Iseguri Initiative, a Kadjebi-based Non-governmental Organisations (NGO) is driving sustainable transformation through its innovative “trainers of trainees” programme, aimed at empowering women, strengthening food security, and building climate resilience in the Oti Region.
At the centre of the initiative are 50 dedicated women, including two Women in Agricultural Development (WIAD) officers from Guan District and Nkwanta South Municipality, alongside 12 leaders of smallholder women’s farming groups. Selected for their leadership and commitment, have received training in climate-smart agriculture, with a focus on conservation tillage and biochar farming—nature-based solutions designed to address erratic rainfall, flooding, and rising food insecurity.
Mr Raymond Buami, Projects Coordinator, Iseguri Initiative, speaking at one of such programmes at Abrewankor, a farming community in the Nkwanta South Municipality of the Oti Region, underscored the broader vision of the programme.
He said the goal was to position the Oti Region as a model for climate-smart agriculture nationwide, adding that sustainable productivity required a shift in farming practices.
A key component of the programme is the involvement of Women Community Extension Volunteers (WCEVs), who act as a bridge between agricultural innovations and rural farmers, ensuring inclusive adoption of sustainable practices, he said.
Mr Buami noted that the use of compost, organic manure, biochar, and conservation tillage enables farmers to maintain high yields at significantly lower costs compared to chemical fertilizers.
He described climate-smart agriculture as a practical and affordable pathway to improved livelihoods for women farmers while preserving the environment.
As part of the initiative, fruit and tree seeds have been distributed to participating group leaders for nursery development and subsequent sharing among members to support land restoration efforts.
Ms Jemima Etse, Iseguri Initiative’s Focal Person for the Oti Region, encouraged beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity, noting that farmers in other regions would readily embrace such support.
She also highlighted the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables, particularly pawpaw, for children, and expressed appreciation to Madam Eva Lydeking, a donor, for her donation of seeds.
The 12 trained leaders are expected to cascade the knowledge to about 2,000 farmers, enhancing the adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers across the region.
The initiative has already impacted thousands of rural women through organic gardening and agroforestry programmes, particularly in Nkwanta South.
Its emphasis on practical training, including the 2021 climate-smart groundnut cultivation project, has earned participating women’s groups notable recognition.
Ms Rejoice Selorm Azameti, WIAD Officer for Nkwanta South Municipality, speaking on behalf of participants, expressed gratitude to the Iseguri Initiative for introducing the programme, which she said was significantly improving the livelihoods of women in the municipality and its environs.
