Dutch Agricultural Consultant Assists Farmers in Bolgatanga

Matt25 Foundation, in collaboration with the Tree of Life Foundation, welcomed a Dutch agricultural consultant with over 30 years of experience in farming advice and his wife, who spent 2.5 months in Bolgatanga, Ghana. Their mission? To expand Foundations for Farming, an innovative agricultural method designed to help farmers increase their yields and work more sustainably.

Foundations for Farming focuses on efficient, environmentally friendly farming practices that teach farmers how to make the most of their land, even under challenging conditions such as drought. By focusing on soil health, sustainable water use, and reducing waste, Foundations for Farming empowers farmers to achieve better results with limited resources.

The consultant also helped to set up a vegetable nursery and garden to demonstrate the effectiveness of these methods. This hands-on approach allows farmers to see for themselves how these practices work in real life.

Ghana currently imports vegetables, such as tomatoes, from neighboring Burkina Faso, even though the soil in Ghana is well-suited for growing these crops. During his time in Bolgatanga, the consultant worked closely with local farmers to identify the key challenges they face—such as sourcing seeds, choosing the right pesticides, and coping with drought—and together, they developed practical solutions.

The decision to focus on vegetable farming, particularly in certain villages, comes from the high demand and greater financial returns vegetables offer compared to staple crops like grains. Local farmers have shown increasing interest in growing vegetables, as they see the potential for higher profits and better market opportunities.

Through this collaboration, Matt25 Foundation is not only helping to improve agricultural practices but also working toward creating sustainable economic opportunities for the community.