The Howard G Buffett Foundation, Centre for no-till agriculture - No-till, cover cropping, farmer-managed natural regeneration | Knowledge Hub | Circle Economy Foundation
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Business case
The Howard G Buffett Foundation, Centre for no-till agriculture - No-till, cover cropping, farmer-managed natural regeneration
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The HGBF | CNTA gives Ghanaian farmers who are interested in alternative farming methods a strong grounding on the benefits, evidence and methods of conservation agriculture. Farmers take part in short term courses at the Centre, itself a model farm which grows diverse crops using only conservative agriculture techniques.

Problem

Conservation agriculture, through no-till, is a practice that retains the soil’s healthy balance of nutrients, resulting in consistent levels of production and the ability to grow a wide range of produce which keeps farming families healthy and provides them with a sustainable source of income. Farming methods such as slash and burn, pesticides, and tilling threaten food security in Ghana. Farmers using these ‘traditional farming’ methods typically see decreases in the productivity of their land after just two years. By leaving cut-down vegetation on fields rather than burning it, for example, a healthy layer of mulch builds up and the soil becomes richer and less dependent on artificial inputs. No-till also promotes natural processes of weed and pest control.

Solution

The HGBF | CNTA gives Ghanaian farmers who are interested in alternative farming methods a strong grounding on the benefits, evidence and methods of conservation agriculture. Farmers take part in short term courses at the Centre, itself a model farm which grows diverse crops using only conservative agriculture techniques. The Centre emphasises hands-on field demonstrations and community-based training events alongside classroom based-learning. By attending these courses, farmers can establish an important network of other farmers who are making the change from traditional farming to conservation agriculture. The Centre reports impressive results: a 35% yield increase, a 45% decrease in labour inputs, and a 25% increase in farmers’ disposable income after two years.

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