Cashew Development Project commenced in 2002 and ended in September, 2010. The project was implemented on four components namely, a. Production development. b. Extension and Training. c. Credit. d. Project Management.

During the implementation period, 2,710 old unproductive cashew trees were identified and stumped and 2,083. Averagely 75% picked and are performing well.

1,465 ha of farm land were put under cashew and this was established by M: 1,181; F194. 71 farms were improved upon in the form of pruning, thinning and weed control by using herbicide. Cashew production level has risen from 36,000kg in 2002 to 102,261 kg in 2010.These activities were under the production development component.

Under the Extension and Training, 305 groups were formed; trained and developed but only 101 are functioning. Out of 101, 60 accessed credit from Agricultural Development Bank, Tamale

44 Yield demonstrations were established teach farmers on weed control, spraying, pruning and thinning to improve their yields.

6 processing groups were trained in processing of cashew apple in to juice, jam and distilling of local gin.

The capacity of the staff and 20 farmers were built in stumping of old unproductive cashew trees, grafting, row planting, timely harvesting, storage, correct use of pesticides, pruning, thinning and top working.

Under the Credit component, 101 production groups were linked to AgDB, Tamale but only 60 groups were financed due to low repayment of loans. An amount of 81,396.00 was disbursed to 60 groups.  In 2003, GH¢ 10,325.65 was disbursed to 20 groups. 2005, 15,070.00 was disbursed to 11 groups and 2008, 56,000.00 disbursed to 29 groups for intercropping of their cashew fields. Repayment was around 20 %.

Under the Project management, monthly, quarterly and annual reports were submitted to the project management unit. The staff monitored and supervised all the project activities and advised farmers accordingly. Farmers for a were organized yearly to ascertain farmers’ problems and find means of solving them. Fuel for AEA for CDP activities and annual review meetings to assess the project performance in the district.

Livestock Development Project:

Commenced in 2004 and ended in December 2010. The project objective was to build the capacity of farmers, giving them credit in cash or kind to improve their existing livestock breeds or to start livestock production and lastly to reduce importation of livestock and livestock products in the district.

The project was implemented on five components: 1. Development of animal production. 2. Development of animal health. 3.  Credit provision. 4. Capacity building and 5. Project management.

DEVELOPMENT OF ANIMAL PRODUCTION

Under this component, a total of two thousand one hundred and fifteen (2,115) participants (1,441 males and 674 females) were trained in the following;

Breed improvement

• Demonstration and trainings on treatment of straw with urea as supplementary feeding for livestock
• Training  of 60 livestock farmers  on livestock farming as a business venture
• Training 50 pig farmers on management of pregnant sow and neonates
• Organizing 1 day training for 100 pig farmers on non-convectional feed formulation and utilization
• Training farmers on Improved housing construction
• Practical training on closed castration, tagging, hoof trimming and dipping for participatory breeders
• Training of 30 livestock farmers on fattening of livestock using Agro by products.
• Training livestock farmers on record keeping

A total of 864 livestock farmers were trained involving 690 males and 174 females. This was against a target of 740 farmers making an achievement of 116%.

Dairy development

• Training of 65 new milk collectors or processors in hygienic milk handling and processing fresh milk in to Wagashi (Cheese).

A total of 311 livestock farmers were trained involving 135 males and 166 females. This was against a target of 214 farmers making achievement of 145.3%

Livestock Feed improvement and water

• Practical demonstration in forage conservation for dry season feeding of livestock
• Forum for stakeholders on release of land for communal range land improvement
• Awareness creation for farmers and MOFA staff on range land management and utilization
• Maintenance, sanitation and management of stock water facilities.
• Rangeland management and utilization
• Assisting farmers to establish fodder bank
• Formation of grazer group
• Formation of water user associations.

In all, as against a target of 858 farmers, one thousand and one hundred farmers were trained (1,100) – 831 males and 249 females were involved. Thus recording an achievement of 128%.

DEVELOPMENT OF ANIMAL HEALTH

Disease surveillance covered seven thousand, eight hundred and thirty (7,830) livestock farmers (5,126 males; 2,704 females). The following are trainings and activities carried out during the project implementation:

• Veterinary jurisprudence for MOFA staff
• Handling, trimming and application of l-2 vaccine
• Control and prevention of African swine fever.
• Organized farmers’ forum on the importance of livestock immunization at zonal levels.
• Organised movement of healthy livestock.
• Organized forum stakeholders on meat hygiene.
• Vaccination of cattle, small ruminants and local poultry against CBPP, PPR and NCD respectively. Anthrax and blackleg vaccination was also carried out. In all 80,560 animals were vaccinated.
• Disease surveillance was carried out in 241 communities in the district.

To maintain a disease free environment for a healthy productive stocks and wholesome meat and meat products, disease surveillance was carried out throughout the district by four veterinary staff and AEAS.

This entails daily visitation to communities’ livestock and poultry farms and markets, slaughter houses and slums, loading point for livestock and backyard farms. This activity was to ensure early detection, control and prevention of scheduled diseases outbreaks such as anthrax, brucellosis, tuberculosis, FMD, rabies.

Ante mortem and post mortem examination of livestock and control of movement of livestock played a major role in the detection and prevention of disease outbreak between 2004 and 2010 more than 6000 cattle, small ruminants, pigs and other species were satisfied for movement and slaughter.

These activities accounts for more than 80% of the revenue generated and paid into the veterinary revolving fund account (see appendix V).

At the clinic and field levels various diseases such as diarrhea, pneumonia, mange, ecto and endo parasites were encountered and treated.

Some scheduled disease outbreaks that occurred in West Gonja District between 2004 and 2010 were as follows:

1. PPR – this occurred in almost all communities, towns and villages, however, the disease has been brought under control through regular and early medication as well as vaccinations.
2. CBPP
3. Anthrax
4. FMD
5. Black leg
6. Rabies
7. Newcastle disease
8. Brucellosis

During ante and post mortem examination, some diseases such as; black leg, CBPP, FMD were detected and traced to community kraals at Soalepe, Alhassankura, Agric settlement, Dapalakura, Achubunyo and other communities. This was followed by placing a ban on movement of livestock and mass vaccinations of all animals within the zone affected.

• Carried out livestock census in the district.
• Conduct 10 days training and equipped 5 new CAHWS

A total amount of seven thousand, three hundred and seven-two Ghana cedis, sixty pesewas(GH¢ 7,372.60) was generated by the district as a revolving fund.

CREDIT PROVISION

The project  made provision for a credit facility to enable livestock farmers, processors and traders to access short –term loans (6-12 months ) for animal feed, drugs and veterinary services and breed improvement.

Groups of livestock farmers, traders and processors were screened and vetted for credit provision from ADB. The groups were made up of producers and marketers as follows:

1. marketing groups – 2
2. sheep production groups – 9
3. goat production groups – 5
4. cattle production – 1
5. pig production – 7

A total of 24 groups were formed.

Three executive members comprising the chairman, secretary and treasurer for each of 12 groups i.e., 36 representatives were given a 1 day training in savings mobilization, loan recovery and management. Another workshop on awareness creation of the consequences of nonpayment of loans was organized for the groups recommended for credit from ADB.

• An amount of thirteen thousand and two hundred Ghana cedis was disbursed to four groups with a total membership of thirty-eight (38) comprising 33 males and 5 females by Agricultural Development Bank, Tamale.
• Sixty (60) farmers comprising of fifty (50) males and ten (10) females received six hundred (600)Sheep as credit in kind

CAPACITY BUILDING

The district built the capacity of stakeholders on the Livestock Development Project.549 (448Males; 101Females) stakeholders capacity was built in;

1. Veterinary jurisprudence

2. Annual planning and budgeting.

3. Savings mobilization and loan recovery.

4. Prevention and control of tsetse fly and trypanosomiasis.

5. Training livestock farmers on livestock farming as a business.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Project Management released funds to the district for monitoring and evaluation which was mostly undertaken by MOFA staff (AEAs, DDOs, LS and DDA), 4 advisory and 10 other stakeholders. The following were the activities carried out during the project implementation:

1. Field monitoring of LDP activities
2. Quarterly meeting to review and appraise LDP activities
3. Fuel for AEA for LDP activities
4. Annual work plan and budget.

NERICA Rice Dissemination Project started in 2008 and ending in 2011. The project looked at group formation, training, demonstration, block farm and grain producers. In 2010, 54 groups were formed comprising of 340 Males and 111 Females to produce NERICA rice grains.

7 groups comprising 46 farmers (M: 37; F: 9) cultivated 26 ha and three institutions also cultivated 4 ha of NERICA rice in the district. 10 groups of 65 membership (M: 48; F: 17) produced 85 ha of NERICA rice grain whilst 10 farmers carried out 10 ha demonstrations on NERICA rice 1 and 2. 102 farmers and staff benefited from various form of training.