DIVERSIFIED LIVELIHOOD CENTER

Twenty-four percent (24%) of the working poor are young people and majority of these poor youth live in rural areas. Because of limited job prospect, limited livelihood and low income, many young people leave rural areas to seek employment opportunities elsewhere. However, agriculture has much potential as an engine of inclusive growth and youth employment. TRACTOR works to empower and provide practical training to farmers and youth on how to diversify their livelihood to increase their income and source of income through numerous commercial but sustainable agricultural activities. TRACTOR builds the capacity of farmers and youths using its purpose build diversified livelihood centre, which features, animal husbandry (animals include, cattle, sheep, goat, pig, rabbit, grasscutter, guinea fowl, duck, geese, chicken, turkey, pigeon), aquaculture (tilapia and cat fish), vegetables farm, bee-keeping, snail farm, cassava and orange flesh sweet potato (OFSP) farm, wind mill, green house and organic farming techniques. TRACTOR believes that all these commodities can be developed into a complete value chain which can promote food and nutritional security, job creation, wealth creation as well as serve as an engine for economic growth and development. The diversified livelihood centre is the largest of its kind in Ghana.

 

 

ICT CENTER FOR AGRICULTURE

Feeding a global population of over 9 billion by 2030 requires about 70% increase in global food production and small holder agriculture in particular plays a much more effective role. The use of ICTs enables choice, the option to stay on farms and take full advantage of new technologies, while incorporating valuable traditional practices and knowledge. TRACTOR uses ICTs and modern farming technologies to enhance indigenous farming knowledge. Access to timely and accurate information is crucial in increasing agricultural production to feed the increasing global population therefore TRACTOR runs an ICT centre for agriculture where research document/finding are translated into local knowledge and made available to farmers and youth. The centre serves as a platform for sharing and dissemination of information and knowledge. Research document are also made available for organizations and individuals. TRACTOR uses the ICT centre for agriculture to train farmers and youths on agricultural business management and marketing, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), modern farming technology. We also train farmers on the use of ICT tools (computer and internet) to search for information on agricultural activities. We also work to promote sustainable agriculture as a viable career option for Ghanaian youth. The ICT centre for agriculture is the first of its kind in Ghana.

 

 

AGROFORESTRY DEMONSTRATION SITE

Agroforestry is a traditional practice of integrating trees with crops and/or animals to contribute to food security, economic development as well as mitigating climate change in which tree planting and mangrove enrichment serves as a major carbon sink/sequestrate. The purpose of the agroforestry demonstration site is to help people and community to examine problems which are affecting their lives and landscapes they inhabit and consider solving or at least alleviating these problem using agroforestry techniques. The site also facilitates and indicates a variety of possible courses of action from which the community and people can select those most suited to their particular situation. Conversely, as part of the ongoing effort to fight climate change collaboratively, TRACTOR has established an agroforestry demonstration site on 450 acre plot at Angu to serve educational and training purposes. This demonstration site is unique and first of its kind in the country. The site features different species of trees, eco-garden, bee-keeping, dams, fruits, vegetables and other food crops which are organic driven. It is important to acknowledge that the three dams and species of tree which fringes the demonstration site encourage biodiversity conservation, a globally accepted standard for biodiversity conservation.