Lane Johnston, USC

While in Ghana, I am comparing the different ways that sustainable farming is being taught at the Asuansi Farm Institute (where we are living for the next five weeks) and the University of Cape Coast School of Agriculture. I am looking forward to talking with the teachers and students from the Institute tomorrow because I feel that they will be able to provide insight into my topic and possibly bring up certain threats to Ghanaian agriculture which I have not thought about yet. Some of the things I am interested in finding out are: 1. What sustainability means in Ghana, which may be very different from what we think of at home, 1. What are the current biggest threats to the agriculture sector in Ghana, 3. How much are sustainable farming practices emphasized at the University versus at the Farm Institute, and 4. How can the agricultural sector be improved?

I learned from books I read this morning at the University of Cape Coast library that in Africa there are many aspects to sustainability, including organic, integration of livestock, less pesticide use, loss of genetic resources and macro conservation principles. Not only that, but it is estimated that about 6.9 million square kilometers of sub-Sahara Africa is under the direct threat of desertification (Holland, 1990). It seems that I may encounter many problems that teachers and professors are working on here in Ghana.

Yesterday we were able to do some exploring of the nearby villages. Rob, Lorenzo and I turned left off the Asuansi Farm Institute road, which was the direction the group knew the least about. We walked for about 3 miles until we reached the next real town of Asomdwee. For the last 5 minutes of the way there we were given a ride from a Pentecostal clergyman, who was on his way to do a two hour service in Asomdwee.  The first thing in the main part of the village is the primary school with a soccer field, followed by two small stores which sell pretty much the same things, including rope, tomato paste or sauce, water, toothbrushes,etc. The small bar, which only would have been able to seat one person, is next to the "chemical shop" or pharmacy. On the other side of the street is a small road that goes to the Pentecostal church and Methodist church, but apparently there is a total of 9 churches in this small town. At the end of the main road is Michael's, the barber, shop. Michael was very kind to us and showed us his pet doves and how they make palm nut oil. He then took us to the local clinic which was very useful to know about. All the kids in the village were walking with us at this point and they all were thrilled when we took their picture and were able to show it to them on our digital cameras. It was a great experience.