The Skills Development Fund in collaboration with  Centre for Innovation Entrepreneurship and Rural Development, Valley View University have provided a 5 days training on good  agronomic practices to 40 women sorghum farmers  at Jema in the Kitampo South District. 

According to the President of the group Mary Magdalene, all the 40 women farmers are members of Songtaa Farmers Association, a farmer group which formed in 2015 upon realizing the prospects of sorghum and millet production as alternative livelihood venture. However over the past 4 years sorghum production by these women has been characterized by low productivity and quality due to poor handling and aflatoxin contamination. The association submitted a proposal to SDF for members to receive quality training in controlling aflatoxin. Their request was granted and Valley View University was contracted to train the farmers

Speaking to the media, the lead trainer and the director of VVU’s Centre for Innovation Entrepreneurship and Rural Development, Dr Eric Takyi Atakora, highlighted objective of the training was to improve the livelihood of the farmers by equipping them with skills to produce  higher quality sorghum for their customers

He said that farmers were given practical training and field demonstrations on selecting a good site for production, choosing quality seed materials, controlling weed, managing nutrients, and controlling major pest and diseases. He further added that field visit exercise conducted by his team after the training indicates the some farmers have started adopting the technologies.