Description:
The Presbyterian Agricultural Station – Langbensi, is one of the four agricultural stations established by the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and the Dutch missionaries to supplement Government effort in attaining food and income security in Northern Ghana It was established in 1974 in Langbensi, a community in the East Mamprusi District of Northern Region. It is specifically situated on the Gambaga – Walewale road, 28.8km from Walewale and 19.2km from Gambaga The Station was managed by the Dutch missionaries until 1988 when it was handed to a Ghanaian manager. PAS-L though located in East Mamprusi district, covers communities in both East and West Mamprusi Districts and Bunkpurugu -Yunyoo district The organization is currently being run by five (5) well trained extension officers, Manager, an accounts officer and 4 administrative support staff. The station’s Development Philosophy centre's on four thematic areas: • The use of participatory technology/ innovation development (PT/ID) and sustainable livelihoods approach (SLA) to development • Building on indigenous knowledge systems • Partnership, networking and collaboration • Business approach to agricultural development
Recent Accomplishments:
Soybeans and maize value chains well developed with over 2500 farmers producing and marketing 800mt of soybeans and over 1,200mt of maize annually
Functional Secondary Farmer Based organizations in place with a total membership of 85 active primary FBOs, 40 of which are registered with the department of cooperatives as cooperatives societies
Improved access to loans, markets/buyers and other support services by farmers
Conservation agriculture modules such as zero/minimum tillage, ‘zai’ etc are being adopted by farmers to reduce the impact of climate change
Average stock levels of small ruminants per small holder farmer, especially women, has increased from 2 to 7 as a result of the revolving credit system and other support programs implemented
Improved extension service delivery as a result of the presence of trained peer extension workers and community based extension agents
Farmers/communities now able to engage duty bearers and demand for services through community action planning and implementation.
Quote:
“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10)
Objectives:
To generate funds internally for the sustainability of the station through the establishment and operation of viable income generation activities
To increase and sustain production (food and income security) among small scale farmers (60% women) in the catchment area
To strengthen the business capacities of Farmer Based Organizations to participate effectively in the agriculture based value chains
Partner Activities:
Administrative activities • Capacity building for staff • Sourcing for funds (from donors & partners) • Collaboration and partnership with other actors • Program coordination, monitoring and evaluation
Agriculture extension & technical support activities • Facilitating agriculture transformation/commercialisation among farmers • Facilitating FBOs development and legalization • Farmer credit & market linkages • Farmers capacity building (agronomic practices, post harvest management, livestock production, soil & water management etc) • Promoting sustainable farming techniques • Farmer advocacy on misuse of pesticides • Strengthening community based extension systems • Gender, HIV & AIDs, and climate change education
Agribusiness/Income generation activities • Poultry production • Piggery production • Cash crop production • Grain (maize & soybean) aggregation and marketing • Sale of agriculture inputs (fertilizer, seeds, weedicides etc)
