RESERACH PROJECT
SOLUTION ORIENTED RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT (SOR4D)
FOCUS
OPC
OPC is a non-governmental organisation in Ghana that promotes social entrepreneurship in the field of regenerative food and farming systems. Our centres connect national and international stakeholders and enable them to co- develop applied solutions.
FOCUS OF THE TRAININGS
ORGANIC FARMING
Diversified agroforestry system
Permaculture
Scalability / Reproducibility
Food processing
2023
Research plans ready, main research begins
2022
Training of 40 social entrepreneurs
(Humanitarian MBA)
Start of eco-tourism in Busua
2025
Synthesis report on dynamic agroforestry systems prepared, data collection for ecological and socio-economic studies completed, first draft for DAF educational program prepared, establishment of a strong actor network initiated
2026
DAF education program validated, strategy developed for national policy-based DAF program including incentive system
PARTNERS
SWITZERLAND
SDC (Directorate for Development and Cooperation)
SNF (Swiss National Science Foundation)
Coop cooperative
UP Development
GHANA
University of Ghana
KNUST (University of Science and Technology)
Yayra Glover Ltd.
OPC (Obrobibini Peace Complex)
PROBLEM
More than half of the world's cocoa beans are produced in West Africa. Cultivation usually takes place in monocultures, which have a negative impact on the environment and are dependent on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In addition, monoculture systems are vulnerable to climate change and by producing only one product (cocoa), farmers suffer directly from the fluctuations in the global market price for cocoa.
SOLUTION
A possible solution is to grow cocoa in dynamic agroforestry systems (DAF). At DAF, suitable forest tree species are specifically selected and managed. The diversity of trees and other (useful) plants reduces dependence on external inputs, strengthens resilience to climate change and improves soil fertility. In addition, farmers' livelihoods are improved by providing them with a wider range of products that they can use or sell themselves. This ensures a higher and more stable income as well as better nutrition. At the same time, herbs, shrubs and medicinal trees can be used for health care, which has great advantages, especially in rural areas where access to health care is limited and unreliable.
CONTEXT
However, growing in DAF requires a lot of work and knowledge. There is also a lack of interest among educated Ghanaian youth in cocoa farming. A thorough understanding of local conditions such as the environment, society and culture is necessary to promote the development of DAF. This research project examines what benefits DAF has for the environment and the well-being of people in Ghana and how DAF can be made more attractive to the local population.
