ABIBIMAN FOUNDATION, SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE FOR IMPROVED LIVELIHOODS

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE FOR IMPROVED LIVELIHOODS – 2016 AT LAKPLEKU IN THE NINGO PRAMPRAM DISTRICT OF THE GREATER ACCRA REGION.

Amidst the Climate change effects on rainfall pattern, chilli pepper production is a means of livelihoods support for the people of Lakpleku. February to March are therefore months of land preparation and nursery practices in order for them to meet rainy season which is however not entirely reliable.  Abibimman foundation therefore saw it as an avenue to help give back to society as good practices in farming would be the best and this is because good preparation and opportunity amounts to success. 

Abibimman Foundation in collaboration with the District agricultural Development Unit of the Ningo Prampram District in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana therefore organized a workshop session for chili pepper farmers in the community of Lakpleku, located in the Ningo Prampram district. Lakpleku is not too far from the Industrial city of Tema. The inhabitants of the Lakpleku community are mostly farmers. The chili producers dominate the farming population. The theme of the programme was dubbed “Good Chili Pepper Production practices for Wealth and Health “, which saw  an attendance of more than Fifty (50) Chili pepper farmers with almost a perfect gender balance as the women farmers matched their counterparts in numbers in proportion. 

The programme involved a facilitation and demonstrative transfer of agricultural innovation, interactions and contributions. The farmers were particularly grateful to the Foundation for organizing such an event in conjunction with the Agricultural Development Unit and wished for more of such event to be emulated over time. The farmers however lamented about the lack of investors and government help in acquiring inputs to maximize their yield. The main challenge they faced was the activities they would have to engage in, once the rainy season was over. A farmer made a remark which was quite troubling, “I very much appreciate your technology you have brought us, yet as a peasant farmer, how would I be able to purchase some of the good inputs you have suggested to us?” This concern of the farmer came from the point of view that, they are willing to scale up but current situations are not letting them. 

Abibimman Foundation is therefore pleading to the general public to look at the option of investing, yet assisting in farming for equity when it comes to sustainable livelihoods. A well invested capsicum (pepper) farm can yield up to 120% profit depending on the type of pepper and how passionate the farmer is about protecting his crops. A profit margin of such magnitude may not even be offered by some forms of investments in the banking sector. Chili pepper apart from forming part of most Ghanaian dishes and therefore both a spice and adjuvant has many uses including medicinal (A very large study conducted by the British Medical Journal found some indications that humans who consume spicy foods, especially fresh chili peppers, were less likely to die of cancer or diabetes . 

Pepper is also used in diabetic neuropathy), Crop defense (deters elephants from feeding on crops in some parts of Africa and Asia) and industrial such as pepper spray because of the presence of the chemical, Capsaicin which is the primary component in the pepper spray. Red chilies contain large amounts of vitamin C, B (B₆ mostly) and small amounts of carotene. Yellow and especially green chilies (which are essentially unripe fruit) contain a considerably lower amount of both substances. They are very high in potassium, magnesium, and iron.

Abibimman Foundation in its own way to contribute more to this society’s means of livelihood support has therefore started a two acre chili pepper farm in the same community as a model farm that would serve as a site for education, demonstration of innovation and mentorship programme for some other organizations to follow.

At the end of the workshop, the grateful farmers therefore pleaded that the media should make their needs known to public for investors, philanthropist and other stakeholders to aid in acquiring inputs like certified seeds, farm tools, regular extension services, tractor services at relatively low costs and credit facilities.

Dorgbetor Isaac Korku Dorgbetor

Projects Coordinator (Agriculture and Biodiversity)

Abibimman Foundation.

An insight with the executive director of Abibiman Foundation

Ghana economy relies heavily on climate sensitive sectors mainly on agriculture, energy and forestry. About 70% of the population depends directly or indirectly on agriculture and forest sector for both timber and non-timber forest products. Any anomaly in the climate therefore tends to affect the economy of Ghana, particularly the vulnerable.

The limited use of irrigation facilities and high dependence on unfavorable climatic conditions for the realization of good harvest tend to introduce huge instability in the standards of living of the people. The percentage of cultivated land under irrigation in Ghana is 0.89%.

This is equivalent to 23,657 hectares. Consequently, majority of Ghanaians, who live in the rural areas and thrive mainly on rain-fed farming in rural communities, become disproportionately vulnerable since they are most exposed to hazards such as bush fires, flooding and droughts and are least capable of adapting to such hazards.

Meet Kenneth Amoateng, a young hardworking Executive Director of Abibiman Foundation who shared his experienced with me helping his community adapt to climate change. He is a change maker and a climate champion in his community. Throughout his life, he does not think about himself alone but how well others survive in the community.

Please introduce yourself

I am Kenneth Amoateng, the executive director of Abibiman foundation, I am a social worker and a social activist advocating for climate change issues, education, human rights just to name few.

How did you become a climate change advocate?

Being driven by the passion to help society, I got involved in the fight to combat climate change as a result of the adverse impact of climate change on some communities and how it made the inhabitants vulnerable due to the washing away of the coastal lands of Tema manhean, a fishing community in which I once lived.

As a young person, how do you help your community to adapt to climate change?

As a young person, I decided to educate my community by creating greater awareness on climate change through the local community radio. I started speaking on radio to create the awareness on the causes of the washing away of the beach and what they as a community members can do to become less vulnerable. I also went to schools to speak to student and formed clubs at the schools to educate the students as well.

What motivated as a Climate change activist?

My motivation was found in the realization of the community members wanting to fight climate change through their own small way through their participation in designing local strategies to adapt to climate change. The willingness of the community members motivated me to study more about climate change and educate more people especially the youth and build their capacities to take up initiatives to build resilience.

As the executive director of Abibiman foundation, is there any climate change projects you undertook and what impacts has it got to the community?

We have undertaken a number of climate change projects such as the climate justice hearings in 2009, 2011 and 2015 where we tried to assess the knowledge of the rural people especially women to assess their level of vulnerability and find out the local/indigenous ways in which the adapt to the impacts and help them develop local coping strategies through community participation. We have also established the Green Life Clubs in a number of senior high schools and junior high schools since 2010 till date to educate the students and build their capacities while empowering them to develop their potential to become climate change advocates and build resilience.

What is your impression about climate change adaptation in Ghana? Is the future bright or gloomy?

Climate change adaptation in Ghana is the way to go. Looking at the economics of climate change, adaptation in my view is a step in the right direction. Communities in Ghana must be help to become resilient in order to make them less vulnerable and minimize losses and damages. They will also be able to manage disaster risks. I will therefore say climate change adaptation is bright as we expect it to receive a lot of funding.

Has your organization ever taken any climate change impact awareness in your community? What is the result?

My organization has taken a number of climate change impact awareness across the 10 regions of Ghana and a number of communities in these regions. Most of the rural farmers have had a clearer understanding of climate variability which has enabled them to engage in climate smart agriculture.

What adaptation measures did you introduce to your community?

Local indigenous knowledge includes and not limited to: defined knowledge of plant and animal species, water harvesting technologies, food preservation techniques, seed selection, soil conservation though no tillage and other techniques, use of early warning systems to predict climate changes, use of indigenous techniques in the management of pests and diseases, and multi-species composition of herds to survive climate extremes.

Adaptation measures to manage climate change risks. should include; Climate smart agricultural Fisheries production, Diversification of livelihoods/ alternatives, Decentralization of local governance of resources, Alternative energy uses, Infrastructural development, Climate information, Early warning systems, Insurance schemes.

We cannot win the battle against climate change without the indigenous and scientific knowledge, raise awareness and public education on Climate change in the community.

Fariya Abubakari, a climate tracker for Global Call for Climate Action.

Email: fariyaabubakari@yahoo.com

Read more at: http://www.modernghana.com/news/673524/an-insight-with-the-executive-director-of-abibiman-foundatio.html

Ghana SDGs implementation and delivery mechanisms should strong focus on the poor and bottom-up approach

We will call on Ghana government to implement bottom-up approach time-bound SDGs-based national development strategies with appropriate plans and budgetary allocations; to improve SDGs implementation and delivery mechanisms with a strong focus on the poor and excluded groups particularly Women, Youth and Children; to produce concrete plans to enhance domestic resource mobilization that will be earmarked for SDGs achievement; to create and implement plans for increased transparency and fighting corruption,



Kenneth Nana Amoateng
Abibiman Foundation-http://www.abibimmanfoundation.org
P.O.BOX BT 1 Tema.Flat 1/A 74 Site 3(OPP T.DC),Commmunit 1Tema-Ghana/African
Tel#  +233-506766466/233-303934983/030213918/Mob:233244023651ken@abibimmanfoundation.org,info@abibimmanfoundation.org

kamoateng@iday.org

I'm on assignment to my generation.

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Government must show political will and commit resources to deliver Ghana INDC

GOVERNMENT MUST SHOW POLITICAL WILL AND COMMIT RESOURES TO DELIVER GHANA INDC

Ghana on the 2015-09-23 at 21:05:00 submitted its INDC to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) as part of Government commitment to fight climate change.  As Ghana prepares to participate in the COP21 in December this year in Paris.

Abibimman Foundation acknowledge the efforts and commitment of Government for engaging local experts through holding consultative meetings to have citizens/stakeholders make inputs when developing the Ghana INDC. This confirms what Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah said that "the Black Man is Capable of managing his Own Affairs".

Abibimman Foundation commend the technical teams, CSOs and other stakeholders for their contributions and efforts in helping developed Ghana INDC. We confidently believe that Ghana as a nation can lead the process of African transformation. As we praise the country and the technical teams that worked on the INDC, it must be noted that words alone are not enough to deliver the change we need, it will take resources and political will to deliver and ensure we achieve the targets that have been set in the conditional and unconditional INDC that Ghana has developed for itself.

Even though we commend Government of Ghana for this laudable initiative for setting the pace in using its own citizen to developed Ghana INDC, Abibimman Foundation urge Government of Ghana to generate internal resources or make enough budgetary allocation to enable us achieve the Ghana INDC since over reliance of donor funding will affect our performance and implementation of own developed INDC.

Ghana might not have a strong negotiation position if we have a weak INDC, it is evident that we have the committing to reduce our emissions based. However, we believe that Ghana’s pledge to COP21 can be further strengthened

It is important for Government of Ghana to note that Coal is the most polluting of all fossil fuels and the largest single source of global warming and therefore must resist any attempt to use coal as cheapest means to generate power for it people which will only destroy the environment and affect livelihood. Clearly, Ghana and the rest of the world need to move rapidly away from burning fossil fuels and towards the use of renewable energy. This will require a great deal of political will—but the cost of further delay will be disastrous.

The president in his 2015 state of the nation address said, ‘We owe it ourselves as heirs of a generation that did this for us and perhaps even more importantly we owe it to our children and our children’s children’s  who deserve to live in a fully developed, prosperous, free and just society’.

Abibimman Foundation believe strongly that the president will lead this campaign and more importantly with other head of state across the world now that we have adopted the SDGs for another 15 years. We Hope that Government of Ghana will collaborate with civil society and all citizens so that together this generation will leave a planet free of coal and global warning for our children’s children’s.

God Bless Our Home Land Ghana.

CONTACT
Kenneth Nana Amoateng (Mr.)
The Chief Executive Officer,
P. O. Box BT1 – Tema
Tel: +233-506766466/ 0244 023651
Email: info@abibimmanfoundation.com, abibimmanfoundation@gmali.com
www.abibimmanfoundation.org
                                     

WHY THE NDCs WILL NOT ACHIEVE THE 1,5ᵒC GLOBAL TEMPERATURE TARGET

WHY THE NDCs WILL NOT ACHIEVE THE 2ᵒC GLOBAL TEMPERATURE TARGET

All roads lead to Paris in December for the cop 21 and some countries are still preparing their NDCs while others have submitted theirs. As climate change has become a global issue of which has called for the need of world leaders to gather, the politics of it is very important and therefore necessary for countries to critically analyze their NDCs before they submit them.

The intended nationally determined contributions of every country of the UNFCCC which is supposed to represent the country’s position and commitment to combatting climate change in line with the sustainable development goals (SDG) 13 which is stop climate change, 14 which is protect the ocean and 15 which is taking care of the earth must be carefully looked at and the inputs made must critically take into consideration or account, the future of our children and the unborn generation.

Therefore having a careful look at the NDCs submitted by some of the developing countries and if that is the toll others are going to take, then it is evident that we would not be able to achieve the 2ᵒc target or 1.5 degree set for global temperature and the low carbon emissions which we want to achieve. Although some countries like Gabon have withdrew their NDCs to review them, it is worth noting that Morocco on the other hand have done a great job in their NDCs and we believe that they should be a beacon for others to follow so as to effectively achieve the 2ᵒc set global temperature target. It will be more prudent for the Annex 1 countries, the EU, the US, Canada and others should do better and show robust leadership by withdrawing their NDCs and scaling up their contributions. Abibinsroma Foundation believe if we really want to make significant progress then the NDCs should be more ambitious.

This will help after the adoption at the cop in the achievement to low carbon emissions, a green economy and the 2ᵒc global temperature set target. Abibinsroma Foundation is calling on the Developing countries to do more in the preparation of their NDCs and those that have submitted must withdraw and review their NDCs by improving their contributions. The adaption measures taken by countries that have submitted their NDCs are vague and will not really address climate issues adaption. A more practical steps must be taken as adaptation measures to make it more feasible, realistic and achievable.

Establish key principles to guide its implementation, some of which are already contained in the Convention, and some of which, such as respect for human rights Of all, should not be left behind;

 

A universal core agreement that binds all Parties under international law, to take effect from2020. This should take the form of a Protocol or another ancillary agreement with the same effect. The requirement of ratification is usually strong evidence of countries’ intent to be bound.

 

By Kenneth Nana Amoateng

AbibNsroma Foundation

 

Wood Cookstown in Ghana

Families reliant on wood or biomass fuels for cooking there are a host of health problems tied to their use of cooking fires:

Smoke inhalation:  In many countries, women and young children spend hours a day in smoky cook houses. The biomass (wood, animal dung and crop residue) used as fuel gives off toxic smoke at about seven times the safe limit set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA). According to the WHO, every twenty seconds a person dies from this condition known as Indoor Air Pollution (IAP). IAP can lead to lung cancer, low birth rate, cataracts, bronchitis, TB, higher infant mortality and asthma as well as pneumonia and other respiratory infections which are the biggest killers of children under five years of age in the developing world.

Back and neck injuries:  Smoke inhalation is not the only health risk. Women and children also suffer back and neck injuries from gathering and carrying fuel wood. Children often burn themselves by falling into cooking fires. The injuries and diseases caused by the use of cooking fires can only be relieved by introducing less labor-intensive and cleaner cooking methods.

Severe burns: It is not uncommon for young children playing near cooking fires (particularly when the fires are temporarily un-attended by an adult) to step or fall into fires, suffering acute burn injuries.

Abibiman Foundation

http://m.myjoyonline.com/marticles/news/thousands-of-youths-marched-in-solidarity-with-action2015-campaign-in-ghana