Ghana Farmer Field Schools Success Story
Kwabena Antwi-Boasiako is a 56 year old cocoa farmer. He lives in Amanchia village in the Atwima Nwabiagya District in Ashanti Region of Ghana. He is married with 9 children. He established a 2 hectare hybrid variety cocoa farm in 1985/1986 (the farm is now approximately 20 years old). Cocoa accounts for 80% of his household income. Other crops cultivated by Mr. Antwi-Boasiako are oil palm, cassava, maize and vegetables.
Prior to attending the Farmer Field School (FFS), implemented through the Sustainable Tree Crops Program (STCP) in 2004 with industry funding support, Mr. Antwi-Boasiako had never thinned out (i.e. heavy pruning by removing crowded cocoa trees) or remove chupons and mistletoes (light pruning). By attending the FFS and participating in field exercises, he saw and learned how crowded trees are thinned out, and mistletoes and chupons are pruned. He used to believe that the more cocoa trees per unit area, the more pods he would harvest. But through the FFS discovery-based learning exercise, he came to appreciate that correct spacing of cocoa trees (8-10ft x 8-10ft.) and regular removal of chupons resulted in increased pod formation and size, while reducing pest and diseases. Mr. Antwi-Boasiako has since put into practice all that he learned, especially by thinning out and reducing he number of trees on his field. He has witnessed increases in yields and income of over 60% within one year after FFS as evidenced from his cocoa sales pass book. He harvested and sold 415kg and 617kg of dried cocoa beans in 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 after implementing the new techniques on his farm. He attributes the increase to what he has learned in the FFS which has empowered him to make the right decisions on his farm.
Mr. Antwi-Boasiako reports that he had given up somehow on cocoa farming prior to attending the FFS. He only went to the farm because in the villages he had limited choice of work. However with the increases seen, he enjoys waking up in the morning and going to the farm. He sees prospects for improving on his farm beyond what has been achieved and he is optimistic that his livelihood and that of his family will improve.