Women farmers in Zuarungu in the Upper East Region have received training in moringa processing and soap making as part of efforts to empower them with alternative income generating ventures to improve their livelihoods.
The training programme, which was supported by Trees for the Future, a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Ghana, Kumasi Institute of Tropical Agriculture (KITA) and United States Peace Corps Volunteers, brought together 60 participants.
Mr Lovans Owusu-Takyi, Country Director for Trees for the Future, Ghana in an address to the farmers, said his NGO was committed to improving the livelihoods of the youths, famers, women groups and rural communities.
He said the NGO had provided training to about 250 communities, 3,000 famers, 200 schools and 60 civil society organizations in Ghana.
He said Trees for the Future-Ghana had also provided them with fast growing multi-purpose tress that improved the environment and restores degraded lands, and income generating opportunities.
Mr Owusu-Takyi, who is also a lecturer at KITA, advised farmers’ groups to practice agro-forestry by integrating fast growing trees such as leuceana, moringa, cassia semea and other fruit trees on their farmers to help improve their soil fertility.
He said his NGO would continue to support the communities in agro-forestry, income generating ventures and assist farmers to process their produce and access market for them.
Miss Mary Watoon and Mr Robert Veling, United States Peace Corps volunteers in Ghana, expressed their gratitude to Trees for the Future for the training programme for the communities, adding that they would be committed to continue to support the farmers to improve their livelihood.
Mr George Ansah, An Assistant Technician for Trees for the Future, trained the participants on how moringa leaves could be processed into powder, soap, creams, hand and dish washers, pills, tea bags, toothpaste and other products.
He called for increased investments in moringa products, so as to provide economic benefits for the nations.