Farmer-based Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Thursday embarked on a float to create awareness about the need to promote agroecology to tackle climate change.

The Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Organizational Development (CIKOD) and Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) were joined by other farmer-based NGOs believe that with the right agricultural practices, such as agroecology – not the green revolution approach that is still promoted by the Gates Foundation, USAID, the World Bank and other development agencies– agriculture can become the true engine of growth.

Agroecology, which is basically the application of ecological principles to agricultural systems and practices, the groups believe can also become the solution to effects of climate change and support good health and prosperity for people in countries across the world.

Ms Victoria Adongo Executive Director of PFAG said “agroecology is resilient, it is adaptive, it is best for farmers because it is healthy. It is environmentally friendly...and all these are necessary to mitigate the effects of climate change.”

Photo: Ms Victoria Adongo (L) has called on the government to invest more in organic fertilizer and reduce investments in chemical fertilizer.

The march on Thursday from the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Adabraka in Accra to the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) was part of the Africa Climate Week (ACW) 2019 from March 18 to March 22.

The Africa Climate Week 2019 has brought together African governments together in Accra to deliberate on the Climate Actions of the Continent.

The conference is also part of UNFCCC events towards the bigger UN Secretary-General Climate Change Summit in New York in September 2019.

There is a growing global call for the scaling up and scaling out of agroecology for all its benefits including addressing the multiple climate change demands and proponents believe it is the solution that can effectively tackle climate change.  

To achieve food security and nutrition, stakeholders in the agriculture sector must consider adopting agroecology concept as the alternative means in ensuring improvement in sustainable farming practices among smallholder farmers in Ghana.

With funding from the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), 11th Hour Foundation, Groundswell International, the farmer-based organisations embarked on the float to sensitize farmers on the importance of agroecology as continent marks Africa Climate Week 2019.