African agricultural research and extension to promote peace. In an effort to advance conservation-based farming approaches while developing the world’s best research and teachings for no-till practices, ConDev Senior Advisor Kofi Boa—in coordination with Rob Lalka of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation—created the Center for No-Till Agriculture in Ghana. This first-of-its-kind institution serves as a focal point for no-till research and activities as part of a Brown Revolution approach.
The Center on Conflict and Development partnered with local research and statistics institutions in Ghana, Liberia and Senegal to conduct an assessment of the state of food security and farm production in these three Sub-Saharan countries. The primary purpose of this exercise was to understand the different farming techniques, farm income levels, food security and socioeconomic indicators that characterize diverse sets of farmers.
AgriCorps connects American agricultural volunteers to the demand for experiential, school-based, agricultural education in developing countries. The organization, led by Trent McKnight, started operating in Ghana with the support of the Center on Conflict and Development. ConDev Director Ed Price is a former member of AgriCorps’ Board of Directors.
ConDev Senior Advisor Fred Boadu traveled to Ghana to conduct a survey on street youth in the country. On the streets of Accra, youth face issues such as harassment, vehicles and violence. By cultivating an interest in agriculture, the objective would be to not only provide land but to create a community. At the moment, though, the farm sector has labor constraints, and studies show that youth aren’t very interested in pursuing agricultural careers.