Over 50 participants have been trained in livestock farming at a two-day trainer of trainers workshop held at Suhum-Abesim Dawa in the Eastern Region.

Organised by Farming in Africa (FIA) in collaboration with GIZ, the initiative aimed to equip farmers, especially women, with sustainable livestock management practices, modern techniques and community-based knowledge-sharing strategies.

Workshop

The workshop also featured presentations from experienced veterinarians, farmers and professors, covering both local challenges and global innovations in animal farming.

The Founder and CEO of FIA, Mr Frederick B Frimpong, emphasised the power of social media in reshaping the perception of agriculture among the youth.

"This journey started with the passion to solve a problem.

Many people see livestock farming as unattractive, picturing only smelly pig farms or stubborn goats. We want to change that narrative," he said.

Network

According to Mr Frimpong, the goal is to build a network of local trainers who can reach and empower farmers in their own communities.

"Through this programme, we are not just teaching theory.

We are providing practical, hands-on learning that farmers can immediately apply.

Knowledge never finishes. It grows when shared," he added.

Mr Frimpong highlighted the need to empower local farmers with both traditional knowledge and innovative practices, stressing that sustainable development depended on knowledge sharing.

“Money will finish, but knowledge never finishes,” he said, encouraging participants to become change agents in their communities.

The Deputy Regional Director of Agriculture for the Eastern Region, Tharzia Nimako, who officially launched the workshop, praised the focus on women.

She said "women hold the family together.

When we empower them with skills and knowledge, the whole community benefits.

I am happy to be part of a programme that addresses gender disparities in agriculture."

Furthermore, she encouraged participants to remain open-minded and eager to learn.

"Forget about what you think you know.

Be ready to gain new knowledge and pass it on to others, especially the women in your communities who may not have this opportunity," she added.

One of the participants, Dela Kafui, who has been farming for over a decade, shared her experience.

"I love seeing things grow. It's not just about the money, but the joy of planting and harvesting.

This workshop has opened my eyes to new ways of doing things, especially with livestock," she said.