Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Reduction of impact urban agriculture has on the piped water system of Accra
Reduction of health risks for farmers and labourers who use waste water
Geography - the site is too small to offer space for large waste water treatment facilities like oxidation ponds
Land tenure - due to lack of land tenure permanent structures cannot be part of a solution
Credit - the lack of sufcient credit limits the use of high tech and advanced water treatment methods
Control over upstream water - no control over upstream water source for downstream agricultural use
Alternative water sources - groundwater is not useable due to salt intrusion from the sea
Tested and validated low tech solutions - there is a general lack of low-tech solutions for waste water treatment at a
small scale
Figure 6. Stream impacted by suggested intervention
The suggested water treatment scheme consists of 3 main parts. A pond system, a solar pump and storage unit and a
gravity based drip irrigation system. Within the boundaries of the North-South drain a pond system is created, which
consists of a series of consecutive, cascading ponds from North to South, which terminate in a nal reservoir. A reduction of
pathogenic bacteria and viruses is achieved through the targeted and prolonged exposure to the natural environment (UV
light, oxygen, bafe system within the ponds, plants and natural predators like sh and algae) and sedimentation, which
consequently leads to a major reduction of helminth eggs and protozoa cysts. The second stage consists of a robust and
simple to use solar pumping system, which guarantees minimal maintenance for the farmers and is based on a carbon free
and sustainable energy source. The pump taps the water from the nal reservoir and sends it directly into an elevated
storage tank from where the water is distributed across the site through a gravity based drip irrigation network. The system
delivers the water directly to the roots of the plants and has a predicted water savings of up to 80% over the mode of
operation. The drip irrigation works automatically and therefore saves labour and time for the farmers and their labourers.
Additionally it allows the targeted application of fertilisers and pesticides, which signicantly lowers the amount of inputs
needed and consequently leads to more sustainable practices (see App. 4 for visualisation of strategy). It is important to
mention that the pathogen reduction of the system only works efciently when the short-circuiting of water fetching is
suppressed. The longer the water is exposed to the natural environment the higher the cleaning processes are. Fig. 7 shows
a comparison of the current mode of water extraction and the changes suggested by the intervention.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 19
Action Plan
Stage TIme Frame Actors Role Resources
Create ponds and
reservoir
2-3 months Farmers, labourers Labour Time
Labour
Installation of solar
pump and storage
tank, maintenance
training
2 weeks NOV Mono reps,
farmers, labourers
NOV Mono as
technical trainers
Time
Labour
Installation of drip
irrigation system
2 weeks Farmers, labourers Labour Time
Labour
See App. 5 for an analysis of stakeholders and motivations for Strategy 1.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 20
Figure 7. Current mode of water extraction
from the stream (left) and the suggested
future mode of water extraction from the
stream covering the water demand of the
whole site (right).
The system can be easily implemented
with the help of the farmers, due to the
simple but effective design. One downturn
however exists within the intervention; the
livelihood of the helpers who currently
irrigate the elds may be jeopardised.
Before implementation, the situation of the
l abour er s woul d r equi r e s peci al
consideration as not to diminish their
livelihoods.
Monitoring and Impact Assessment
Action Potential Impact Indicators Monitoring Bodies
Build the ponds and the
reservoir
Cleaner water Water samples Farmers, IWMI, MoFA
Install the solar pump and
storage tank
Increased use of wastewater,
reduced spending on petrol,
water available for longer
during dry periods
Usage of piped water,
petrol expenditures,
water availability
Farmers, IWMI, MoFA
Install the drip irrigation
system
Reduction of pathogens
transmitted via foliage
Water samples Farmers, IWMI, MoFA
Begin irrigating with the
system
More efcient use of water,
fertilisers, pesticides and
reduced labour required
Yields, amount of water
used, amount of fertilisers
used, amount of pesticides
used, amount of labour
required
Farmers, IWMI, MoFA
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 21
Hypothesi s 2: Pl anned I nter ven-
ti ons and Knowl edge Systems
The different governmental bodies and NGO interventions implemented in Dzorwulu have had a positive
impact on the sustainability of practices and on the maturation of the farmers hybrid localised
knowledge systems.
Diagnosis and Findings
There has been a high frequency of
interventions by NGOs, research institutes
and MoFA in Dzorwulu in the last decade
and in comparison to other sites in Accra.
This hypothesis is aiming at unpacking the
impact it has on the hybrid localised
knowledge of the farmers as well as on
their farming practices.
Different types of planned interventions
have addressed different skills and issues
(see App. 6 for a detailed overview):
techni cal i nterventi ons on f armi ng
practices (e.g. composting experiment by
RUAF and CHF, transplanting techniques
by MoFA and pesticides trials by private
input dealer), health interventions (e.g. safe
vegetables handling by IWMI, cholera
prevention by Poly clinic), marketing interventions (e.g. kiosks by RUAF/IWMI/EW/University of Ghana), organisational and
nancial services interventions (e.g. Multi-features and capacity enhancing services and Eden Tree).
The high organisational capacity of Dzorwulu farmers appears to be one of
the main reasons why so many interventions take place. The association
has a Constitution, elects its executives, provides a fee structure with
saving accounts, sets up schedule of meetings and mechanisms for
settling disputes. However, there is conicting information on the process of
how interventions are being chosen in the rst place. According to the
farmers interviewed, they were not being consulted on which interventions
would be implemented on site whereas MoFA representatives stated that
interventions chosen at the annual planning meeting are based on
feedback from the MoFA agricultural extension ofcers.
The research has identied different ows of knowledge, from within and from above. First, farmers are beneting to
different degrees, dependent upon their level of participation in the interventions and within the association. Overall, by
cooperating with external bodies, farmers learn organisational skills that further strengthen their organisational capacity; trial
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 22
outcomes are being shared amongst one
another by word of mouth and those
visiting workshops report back information
to the association members in their
meetings. However, two-way feedback
between farmers and organisations (e.g.
results from soil and water analyses done
by IWMI) is not always evident as
organisations are not forthcoming with
information and yet farmers are not
requesting it. Moreover, while knowledge
is currently shared informally amongst
Dzorwulu farmers and between Dzorwulu
and Plant Pool, farmers do not have a
consistent system for recording the results
of the interventions nor for disseminating
the knowl edge. Fi nal l y, whi l e some
technical planned interventions emphasise
the safe production of vegetables, they are
not neces s ar i l y env i r onment al l y
sust ai nabl e, and ar e somet i mes
contradictory (e.g. when MoFA promotes
mi xi ng compost i ng wi t h chemi cal
fertilisers).
The research has also identied various
power dynamics. In accordance with their
experiences, farmers exercise their power
to choose by deciding whether to adopt,
adapt or drop those practices. For instance, the urine project was not
adopted for logistic and cultural constraints while the nursery and
transplanting techniques was successful as the drilling of seeds in line allows
farmers to manage better their beds productivity. Other marketing
interventions, such as the management of kiosks, failed because of lack of
interest on the part of farmers in dividing their time between production and
post-production. Furthermore, the language used shows implicit value
judgments; for example, the IWMI composting experiment denes good
practice - that stands for the researchers - versus farmers practices and
MoFA representatives compare proper versus primitive agricultural
practices. Finally, more opportunities of access to credit have encouraged
individual investments in production equipment whereas previously those
goods would have been bought collectively and shared but with people not
taking enough care or taking responsibility to repair. This indicates that
collective power is not necessarily preferred by farmers because of practical
reasons.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 23
Strategy 2: Increasing Farmer Power through Collaboration and Control over
Knowledge
Strategy Objectives
Through the exploration of Hypothesis 2, the data revealed that the farmers had
very little participation in the decision making process when it came to
determining which planned interventions would take place on the site. Therefore
the strategy objectives focus on the Dzorwulu Farmers Association collaborating
with other farmers associations, thereby increasing the amount of knowledge
sharing and dissemination of information that is currently happening. A second
objective is to increase the level of farmer participation and presence within
AWGUPA and MoFA, with particular attention paid to the decision making
process, specically as it relates to planned interventions. An overall objective is
to raise awareness about UA and farmers problems and practices in the context
of Accra, and this could be facilitated by the Dzorwulu FA diversifying their
networks through increasing the number of stakeholders with whom they engage.
Additionally this diversication of networks could strengthen the farmers
negotiating capacity if some stakeholders would advocate on their behalf.
Strategy
The strategy that was devised to achieve the objectives would be implemented in three concurrent stages in the short and
long terms. Initially, a dialogue proposing a possible collaboration between the Dzorwulu FA and the Plant Pool FA would be
introduced. Through this engagement, the Dzorwulu FA would share organisational knowledge regarding the drafting of a
constitution, record keeping, enforcement of payment of dues, mechanisms for settling disputes, and establishing a regular
schedule of meetings.
The second step in the strategy is to form
an informal yet structured group involving
both farm sites with the purpose of
sharing, exchanging, and disseminating
knowledge. This knowledge would include
but not be limited to sharing of farming
practices, organisational and leadership
ski l l s, proposal s f or the col l ecti ve
purchasing of inputs, and concerns
regarding representation of farmers in the
urban areas. The group would also call for
more active participation by farmers in
AWGUPA, more meaningful interaction
with MoFA and their decision making
processes, and whatever else the farmers
would determine to be instrumental in their
development. Group visits to other UA
sites could lead to future collaborations and
a diversication of farmer networks and knowledge exchange opportunities, leading to more cohesion among urban farmers
in Accra. It would be necessary the group be formed in such a way as to be integrated into the cultural make-up of the two
communities; scheduling of meetings would be designed around tea or meal times or before or after prayers. This would
ensure regular attendance and not require any articial time being imposed on the farmers schedules.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 24
The nal step in the strategy, and the most long term of the four stages, is to propose to the Greater Accra Cooperative
Vegetable Farmers and Marketing Union that they shift their focus from primarily economic concerns to emphasising the
importance of networking among urban farmers, knowledge sharing, and increasing presence and participation of farmers in
the decision making process at the city level. Farmers involvement in a larger, citywide, farmer led organisation would benet
the farmers in their negotiating capacity, access to knowledge, and could lead to better representation in AWGUPA and
MoFA. Also, with a stronger presence, the farmers could expect better accountability from organisations and institutions and
improved communication and feedback that would assist in their knowledge sharing and dissemination capacity.
Action Plan
Stage TIme Frame Actors Role Resources
Dzorwulu FA meets
with Plant Pool FA to
share their
organisational
knowledge
0-6 months after PP
executive elections
Dzorwulu and Plant
Pool farmers
DZ As mentors to
share their
experiences and
lessons learnt with PP
farmers to help build
their organizational
capacity
PP As partners in
the process of learning
together and as future
collaborators
Time, association
records
Create an informal but
structured knowledge
sharing and
dissemination group
between the farmers
of the two sites
6-12 months Dzorwulu and Plant
Pool farmers
Both- As colleagues
who share knowledge
and practices,
functioning as
teachers and
students, building on
past experiences and
setting goals for the
future
Time, knowledge
Propose a shift in
focus by the Greater
Accra Cooperative
Vegetable Farmers
and
Marketing Union to
emphasize farmers
networks, knowledge
exchange, and
increased presence in
decision making
process at the city
level.
Long term after PP
has been organised
Dzorwulu and Plant
Pool farmers, Greater
Accra Cooperative
Vegetable Farmers
and
Marketing Union
DZ and PP As a
cohesive group that
works together for
common goals but
retains separate
identities
The Union As an
umbrella organisation
that is open to the
needs of its
membership and is
willing to adapt
accordingly
Time
Political commitment
People
Knowledge
Advocates
See App. 7 for an analysis of stakeholders and motivations for Strategy 2.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 25
Monitoring and Impact Assessment
Action Potential Impact Indicators Monitoring Bodies
Dzorwulu FA meets with
Plant Pool FA to share their
organisational knowledge
Positive: PP builds their
organizational capacity and
DZ helps build a stronger
partner for future
collaboration.
Negative: PP duplicates
DZs organizational format
with no intention of
collaboration
Draft of a constitution for PP,
consensus on common
goals, records of payment of
dues, records of meeting
regularly (minutes)
DZ and PP Farmers, MoFA,
IWMI
Create an informal but
structured knowledge
sharing and dissemination
group between the farmers
of the two sites
Positive: Knowledge is
created, adapted, circulated
among the farmers and they
retain the control over it.
Practices are improved and
productivity is increased.
Negative: A knowledge
hierarchy is created and the
knowledge is controlled by
few
Record of attendance, notes
on topics discussed, notes
on shared practices and
innovations, record of
attendance at AWGUPA
meetings, written request to
attend MoFA planning
meeting
DZ and PP Farmers, MoFA,
IWMI
Propose a shift in focus by
the Greater Accra
Cooperative Vegetable
Farmers and
Marketing Union to
emphasize farmers
networks, knowledge
exchange, and increased
presence in decision making
process at the city level.
Positive: Farmers enjoy
better representation and a
stronger political voice
through a larger organization
and they are able to diversify
their knowledge sharing
network.
Negative: The needs of the
farmers are lost in the
context of an organization
with many diverse members
Membership in Greater
Accra Cooperative
Vegetable Farmers and
Marketing Union, record of
farmer presence at relevant
city planning sessions
DZ and PP Farmers, MoFA,
IWMI
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 26
Hypothesi s 3: Land Securi ty
Because of the length of continuous land occupation in Dzorwulu, farmers do not perceive an immediate
threat of eviction; therefore there is a lack of strategies that would enhance their response to a positive
threat.
Diagnosis and Findings
The land issue is one of the major problems related to UA in
Accra. The scarcity of spaces to cultivate, the lack of tenure
or security regarding the land and the absence of usufruct
rights have created fear among farmers who could lose the
area they farm at any time.
In Dzorwulu, farmers have been cultivating vegetables on 4
hectares of Institutional land owned by GRIDCO adjacent to
the power station and under the high-tension cables for
more than 35 years. Farming activity on the site rst began
during the mid-1970s as a MoFa model farm (see site
description). After the project was terminated some of the
employees stayed and continued to farm the area, inviting
family and friends to cultivate on vacant land. Currently, the
site is divided among 31 farmers, with no land going
unused.
An informal agreement with GRIDCO to use the land exists
as a mutually benecial relationship: from the GRIDCO
perspective, farmers are maintaining land that used to be
over gr own, cl eani ng t he ar ea and pr event i ng
encroachments; from the point of view of the farmers, they
are cultivating the land as a means of livelihood. However,
farmers do not have any legal agreement with GRIDCO to
secure their presence in the area.This hypothesis was
elaborated based on the 2009 ESD Report which did not
explore the matter of land insecurity and attested that a
perception of secure land tenure is shared by both the
farmers and government institutions such as MoFA and the
Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines.
Although the farmers interviewed conrmed that they had
never had problems about cultivating the land, the research
revealed that most of them are aware of the vulnerability and
insecurity of the land. Dependent on where farmers are
cultivating on the site, they face the challenge of varying
levels of land insecurity (see map, g. 8).
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 27
I dont feel secure. If someone comes and says go, I
am ready to go. Because land is small, I am looking
for a larger land outside Accra
(Alhassan Idrissu)
The farmers association is presently looking to secure additional land in rural and peri-urban areas, but some farmers are
also searching individually to rent land outside Accra. As a result of the collective action towards securing more land, in
October 2010 a group of Dzorwulu farmers signed a MoU with Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, which allow the farmers
to cultivate atomic land in Legon near the University of Ghana; during the same period farmers were looking at renting private
land to farm in Bator outside of Accra.
Nevertheless, the current land situation of Dzorwulu farmers remains delicate: from the farmers perspective it has been very
difcult to secure land in Accra, as a result of the process of rapid urbanisation. As was by Dr. Larbi, Chief Executive of the
Land Commission, UA is not considered an urban land use by the Commission. In 2010 the farmers, with the support of
Enterprise Works, attempted to arrange a negotiation with GRIDCO with the goal of signing a MoU, but GRIDCO did not
attend. The workshop designed to bring the different stakeholders together was organised by RUAF and AWGUPA, but due
to the unwillingness of GRIDCO to negotiate, the process of clarifying the farmers status on the land was suspended.
Figure 8. Farmers are subjected to different levels of vulnerability due to threats of encroachment and eviction, as there are
different land use policies and regulations in place on the site: Red area: Buffer zone, legally protected from construction;
Green area: Outside buffer zone, legally not protected from construction; Blue area: Buffer zone, legally protected from
construction, but under caterpillar impacts from stream maintenance.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 28
Strategy 3: Secure Usufruct
Rights in other Localities and
in Situ
Strategy Objectives
Having taken into account the ndings and
diagnosis, three objectives have been set up: 1)
increase negotiation capacities of farmers on
issues of land and usufruct rights; 2) increase
farmers resilience through the development of a
safety net strategy; and 3) intensify the farmers
collective voice by creating a network of
advocates. As farmers stated during interviews
and focus groups, if the land use were more
secure, they would be willing to invest more in
vegetation on the site, which would improve the
food production cycle within Accra.
Strategy
Based on the objectives, a two-step strategy is
proposed. The rst step is to secure the usufruct
rights of land in other localities as a backup
strategy in the case of eviction; farmers would
look for alternative and additional land in rural or
peri-urban areas. Dzorwulu farmers have already
begun this process last October. It would be a short-term strategy to secure their livelihood. During the focus group, most
male farmers expressed their willingness to nd additional land outside of Accra, because of more economic opportunities.
Looking at the socio-political dimension, securing additional land would strengthen their negotiating capacity to obtain
usufruct rights and increase farmers resilience by developing a safety
net strategy.
The second step of the strategy is to secure usufruct rights in situ.
The strategy mentioned in the section on Hypothesis 2 proposes that
farmers push the existing union to shift their focus from economic
activities to helping farmers build networks and knowledge sharing
capacities; this strategy suggests establishing a collaborative land
committee, which would involve support from more diverse
stakeholders, such as political advocates, non-governmental
organisations, and the media. For example, one potential partner
could be Land for Life. The Former Minister for Land, Mr Nartey,
explained that Land for Life has been encouraging farmers to secure
land through land regularisation. Land regularisation is one of the
proposals of Ghanas Land Administration Project (LAP) which aims
to improve land governance at the national level, including land tenure
issues for agriculture. By strengthening collaborations amongst
various actors, the farmers would have a stronger voice in
negotiations with GRIDCO for obtaining usufruct rights.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 29
Action Plan
Stage TIme Frame Actors Role Resources
Feasibility Study Long term, On-
going
Dzorwulu Farmers
MoFA
AMA
AWPUPA
RUAF
IWMI
Enterprise Works
Land for Life
LAP
CICOL
Coordinate opportunities for
networking and knowledge
sharing on land issues
amongst different
stakeholders
Research potentials of policy
and regulatory framework
Human resources, Finance
for researches, Technical
knowledge of land policies
Step1:
Develop a safety
net strategy by
securing the
usufruct rights of
land outside of
Greater Accra
3-6 months Dzorwulu Farmers
Land owners
Look for land in other
localities
Sign a document to allow
farmers to use land for
vegetation
Land, Financial resources,
Labour, Legal
documentation skills
Step2:
Establish a
collaborative land
committee
3-6 months to
establish, On-
going meetings
Dzorwulu Farmers
Delegates from other
FAs in Accra
Knowledge sharing
Document the shared vision,
goals, and timeline of the
committee
Search aggressively for
opportunities to secure land
for the groups
Strengthen the farmers
negotiation capacities as a
collective voice
Active participation by each
actor, Financial input for
start-up
Regular meetings
Documentation in the form
of meeting records
Create and
strengthen the
connectivity
between
stakeholders
from
government,
communities and
private sector in
Accra
Long term, On-
going
Dzorwulu Farmers
MoFA
AMA
AWPUPA
RUAF
IWMI
Enterprise Works
Land for Life
LAP
CICOL
WIAD
FEDUP
Politicians
Media outlets
Organise meetings and
workshops to invite diverse
stakeholders to discuss land
issues
Propose political support in
discussion with GRIDCO
Disseminate the merits of
urban agriculture and its
insecure land issues through
media
Human resources, Network
with political advocates,
Financial input for media
campaigns
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 30
Stage TIme Frame Actors Role Resources
Negotiate with
GRIDCO upon
usufruct rights in
situ
6 months Long
term
Dzorwulu Farmers
GRIDCO
MoFA
AMA
Organise meetings between
farmers and GRIDCO to
discuss land use issues and
potentials
Sign a document between
GRIDCO and farmers on
usufruct rights under the
observation of the third party
Human resources, Strong
incentives for negotiation,
Legal documentation skills
and knowledge
See App. 8 for an analysis of stakeholders and motivations for Strategy 3.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 31
Monitoring and Impact Assessment
Action Potential Impact Indicators Monitoring Bodies
Step1:
Develop a safety net
strategy by securing the
usufruct rights of land
outside of Greater Accra
Create farmers resilience
and improve their livelihood
by increasing their incomes
Strengthen their negotiating
capacities on usufruct rights
for current land
Location and size of the
additional land
Increase of farmers income
Number of farmers who
secure additional land
Written contracts for land in
other localities
Farmers
IWMI
Enterprise Works
Land for Life
LAP
CICOL
Step2:
Establish a collaborative land
committee
Create opportunities for
farmers to share knowledge
and information
Strengthen the collective
voice of farmers
Approach to potential
advocates
A constitution of the
committee
Number of committee
members and FAs involved
Frequency of regular
meetings
Recording documents
Number of meetings with
potential advocates
Accountability of the
meetings
Farmers
MoFA
AMA
AWGUPA
RUAF
IWMI
Land for Life
LAP
CICOL
Create and strengthen the
connectivity between
stakeholders from
government, communities
and private sector in Accra
Support and disseminate
the farmers voice in public
Reect farmers voices for
land use planning in Accra
Number of political
advocates involved
Number of contacts with
GRIDVO under the political,
private and public supports
Number of workshops for
land, organised by research
institutes and NGOs
Farmers
MoFA
AMA
AWGUPA
RUAF
IWMI
Enterprise Works
Land for Life
LAP
CICOL
Negotiate with GRIDCO
upon usufruct rights in situ
Secure usufruct rights for
farming in Dzorwulu
Increase farmers incomes
by more investments in
vegetation
Number of meetings
between farmers and
GRIDCO
Signed MoU between the
farmers and GRIDCO
Description in the MoU to
secure usufruct rights of
farmers
Farmers
MoFA
AMA
AWGUPA
RUAF
IWMI
Enterprise Works
Land for Life
LAP
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 32
Concl usi on
The ndings of the research have revealed the ways in which
ows of power, knowledge, and resources can create
interdependencies amongst the different stakeholders and
between the farmers and resources such as labour, water, and
chemical inputs. The most dramatic conclusion drawn from
the research ndi ngs was surroundi ng the farmers
perceptions of the insecurity of their land tenure and assumed
land use rights. Their ongoing collective search to secure
additional land for cultivation and their previous attempt at
institutional negotiations for usufruct rights demonstrate their
organisational capacity and their ability to adapt to change and
respond to external shocks. Through the lens of UPE, it was
shown that the farmers in Dzorwulu engage with the urban
system with varying degrees of participation, sometimes exercising control over ows (labour, wastewater, collaboration),
and at other times being controlled from above (chemical inputs, water cuts, land insecurity, planned interventions, land
policy). The strategic recommendations address these peaks and valleys of power and weakness by showing how the
farmers can, through building on existing networks and organisational capacities, increase their control over ows of
knowledge, power, and resources, thereby creating conditions under which change can happen.
The ow of labour and the farmers control over it is an area that requires much more careful examination. The nding that
all of the labourers employed on the Dzorwulu site are boys aged 11 to 17 and have emigrated from rural Burkina Faso is
particularly interesting from the theoretical perspective of UPE since they represent a resource ow of labour into the
Dzorwulu site. This represents a complex set of interdependencies, which may be viewed simplistically as labour owing into
the site, knowledge, power, and some natural resources circulating within the site, economic ows going in and out of the
site, and depending on the migration patterns of the labourers, knowledge and power could be owing in and out of the site
as well. A critical examination of these ows of knowledge, power, and resources and the resulting interdependencies, and
their impacts on how the non-material resources evolve or devolve and how they impact those within their sphere of
inuence could produce fascinating and socially important research.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 33
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S. (eds) Reader in Urban Studies. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.
VAN VEENHUIZEN, R. (2006): Cities Farming for the Future: urban agriculture for green and productive cities, RUAF Foundation,
IDRC and IIRR.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 34
Appendi x
Appendix 1
App. 1a. Overview of Stakeholders Involved in Urban Agriculture in Accra
Stakeholder Description
Accra
Metropolitan
Assembly
(AMA)
AMA has a total land size of 200 square kilometres and is made up of 11 sub metropolitan districts
namely Ashiedu Keteke, Osu Klottey, Ayawaso East, Ayawaso Central, Ayawaso West (which consists
of ve electoral areas:Abelemkpe, Dzorwulu, Roman Ridge/Airport Residential Area, Okponglo and
Legon), Ablekuma South, Ablekuma Central, Ablekuma North, Okai Koi South, Okai Koi North and La.
[http://ama.gov.gh/ama/page-5052/c_offset-0]
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly, like any other District Assembly is a corporate body and the highest
political and administrative arm of the Government at the local level. The full membership of the
Assembly is 104; of this, 70% are elected and 30% are government appointees. AMA oversees the:
Metropolitan Education Department
Metropolitan Public Health Department
Waste Management Department
Department of Food and Agriculture
Town and Country Planning Department
Metropolitan Works Department
Metropolitan Planning and Co-ordination Unit
As well as the above mentioned Sub-Metropolitan District Councils
[http://ghanadistricts.com/districts/?r=1&_=3&sa=3037]
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 35
Stakeholder Description
Accra Working
Group on Urban
and Peri-Urban
Agriculture
(AWGUPA)
AWGUPA was constituted at the multi-stakeholder forum organised by the Accra Metropolitan
Assembly-Ministry of Food and Agriculture (AMA-MoFA) and IWMI-RUAF in 2005. AWGUPA
coordinated the implementation of a joint situation analysis on urban agriculture in Accra metropolitan
area and the multi-actor preparation of a City Strategic Agenda on urban and peri-urban agriculture.
AWGUPA member institutions:
Accra Metropolitan Authority:
Department of Food and Agriculture,
Planning and Coordination Unit,
(Public-) Health Department,
Town and Country Planning unit.
University of Ghana:
College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences
Department of Geography and Resource Development;
Furthermore: CSIR-STEPRI, IWMI-Ghana, Environmental Protection Agency-Accra, Ministry of Food
and Agriculture, Directorate of Extension, Enterprise Works, Ghana (NGO), Ghana Agriculture Workers
Union, New Times Corporation, Crop farmers Association, Livestock Farmers Association.
[http://www.ruaf.org/node/498]
Ayawaso West
Sub Metropolitan
District Council
West Ayawaso Sub-Metro is one of the eleven Sub-Metro District Councils of the Accra Metropolitan
Assembly. Dzorwulu electoral area is one of ve electoral areas making up West Ayawaso Sub-Metro.
The Sub-Metro is made up of:
Administration Department, Treasury Department, Audit Unit, NADMO, Birth & Deaths Registry,
Metropolitan Guards Unit, Waste Management, Metro Health, Building inspectorate, and Roads Unit.
[http://ama.gov.gh/ama/page/5063/ayawaso-west--sub-metro]
The Civil Society
Coalition on Land
(CICOL)
The CICOL is a network of Civil Society Organizations working and advocating equitable land tenure
practices, policies and management in Ghana.
The goal of the workshop was to enhance the capacity of the participants to effectively advocate
equitable access; transparency; accountability and fairness in dealing with land rights and
administration for the marginalized and the poor in policy formulation.
http://www.modernghana.com/news/246681/1/cicol-school-stakeholders-in-upper-east-on-land-ri.html
Consultative
Group on
International
Agricultural
Research
(CGIAR)
The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) is a global partnership that
unites organizations engaged in research for sustainable development with the funders of this work. The
funders include developing and industrialized country governments, foundations, and international and
regional organizations. The work they support is carried out by 15 members of the Consortium of
International Agricultural Research Centers (one of which is IWMI) in close collaboration with hundreds
of partner organizations, including national and regional research institutes, civil society organizations,
academia, and the private sector. [http://www.cgiar.org/who/index.html]
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 36
Stakeholder Description
Council for
Scientic and
Industrial
Research
(CSIR)
CSIRs mission is to generate and apply innovative technologies, which efciently and effectively exploit
Science and Technology for socio-economic development in the critical areas of agriculture, industry,
health and environment and improve scientic culture of the civil society.Technologies developed will be
commercialized for Private Sector Development in Ghana and abroad.
[http://www.csir.org.gh/index1.php?linkid=79]
Department of
Cooperatives
The Department of Cooperatives exists to facilitate the development of vibrant cooperative and other
group enterprises that are capable of contributing positively to sustainable employment generation,
poverty reduction and community development. This is achieved through mobilization of the people to
form co-operatives, capacity building, policy implementation coordination, monitoring, evaluation, and
regulation based on the belief in effectiveness of group action.
The main objectives of the Department are:
To create an enabling environment for the operations of co-operatives and non-co-operative
groups.
To facilitate the formation of co-operatives and other groups for employment generation and
poverty reduction.
To build the capacity of co-operatives and other groups (Boards, Managers and Staff, Rank and
le members) for effective and efcient service delivery.
http://www.lmisghana.org.gh
Department of
Food and
Agriculture
In line with the Governments policy on decentralisation, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture was
restructured by decentralising extension activities to the district level to facilitate grassroots participation
in the implementation of agricultural policies and programmes.
The decentralization programme took effect from the 15th of October, 1997 with the merger of the
following departments Veterinary Services Department, Crops Department, Extension, Fisheries,
Animal Production, Plant Protection and Regulatory Services & Agricultural Engineering all coming under
one umbrella as District Agricultural Development Unit (DADU).
[http://ghanadistricts.com/districts/?r=1&_=3&sa=3037]
EnterpriseWorks/
VITA (EWV)
EWV, based in Washington DC is an international not-for-prot organization working to combat poverty
through economic development programs based on sustainable, enterprise-oriented solutions.
EWV reduces poverty and raises living standards in developing countries by identifying opportunities for
economic growth among small-scale businesses increasing employment and incomes along the
entire value chain.
EWV has developed a proven, sustainable approach for promoting appropriate technologies, building
markets, expanding trade, and broadening access to nancing, with an emphasis on irrigated
horticulture, tree crops, agro-processing, household energy, natural products, and potable water.
[http://www.enterpriseworks.org/display.cfm?id=2&sub=1]
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 37
Stakeholder Description
Environmental
Protection
Agency (EPA)
The Environmental Protection Agency is the leading public body for protecting and improving the
environment in Ghana.
EPAs general objectives are:
Create awareness to mainstream environment into the development process at the national,
regional, district and community levels;
Ensure that the implementation of environmental policy and planning are integrated and
consistent with the countrys desire for effective, long-term maintenance of environmental
quality;
Ensure environmentally sound and efcient use of both renewable and non-renewable resources
in the process of national development;
Guide development to prevent, reduce, and as far as possible, eliminate pollution and actions
that lower the quality of life;
To apply the legal processes in a fair, equitable manner to ensure responsible environmental
behaviour in the country;
Continuously improve EPAs performance to meet changing environmental trends and
community aspirations;
Encourage and reward a commitment by all EPA staff to a culture based on continuous
improvement and on working in partnership with all members of the Ghanaian community
[http://www.epa.gov.gh/]
EPA has taken up issues of urban agriculture as dened in the City Strategic Agenda
[http://www.ruaf.org/node/498]
Ghana Irrigation
Development
Authority (GIDA)
GIDA was mandated to perform all functions related to irrigation development, including co-operation
with health authorities to contain any water-related health problems that may arise out of an irrigation
project. Irrigation in the inner cities could be considered under informal irrigation and has not formed
part of the activities of GIDA.
[http://www.waterfoodecosystems.nl/docs/Wastewater/fh030624_GHANA_nal.PDF]
Ghana Water
Company Limited
(GWCL)
GWCL is publicly owned and replaced Ghana Water and Sewage Cooperation (GWSC) in 1999. Today,
GWCL is responsible for urban water supply, whereas District Assemblies are responsible for sanitation.
The regulation of water supply has been shifted from the government to independent agencies: Public
Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) and the Water Resources Commission (WRC)
[http://www.gwcl.com.gh/aboutus.php]
The Institute of
Local
Government
Studies (ILGS)
The ILGS strives to be a centre of excellence for education, training, research, advisory, consultancy,
and information management services responding to demands of modern local governance in Ghana.
The Institutes training and education services are intended to facilitate continuing professional
development for effective local governance in Ghana. Educational programmes tailored to suit the
requirements of local government functionaries and stakeholders and are conducted on-site as well as
through distance learning and experience-sharing events.
[http://www.ilgs-edu.org]
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 38
Stakeholder Description
International
Water
Management
Institute (IWMI)
IWMI is a non-prot organisation and one of 15 international research centres supported by the
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). IWMI's Mission is to improve the
management of land and water resources for food, livelihoods and the environment.
[http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/About_IWMI/Overview.aspx]
IWMI's sub-regional research portfolio focuses on efforts to reduce poverty and to provide improved
food security through sustainable and efcient agricultural water use. Related projects range from the
analysis of adoption factors for different farming technologies to basin-scale modelling, irrigation policy
development, understanding the relationship between malaria and irrigation, and identifying and
implementing health risk reduction measures for safer wastewater reuse. Projects are currently
distributed over ve major research areas:
Adaptive management strategies to address climate change
Improving land and water management in agricultural river basins
Identifying promising agricultural water management solutions
Sustainable groundwater use
Urban agriculture and resource recovery from liquid and solid waste
[http://westafrica.iwmi.org/iwmi-in-west-africa.aspx]
Lands
Commission
In December 2008, a new act was enacted and gazetted to establish a new Lands Commission to
integrate the operations of public service land institutions under the Commission in order to secure
effective and efcient land administration and to provide for related matters. The new Lands
Commission is made up of the Survey and Mapping Devision, Land Registration Devision, Land
Valuation Devision and the Public and Vested Lands Management Devision.
[http://www.ghanalap.gov.gh/index1.php?linkid=244]
Metropolitan
Planning &
Coordination Unit
The new Local Government Act 1993 (Act 462) section 46(3) established for each Assembly a District
Planning Coordinating Unit (DPCU).The DPCU or the Metropolitan Planning Coordinating Unit (MPCU)
is to serve as a Secretariat to the Metropolitan Planning Authority and to advise on planning,
programming, monitoring, evaluation and coordination of development plans, policies, programmes and
projects within the Metropolis.
[http://ama.gov.gh/ama/page/5116/planning]
Assists urban agriculture by building market infrastructure for farmers to sell their produce. It educates
and raises public awareness about urban agriculture and food safety.[RUAF, 2008]
Ministry of Food
And Agriculture
(MoFA)
The main goal of the Ministry is to create an environment for sustainable growth and development in the
Agricultural Sector including: Provision of food security, Supply of raw materials for industry, Creation of
employment, Reduction in poverty and the creation of wealth, Greater contribution of the sector to GDP
and the Generation of foreign exchange earnings. The Ministry has departments at the metropolitan,
municipal and district level
[http://www.mofa.gov.gh/]
MoFA reviewed the overall policy document Food and Agriculture Sector Development
Policy (FASDEP), is now incorporating urban agriculture and expecting its urban departments (Metro,
districts and municipalities) to deal with urban agriculture.
[http://www.ruaf.org/node/498]
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 39
Stakeholder Description
Ministry of Local
Government
The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development exists to promote the establishment and
development of a vibrant and well resourced decentralized system of local government for the people of
Ghana to ensure good governance and balanced rural based development.
This is being done by:
Formulating, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and co-ordinating reform policies and
programmes to democratize governance and decentralize the machinery of government.
Reforming and energizing local governments to serve effectively as institutions for mobilizing and
harnessing local resources for local national administration and development.
Facilitating the development of all human settlements through community and popular
participation.
Facilitating the promotion of a clean and healthy environment.
Facilitating horticultural development.
Improving the demographic database for development planning and management.
Promoting orderly human settlement development.
The Ministry believes in efciency, effectiveness and transparency.
Focus on the above will be based on two divisions:
Local government - Strong Structures, Revenue Mobilization and Collection, and Sanitation.
Rural Development - Rural roads, Information and Communications Technology, Tourism and
Agric Processing.
[http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/republic/ministry.prole.php?ID=27]
Public Utilities
Regulatory
Commission
(PURC)
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission of Ghana is an independent body set up toregulate and
overseethe provision of the highest quality ofelectricity and water services to consumers.
PURCs key tasks are to:
Provide guidelines for rates to be charged for the provision of utility services.
Examine and approve water and electricity rates;
Protect the interest of consumers and provides of utility services;
Monitor and enforce standards of performance for provision of utility services;
Promote fair competition among public utilities;
Receive and investigate complaints and settle disputes between consumers and public utility.
Advise any person or authority in respect of any public utility.
[http://www.purc.com.gh/]
Resource Centre
on Urban
Agriculture and
Food Security
(RUAF)
The RUAF Foundation is an international network ofresource centres on Urban Agriculture and Food
Security, which is made up ofPartners representing eight denedregions of the world. International
Water Management Institute (IWMI) is the Partner representing Anglophone West Africa.
The mission of the RUAF Foundation is to contribute to urban poverty reduction, employment
generation, food security, participatory city governance and improved urban environmental
management, by creating enabling conditions for empowerment of male and female urban and peri-
urban farmers, developing the capacity of local authorities and other stakeholders and facilitating the
integration of urban agriculture in gender-sensitive policies and action programmes of local
governments, civic society organisations and private enterprises through participatory approaches.
[http://ruaf.iwmi.org/home.aspx]
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 40
Stakeholder Description
SWITCH SWITCH is an action research programme, implemented and co-funded by the European Union and a
cross-disciplinary team of 33 partners from 15 countries around the world. The SWITCH Consortium
represents academics, urban planners, water utilities and consultants. SWITCH aims to bring about a
paradigm shift in urban water management away from existing ad hoc solutions to urban water
management and towards a more coherent and integrated approach. The vision of SWITCH is for
sustainable urban water management in the 'City of the Future'. Accra is one of 12 cities in which
SWITCH has been involved in developing a vision for water, 30 to 50 years into the future.
[http://switchurbanwater.lboro.ac.uk/index.php]
University of
Ghana
The University of Ghana is a member of AWGUPA with involvement of the College of Agriculture and
Consumer Sciences and the Department of Geography and Resource Development.
In January 2011, the IWMI-RUAF Supported FStT project has commissioned two vegetable sales
outlets at the University of Ghana and at the Ministries. The launch was attended by Urban Agricultural
farmers from Dzorwulu, Plant Pool and Roman Ridge, Dean and lecturers of the College of Agric. and
Consumer Sciences, Representatives from MoFA-AMA, Enterprise Works Ghana, Department of
Cooperatives, IWMI and members of the general public.
[http://ruaf.iwmi.org/events.aspx]
Waste
Management
Department
(WMD)
One of the major tasks given to District Assemblies (or Metropolitan Assemblies) when they were
created was to manage the waste generated within their jurisdiction. They have created Waste
Management Departments (WMD) to manage their liquid and solid waste. In exercising the power
conferred upon them by section 79 of the Local Government Act of 1993, the DAs have made by-laws,
which help the WMDs to perform their functions. [http://www.waterfoodecosystems.nl/docs/
Wastewater/fh030624_GHANA_nal.PDF]
The department has been decentralised to the eleven Sub-Metropolitan District Councils at Ashiedu
Keteke, Osu Klottey, Ayawaso East, Ayawaso Central, Ayawaso West, Ablekuma South, Ablekuma
Central, Ablekuma North, Okai Koi South, Okai Koi North and La.These ofces are headed by a District
Cleansing Ofcer (DCO) and supported by Cleansing Guards.
[http://ama.gov.gh/ama/page/5122/waste-management]
Water Resources
Commission
(WRC)
The Water Resources Commission was established by an Act of Parliament (Act 522 of 1996) with the
mandate to regulate and manage Ghanas Water Resources and co-ordinate government policies in
relation to them. The Act stipulates that ownership and control of all water resources are vested in the
President on behalf of the people, and clearly denes the WRC as the overall body responsible for water
resources management in Ghana. The Commission, which provides a forum for integration and
collaboration of different interests, is composed of the major stakeholders involved in the water sector.
[http://www.wrc-gh.org/]
Women in
Agriculture
Development
(WIAD)
Unit under the ministry of food and agriculture. Mission: To assist rural households and other women in
the agricultural sector to improve their standard of living through improved agricultural practices. Vision:
To improve access of women and other target groups to information, improved agricultural and post
production practices for adoption, facilitating their access to resources towards an increase in
production, high incomes, improved nutrition, health and food security on environmentally sustainable
basis.
[http://mofafoodsecurity.wordpress.com/women-in-agriculture-development/]
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 41
App. 1b. Power-Interest Mapping
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 42
Appendix 2
App. 2a. Overview Field Methodology
Method Application
Participatory mapping 3
Transect walks 3
Focus groups 4
Unstructured interviews 5
Semi-structured interviews 3
Structured interviews 31
Video documentary 1
Market visits 2
Review of minutes from Association
meetings
1
App. 2b. Reasoning Behind the Choice of Methods Used
Question and answer sessions with the various stakeholder groups provided the research team with an opportunity to clarify
stakeholders level of involvement with, advocacy for, and inuence on the Dzorwulu farmers as well as their organisational
beliefs.
The mapping exercises aimed at addressing the issues in the rst and third hypotheses through the analysis of the spatial
dimensions of the site, highlighting differing levels of access to resources. The mapping also intended to graphically depict
the relationships between the farmers, the site, the infrastructure, and neighbouring institutions within the context of the site.
The maps produced through the exercises are to be given to the farmers association and used in whatever capacity the
farmers decide.
The aim of the focus groups was to gather information on the site, the farmers, and their practices for comparison with
secondary data already reviewed, and to engage the farmers in discussion on issues surrounding the three hypotheses. It
was anticipated that out of these discussions the underlying factors would emerge and possible strategies would be
devised. It was also expected that the power relationships within the farmers association would be revealed in the displayed
levels of participation or non-participation in these exercises.
The intentions behind the structured interviews with the members of the farmers association were to gather quantitative data
on the individual farmers and to acquire preliminary information on their farming practices. It was hoped that through the
analysis of the data correlations could be made and conclusions drawn regarding power relationships based on access or
lack of access to resources. The proles produced by the structured interviews provided the research team with a tool
which they are able to give to the farmers association to enhance their organisational capacity.
While the main intention of the video was to document farmers perceptions of traditional rural farming practices and
conventional urban practices, the by-product of the video was the creation of a tool to enhance knowledge sharing among
farmers and stakeholders and a way to raise awareness on urban agriculture in Accra.
On two occasions, members of the research team helped farmers transplant vegetable seedlings, and while this was meant
only to be a gesture of gratitude towards the farmers for participating in the research, these actions assisted the team in
building rapport with the farmers and increased the teams knowledge of the current practices.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 43
The two market visits that were conducted by members of the research team were intended to conrm or challenge
assumptions based on previously reviewed secondary data and to provide deeper insight into power relations between
farmers and market traders as well as an understanding of how these relations affect the farmers position in the value chain.
The semi-structured interviews allowed the researchers to more fully explore issues raised in unstructured interviews and to
examine informant perceptions that would not necessarily have been shared in focus groups or unstructured interviews
where other people would have been present.
The unstructured interviews were conducted to collect general data to conrm and/or challenge previously gathered data
and to inform subsequent interviews.
The transect walks were intended to familiarise the research team with the site and offered the opportunity for them to begin
building rapport with the farmers. The walks also provided the team with a notion of the scale of the site and an initial
assessment of the spatial relationships and inherent advantages and disadvantages implicit in the rst hypothesis.
Additionally, the walks began to reveal to the researchers the power dynamics at play on the site: between the farmers and
the institutions, between the farmers and the land, and between the farmers themselves.
App. 2c. Overview of Field Trip Activities
DATE ACTIVITIES & METHODOLOGY OUTCOMES
Mon. 10 May
(IWMI Day)
Plenary sessions
Presentation of each group
Feedback and Q&A from IWMI and facilitators
Meeting with our facilitator (Ms Eunice Agyarko,
a MoFA extension ofcer)
Received the grounded feedback and useful advices from
Rika, Larbi (IWMI), facilitators and DPU lecturers after the
presentation.
Eunice hinted us about the issues of management of
kiosks in Roman Ridge.
Tue. 11 May Field visit 1
Discussions with farmers in Roman Ridge and
IWMI (Mr Philip)
Proling (Questionnaires and Photographs)
Transect walk 1 with a famer in Dzorwulu and
Alex
Transect walk 2 with a farmer, Philip and Eunice
Understood the issues of Roman Ridge with Kiosks and
research institutions
Learned the basic geographical and historical
backgrounds in Dzorwulu through transect walk
Conducted questionnaires and collected data for famers
proling
Wed. 12 May
(PLANNING
DAY)
Plenary sessions (Presentation and Q&A)
Millennium Village Project and Accra
Metropolitan Associate (AMA)
Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS)
Ministry of Local Government
Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic
Research (ISSER)
Grasped the main objectives and contexts of Millennium
Village Project, as well as the structures of AMA and Sub
Metro
Learned the New Local Governmental System in Ghana,
which emphasises decentralisation, and the 2010-2013
DMTDP-IN line with National Vision, which is under
GSGDA (Ghana Shared Growth and Development
Agenda).
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 44
DATE ACTIVITIES & METHODOLOGY OUTCOMES
Thu. 13 May Field visit 2
Weekly Dzorwulu FA meeting
Demonstration by IMWI (Mr Philip) how to wash
vegetables for selling them at kiosks
Demonstration of CHF (NGO)s organic
composting on the site
Focus group 1 on Knowledge Systems &
Planned interventions
Focus group 2 on Land
Proling (Questionnaires + Mapping +
Photographs)
Unstructured interviews with farmers
Plenary sessions (Presentation and Q&A)
ZoomLion (ZL) (2 Waste Researchers and 1
Communication Employee)
Department of Cooperatives (DC) (Mr Nyarko)
Observed the weekly FA meeting
Learned how planned interventions (Kiosks and CHFs
composting) are carried out in Dzorwulu
Grasped what types of planned interventions have been
carried out and their impacts on farmers practices
Understood the background of the site and farmers and
issues related to land
Mapped out all farmers plots
Conducted questionnaires and collected data for famers
proling
Learned about their inputs (seeds, fertiliser, pesticides,
etc.)
Learned about ZLs Pilot compost project with CFH: at the
depot near plant pool, where the organic waste comes
from the households around, free compost to farmers
(during the pilot project), and the farmers will be trained to
do their own compost.
At the DC we found out that Dzorwulu farmers were
perceived as more organised than Roman Ridge: they
are mature, enlightened and learned.
Fri. 13 May
(LAND DAY)
Plenary sessions (Presentation and Q&A)
Enterprise works (Mr Seth Mahu)
CICOL (The Civil Society Coalition on Land) (Mrs
Lillian Bruce, Co-ordinator))
Land for Life (Mr Nartey, Former Minister for
Land)
Peoples Dialogue and Ghana Federation of the
Urban Poor
Learned about "From Seed to Table project,
establishment of kiosks, composting schemes,
constraints with access to credits, water quality and
piped water, and land security, particularly related to three
farmers groups (Dzorwulu, Plant Pool and Roman Ridge)
Grasped current land tenure issues in Ghana, the roles of
governments and on-going Ghana Land Administration
Project (LAP)
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 45
DATE ACTIVITIES & METHODOLOGY OUTCOMES
Sat. 14 May Morning meeting (Interview and Q&A)
Mr Philip from IWMI
Field visit 3
Proling (Questionnaires + Photographs)
Interview with a staff from a NGO Multi-Feature
and Capacity Enhancing Service
Unstructured group interview and Q&A with
Fuseini and Olu
Unstructured interviews with individual farmers
Market visit 1
Market womens association at Ozona Market
with Eunice
Visit to Eden Tree (NGO for credits) (Catherine)
Learned from Philip about more details upon SWITCH
projects and From Seed to Table (FStT) as well as piped
water systems in Dzorwulu
Collected information about markets women, farming
practices, credits, composting, planned interventions,
water-related problems, land tenure issues, FA, etc.
Learned about the NGO Multi-Feature and Capacity
Enhancing Service, which provides credits to certain
famers in Dzorwulu
Learned the organisation of a recent market womens
association and their perception over urban agriculture
produce
Learned from Eden Tree that farmers need to have piped
water to access loans.
Mon. 16 May
(VALUE-
CHAIN DAY)
Market visit 2
Agbogbloshie Women Market Association with
Sowah
Plenary sessions
MoFA extension ofcer (Mr John Lovelace)
Department of Agriculture extensional services
(Mr Theophilas Osei Owusu, Deputy Director)
Women In Agriculture and Development (WIAD)
(Ms Paulina Addy, Executive Director)
Waste (Mr Blay, Director Waste Department
AMA)
Town and County Planning (Ms Gadys)
Planning Coordinating Unit, AMA (Mr Timothy
Oman, Director)
Learned the organisation of one of the largest markets
association in Accra and their perception over urban
agriculture produce
Learned about MoFAs training to promote more
technology in farming practices, regulations on fertilisers
and current conditions of promotion of organic farming
(sustainable farming practices).
Learned from Mr Theophilas about technical support of
NACE, started from 1993-94, such as trainings for
machinery and material supplies.
Learned from Mr Theophilas about issues of land,
assessment of water quality, on-going land survey with
the geographical specialist
Learned about IWMIs trainings for female farmers, such
as appropriate processing after productions
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 46
DATE ACTIVITIES & METHODOLOGY OUTCOMES
Tue. 17 May Field visit 4
Unstructured group interviews with three women
farmers and Olu
Interview with a staff from Ghana Water
Company (bill delivery government ofcer)
Focus Group 3 with labourers
Focus Group 4 about monetised farming inputs
Collected more details about fertilisers/composting,
labourers, water, FA, kiosks, other alternative work (for
ladies).
Learned about water supply systems from Ghana Water
Company.
Learned from labourers about their backgrounds, salaries,
farming practices, their relation with market women, etc.
Learned about farmers incomes, yield, inputs (seeds,
water, fertilisers/composting), labourers, and asked what
they want to be changed in terms of farming.
Appendix 3
History of the Site and Flows of Power, Knowledge and Resources. 1970-2011
1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020
! !!
First MoFA model
farm !
SAPs/Trade and Currency Liberalisation/Real Estate
and Infrastructure Development!
Change from planting traditional crops to more protable foreign crops!
Usage of chemical fertilisers!
Decrease in the quality of water and increase in the amount of waste!
Decrease in the quality of soil due to chemical fertilisers!
Hiring of family/friends as farm helpers!
Hired
foreign
labour!
Expanded piped water system!
Farmers
Association!
Regular planned
interventions!
!
Structural changes
resulting in ows of
knowledge, power,
interdependencies and
altered ecological
ows!
Flows of
knowledge and
power that have
affected
practices and
ecological ows
that have
resulted in
environmental
degradation!
Flows of power
resulting in the
marginalisation of
groups in the society!
Flows of power strengthening
capacity!
Flows of knowledge inuencing farmer
practices!
Farming continued informally on land owned by
GRIDCO!
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 47
Appendix 4
Visualisation of Strategy 1 - Closing the Water Loop
1.) ond svsLem
Serles of consecuuve
cascadlna ponds Lermlnauna
ln a nal reservolr
reducuon of helmlnLh eaas
and proLozoa cvsLs Lhrouah
sedlmenLauon
reducuon of paLhoaenlc
bacLerla and vlruses Lhrouah
exposure Lo Lhe naLural
envlronmenL (uv, oxvaen),
maxlmlzlna reLenuon umes,
planLs and naLural predaLors
2.) Solar pump
& sLoraae Lank
ump ls powered bv a
carbon-free and susLalnable
enerav source
Slmple and robusL svsLem,
whlch ensures LhaL
malnLenance ls mlnlmal and
servlce or repalrs can be
conducLed bv Lhe farmers
Lhemselves
ConnecLed Lo elevaLed
sLoraae Lank
3.) CravlLv based drlp
lrrlaauon svsLem
urlp lrrlaauon dellvers waLer
(and ferullzer) dlrecLlv Lo Lhe
rooLs of planLs
redlcLed waLer savlnas of up
Lo 40-80
lerullzer, pesuclde, and labor
savlnas over convenuonal
lrrlaauon svsLems
URBAN AGRICULTURE - ACCRA - DPU - ESD 2011
DZORWULU
Appendix 5
Hypothesis 1: Analysis of stakeholders and motivation
Stakeholder Motivation
Farmers Reduction in pathogens, reduction in chemical inputs (lower cost), reduction in labour
Labourers Initially more opportunity for employment during the pond-building stage, but less demand for
labour after system is installed
NOV Mono Financial, can be used as an example when trying to sell for use in UA
IWMI Can be studied as a potential solution to the wastewater issue
Can be seen as a way to promote UA in the city
MoFA Using project as an example for waste water usage as a model for other UA sites within
Accra
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 48
Appendix 6 Overview of Planned Interventions Taking Place in Dzorwulu since 2006
External
interventions in
Dzorwulu
Actors Date What Results
Research on soil and
water quality
IWMI 2006 N.A. N.A.
Farmer eld school on
integrated pest
management
MoFA 2006 N.A. N.A.
Research on compost
and Neem extract
using lettuce as a test
crop
MoFA 2007 N.A. N.A.
Demonstrations on the
correct use of agro
chemicals
MoFA 2007-2009 To apply the right amount at the
appropriate time
N.A.
Research on using
urine as a fertilizer
IWMI 2009-2010 Field trials (compare the effects of
urine coupled with NPK, faeces
or poultry manure on the yield of
cabbage); Provide training and
sensitise farmers and extension
ofcers for the topic
Not adopted. Logistics and
cultural barriers. The rst run was
successful, however the second
one during the dry season
showed negative impacts on the
productivity. After termination of
the trials, the practices were not
taken up by any of the farmers
Capacity building on
group strengthening
Dept. of
Cooperatives
, funded by
Enterprise
Works
2009 N.A. N.A.
Kiosks Enterprise
Works,
funded by
IWMI
2010 -
onwards
Improve the Dzorwulu, Plant Pool
and Roman Ridge farmers
position in the value chain by
training them to market their own
produce and to create an
additional and stable marketing
channel. 30% of each sites
produce were aimed to be sold
through the kiosk
On-going. Only 5 % of the
vegetables produced at
Dzorwulu are being sold to the
kiosk at present. The farmers are
not managing the marketing
themselves.
Composting
experiment
RUAF-IWMI February
2011
Compare farmers practices and
good practices of use of
composted and non-composted
poultry manure in terms of
pathogen contamination and
yields
On-going
Composting
demonstration and
trials
CHF May 2011 Provide farmers with a sample of
the compost and offer work
opportunities at the composting
plant in exchange for compost
N.A.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 49
External
interventions in
Dzorwulu
Actors Date What Results
Fungicide, Herbicide
and Insecticide trials
Israeli input
dealer,
Dissengulf
March 2011 Provide farmers with a free
samples of the products for
marketing purposes
N.A.
Nursery and
transplanting
techniques
FstT-RUAF N.A. Training on sowing seeds and
transplanting techniques to
improve the yields, reduce the
amount of seed waste and
enable farmers to facilitate easy
crop counts
Adopted. Farmers combined it
with their conventional practices
and came up with new
outcomes. Farmers can count
the number of products from the
beds more easily. That provides
more clarity about their future
incomes.
Intercropping and crop
rotation
MoFA N.A. Introduce natural pest control and
preserve soil quality
Partially adopted
Demonstration of safe
vegetable washing
and handling
IWMI On-going N.A. N.A.
Credits, loans Multi-
features
capacity
enhancing
services
---------------
Eden Tree
2010-2014
(5 year
project)
N.A. The credits allow farmers to buy
their personal equipment
(pumps, pesticide canisters etc.).
Previously, farmers borrowed
money from customers, which
had led to problems, so farmers
appreciate the new system.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 50
Appendix 7
Hypothesis 2: Analysis of stakeholders and motivation
Actor Motivation
Dzorwulu Farmers To increase their control over how their knowledge is created, shared, disseminated, and
used.
To increase their control over how and which interventions are chosen for their site
To improve their capacity for negotiating with institutions and other stakeholders
Plant Pool Farmers To improve their organizational capacity thereby improving their efciency
Greater Accra Cooperative
Vegetable Farmers and
Marketing Union
To gain more political power through increased membership
MoFA To simplify MoFA-farmer interactions and reduce overall Ag Extension Ofcer workloads.
IWMI To full part of their aims and objectives to support UA
To simplify the coordination of planned interventions across multiple farm sites and reduce
duplication
Appendix 8
Hypothesis 3: Analysis of stakeholders and motivation
Actor Motivation
Dzorwulu Farmers
Association and Farmers
Secure land tenure
AWGUPA/RUAF, IWMI Full part of their aims and objectives to support UA
MoFA Demonstrate the case as a blueprint to show the potentials for UA
GRIDCO. Benet from more responsibilities of famers to take care of the site
Political advocates Support UA as their political platform
Media (Radio, Television,
Newspaper, Magazines,
etc.)
Pursuit social ethics and disclose the accountabilities
Enterprise Works Continue the negotiation process with GRIDCO
Land for Life, Ghanas LAP
(Land Administration
Project), CICOL (The Civil
Society Coalition on Land)
Full part of their aims and objectives
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 51