was urgently required to protect the business and create enabling environment for it to thrive and developed. Recommendations and Conclusion The GPN believes that a policy framework on permaculture would improve business to contribute more to mitigation of climate change, eradication of poverty and economic empowerment of practitioners for increased productivity. Dr John Yaw Apkarep, a Consultant to the GPN underscored the need for the government and her development partners to actively engage permaculturists, and civil society actors in formulating such as policy. Also, the MInsitry of Food andf Agriculture should organise training programmes for farmers to continously recgonise the essence of permaculture. Dr Akparep, who is a lecturer at the University of Development Studies, said there was also the need for agricultural extension officers to undertake routine monitoring on activities of permaculture farmers so that famers operate in accordance with permaculture principles, and protect natural reserves. As an evolving business in the country, more research on permaculture ought to be done, he said citing that as in Hong Kong, the government should develop agriculture training schemes to give advice on new methods that would strengthen permaculture principles. In conclusion a strengthened permaculture system has huge potential to contribute immensely towards enhancing the socio-economic livelihood of many rural poor in Ghana and helping farmers to produce more food using fewer resources. Because common crops used in permaculture include Moringa, Oyster mushrooms, pea nuts, maize, cocoa, citrus (lemons and oranges), sweet potatoes, tomatoes, star fruits, bread fruits, pepper and garden eggs, permaculture remains very useful in the agricultural sector. If investment is made in the sector, permaculture would remain supportive to Ghana’s economy, thereby providing employment, food and medicinal crops, wildlife habitats, crafting materials, private relaxing atmosphere throughout every season. Indeed, permaculture reduces cost of farming, adds to community value, produces less waste and is chemical resistant; all contributing to sustainable agriculture and promotes economic growth and development.

Source: WatchGhana.Com/K. Peprah

Related Posts

Leave Comments