The week-long training of trainers’ workshop, which ended in Tamale, was to equip participants with enhanced knowledge and skills to train livestock farmers to adopt GAHP to improve sustainable animal production.
It was in line with the European Union (EU) Food Security Response in Northern Ghana project, a three-year (August, 2023 to July, 2026) project, being implemented by Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Regional and District Departments of Agriculture and civil society organisations.

The project seeks to improve food and nutrition security and sustainable livelihoods for vulnerable rural farming populations in six selected districts in the Savannah, North East, and Upper East Regions.

The participants, who were drawn from Sawla-Tuna-Kalba, Central Gonja, North Gonja, and North East Gonja Districts, are expected to conduct a step-down training for livestock farmers in their areas on good animal housing for ruminants, poultry and pigs, breeds selection, improved feeding, disease and pest management and farm records keeping.

The trainings for the livestock farmers will also focus on current trends of use of innovative tools to increase livestock farmers’ access to agricultural extension and information for production, and climate change effects and mitigation strategies with focus on livestock production.

Mr Seidu Sulemana, Savannah Regional Director of Agriculture, speaking during the closing of the training, commended FAO and EU for their support to improve the livestock sector in the region.

Participants, numbering 32, were taken through topics including animal housing, feed and feed formulation, agricultural extension, animal health, climate change effects on the environment especially focusing on animal production and strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change amongst others.

Mr Sulemana said the training had equipped the participants to work as part of the Feed Ghana Programme to ensure success and gave assurance that “We will deliver to bring lasting results to our communities.”
He reiterated that raising livestock was profitable and said the training would go a long way to improve livestock production in the region.

Ms Nafisa Tabari, Animal Health Officer at Central Gonja District, who was a participant, lauded the feed formulation aspect of the training, saying she would impart the knowledge and skills to the farmers to improve feed preparation especially during the dry season to ensure availability of feed for their animals.

Mr Hussein Yusuf, Veterinary Officer, Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District, expressed appreciation for the training, saying the in-depth knowledge on disease prevention, control, and vaccination of livestock and poultry would help keep animals healthy in the area.