Smallholder farmers are crucial to the nation’s food production but remain vulnerable to economic challenges and limited access to sustainable farming knowledge. While districts across the country specialize in different crops, farming practices vary, with some farmers relying on monocropping and others adopting crop rotation and diversification.
The Kpandai and Nanumba South Districts in the Northern Region are key producers of yam and cassava, with yam production particularly prominent. However, the reliance on monocropping depletes soil nutrients and increases environmental and economic risks for farmers. To address these challenges, URBANET plans to introduce agroecological interventions under its Climate Change program in both districts to promote crop diversification, improve soil health, and strengthen farmer resilience.
The Executive Director’s visit to the districts aimed to establish partnerships with local agricultural departments, better understand the challenges facing smallholder farmers, and explore crop diversification as a sustainable solution to improve livelihoods and protect the environment.
Discussions with the district agriculture directors revealed that, beyond yam and cassava, the districts are also leading producers of cashew nuts. However, farmers face significant barriers, including limited market access, insufficient availability of certified seeds, and inadequate farming inputs. These challenges hinder productivity and the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices.
URBANET plans to address these issues by expanding its agroecological initiatives to Kpandai and Nanumba South. The focus will be on introducing environmentally friendly food value chains and supporting climate-resilient farming practices. Pilot communities will be identified with the help of district agricultural offices to test and refine these approaches. This initiative aims to enhance environmental sustainability while improving the economic well-being of farmers through scalable, innovative solutions in the food value chain.