The Alliance for Green Revolution for Africa (AGRA), has commended three of its partner institutions for their hard work, passion and dedication to the implementation of the Agriculture Value Chain Mentorship Project (AVCMP).

The partner institutions are the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI), International Centre for Soil Fertility and Agricultural Development, and Ghana Agricultural Associations for Business Information Centre.

Dr Bashir Jama, West Africa Director of AGRA gave the commendation in Nyankpala in the Tolon District of the Northern Region after he paid a working visit.

The three- year project, which would end in 2014, aimed at contributing towards government’s objective to becoming an agro-industrial economy by strengthening the capacity of agro-dealers, small medium enterprises, farmer based organisations to ensure a highly productive, efficient, competitive and sustainable system.

Funded by Danish International Development Agency, AVCMP has three components, being jointly implemented by SARI of Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, International Centre for Soil Fertility and Agricultural Development and Ghana Agricultural Associations for Business Information Centre.

Dr Jama said it was AGRA’s strategic operations to use a different approach and innovation to help small holder farmers especially women who are the most marginalised to succeed.

He advised partners to develop novelty ways to convert challenges to gains so as to help achieve the project’s objective of improving the livelihood of farmers.

Dr Wilson Dogbe, AVCMP Productivity Coordinator, said 14,000 farmers had benefited from various trainings on soil preparations and the best crop management practices at the learning centres in 16 districts.

He said 123 demonstration farms of Integrated Soil Fertility Management technologies aimed at improving the fertility of the soil through the use of mineral fertilizer, organic and other fertilizers that help to improve the overall health of the soil had been conducted in the beneficiary districts.

Dr Dogbe said, other players in the agriculture value chain comprising 28 small medium enterprises, 269 agro dealers had received separate trainings to enhance their activities.

He said the impact of the project had helped in increase yield of farmers in the districts as compared to farmers who did not participate in the training.

“The trend shows that at the end of the last farming season Karaga, Tamale, Chereponi, Gushegu, Savelugu, Saboba and Yendi had three times yield increase,” he emphasised.