Basic Needs-Ghana assists 2,000 women
Two thousand women with mental challenges in the northern part of the country have been assisted to embark on dry season gardening as a means of enhancing their food security.
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The assistance was given by Basic Needs - Ghana, an NGO that is into mental health, through a project known as “Food Security for Empowerment and Poverty Reduction (FOSEPREP) funded by the Canadian International Development Agency through the Ministry of Local Government.
Local organisations
The project, which is being implemented in partnership with two local organisations - Zuuri Organic Vegetable Farmers Organisation (ZOVFA) and Sandema Presbyterian Community Based Rehabilitation, will benefit women in the West Mamprusi, Builsa North and Talensi Districts.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic at a ceremony in Tamale to present two motorbikes to the partner organisations to enhance their monitoring and supervision of the activities of the beneficiary women, the Executive Director of Basic Needs - Ghana, Mr Badimak Peter Yaro, said the project sought to improve household food security and nutrition of the beneficiary women.
He said with food insecurity and malnutrition being rampant in the northern part of the country, “persons with mental problems, including epilepsy, are most vulnerable as they are marginalised with limited opportunities to become productive and secure their livelihoods.”
He said for the three-year duration of the project, Basic Needs - Ghana would procure and distribute seeds/seedlings, organic manure and gardening equipment, including ‘soka’ pumps and concrete slabs for beneficiaries to produce vegetables and fruits for household consumption and marketing.
Agricultural extension services
Mr Yaro said beneficiaries would also be supported with agricultural extension services to enable them to derive maximum benefits from the cultivation in terms of yields and food safety.
He said measures would be put in place to ensure sustainability of the project after its three-year duration.
The Project Officer of ZOVFA, Mr Samuel Abugbilla, thanked Basic Needs for assisting them with the motorbike.