Milestone
The Fresh Green Ghana Project
The project “Safe and accessible greenhouse production of (fruit) vegetables in Ghana” (“Fresh Green Ghana”), among others, was intended to achieve improvement and enlargement of protected horticulture through data sharing and technology improvement, including the post-harvest chain, in collaboration with growers. This was to contribute to greater availability of fresh (fruit) vegetables for the urban poor in Ghana.
This project commenced in 2019 and was finally wound up in 2021.
Fresh Green Ghana Project was in line with ARF –NWO values of co creation, research uptake and knowledge sharing. The project sought to address the need of improving nutrition by enhancing food security of fresh fruits and vegetables. And also to address the issue of post- harvest loses along the value chain
- The knowledge and research uptake was addressed as a team, so as to proper disseminate the knowledge with the other growers, this led to the formation of the Association.
- Consortium members were to adopt a liner pathway in the co creation terms so as to meet the objectives of the project.
- Impact pathway are being regularly reviewed as to ensure all major stakeholders are proper aligned.\
Fresh Green Ghana representatives pitching the project and explaining the Project Impact Pathway and Theory of Change.
The project not only focused on the trial and data collection and analysis but also touched on thematic areas such as:
- Greenhouse Models in Ghana
- Employment in the Greenhouse industry in Ghana
- Gender balance in the industry
- Access to Finance
- Formation of the Association
Consortium Members
Within the project period, data on environmental conditions outside and inside four greenhouses in southern Ghana were obtained. Quite high temperatures were recorded both inside and outside which were determined to have negative effects on crop growth and production. Influencing factors being altitude, size, and orientation of the greenhouse, use of screens, and wind speed and direction were observed within the period. Several management options to reduce the temperature increase are discussed. With this quantitative information, greenhouse designers and constructors and growers were better informed to make the right decisions.
A knowledge-sharing conference was held at the Oak Plaza Hotels, Spintex with stakeholders made up of greenhouse growers, agronomists, government representatives, input suppliers, policy makers, media members and interested members to begin the knowledge disseminating process. The Conference was an outstanding success which stimulated relevant interactions and discussions on the growth of the industry in general. Booklets have been designed with the right information and made available at the Association to guide farmers and new entrants.