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Promoti ng Sustai nabl e Urban

and Peri -Urban Agri cul ture i n


Greater Accra, Ghana
Dzorwulu Case Study, 2011
University College London Development Planning Unit, MSc Environment and Sustainable Development 2011, Field Report Accra
A report by Environment and Sustainable Development MSc students of the Development Planning Unit, University College
London.
Marcia Bindo
Andreas Eriksson
Yoshie Fujiyama
Andreas Hampl
Lou Perrin
Paul Predusel
Hannah Sternberg
Anthony Stonehouse
Development Planning Unit
34 Tavistock Square
London WC1H 9EZ
Tel: +44 (0)20 7679 1111
Fax: +44 (20) 7679 1112
E-mail: dpu@ucl.ac.uk
www.ucl.ac.uk/dpu
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 1
Tabl e of Contents
Abbreviations 4
Executive Summary 5
Acknowledgements 6
Research Objectives 7
Theoretical Framework 8
Sustainable Urban Agriculture - Criteria and Denition 9
Criteria 9
Denition 10
Research Methodology 11
Pre-Field Trip: London 11
Field Trip: Accra 11
Limitations 12
Context and Site Description 13
Accra Facts 14
History of the Site 14
Current Situation 15
Hypothesis 1 Monetised farming inputs 16
Diagnosis and Findings 16
Strategy 1: Closing the Water Loop - A Low-Cost Multi-Barrier Approach 18
Strategy Objectives 18
Strategy 18
Action Plan 20
Monitoring and Impact Assessment 21
Hypothesis 2: Planned Interventions and Knowledge Systems 22
Diagnosis and Findings 22
Strategy 2: Increasing Farmer Power through Collaboration and Control over Knowledge 24
Strategy Objectives 24
Strategy 24
Action Plan 25
Monitoring and Impact Assessment 26
Hypothesis 3: Land Security 27
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 2
Diagnosis and Findings 27
Strategy 3: Secure Usufruct Rights in other Localities and in Situ 29
Strategy Objectives 29
Strategy 29
Action Plan 30
Monitoring and Impact Assessment 32
Conclusion 33
References 34
Appendix 35
Appendix 1 35
App. 1a. Overview of Stakeholders Involved in Urban Agriculture in Accra 35
App. 1b. Power-Interest Mapping 42
Appendix 2 43
App. 2a. Overview Field Methodology 43
App. 2b. Reasoning Behind the Choice of Methods Used 43
App. 2c. Overview of Field Trip Activities 44
Appendix 3 47
History of the Site and Flows of Power, Knowledge and Resources. 1970-2011 47
Appendix 4 48
Visualisation of Strategy 1 - Closing the Water Loop 48
Appendix 5 48
Hypothesis 1: Analysis of stakeholders and motivation 48
Appendix 6 Overview of Planned Interventions Taking Place in Dzorwulu since 2006 49
Appendix 7 51
Hypothesis 2: Analysis of stakeholders and motivation 51
Appendix 8 51
Hypothesis 3: Analysis of stakeholders and motivation 51
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 3
Abbrevi ati ons
AMA Accra Metropolitan Assembly
AWGUPA Accra Working Group on Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture
App. Appendix
CICOL The Civil Society Coalition on Land
DPU Development Planning Unit
DZ Dzorwulu Farming Site
ESD MSc Environment and Sustainable Development
FA Farmers Association
FStT From Seed to Table programme
GRIDCO Ghana Grid Company Limited
GHS Ghana Cedi
IWMI International Water Management Institute
LAP Ghana Land Administration Project
MoFA Ministry of Food and Agriculture
MoU Memorandum of Understanding
NGO Non-governmental Organisation
PP Plant Pool Farming Site
RUAF Resource Centres on Urban Agriculture and Food Security
SUA Sustainable Urban Agriculture
UA Urban Agriculture
UPE Urban Political Ecology
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 4
Executi ve Summar y
The aim of the research was to critically examine the development of urban agriculture in the context of the city of Accra,
taking the case-study of Dzowulu agricultural farm in Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), with the understanding that the
state of urban farmers has been impacted over time by many different internal and external conditions not only at the local
level, but at the city, national, regional and global levels. Three main issues were addressed during the course of the
research: farmers use and management of monetized inputs (i.e. water, labour, and chemical fertilisers), the impact of
planned interventions on farmers practices and the generation of localised hybrid knowledge, and farmers access to secure
agricultural land in the urban area. The research attempted to clarify how ows of power, knowledge, and resources, in the
context of institutional relationships, have impacted where the farmers are positioned within the urban system of Accra.
With the goals of producing outputs that
could be used by the farmers in building
their capacity to control their destiny and
of maki ng recommendat i ons f or
strategic interventions, the research
team collected data related to the
research foci and identied opportunities
and challenges that would assist the
farmers in creating conditions that would
allow change to be possible. In the
interest of studying the potential of
f armers movi ng towards a more
Sustainable Urban Agriculture (SUA), the
research team devised criteria that
integrate economic, socio-political, and
ecol ogi cal di mensi ons wi thi n the
encompassing sphere of urban planning.
These criteria were developed using the
overarching theoretical framework of Urban Political Ecology (UPE), which attempts to investigate the interrelated socio-
ecological processes conveyed by power struggles occurring within the urban metabolism of Accra. Over the course of two
weeks of eldwork in Accra, which was comprised of interviews with farmers and other stakeholders, focus groups, mapping
exercises, and presentations by organisations and institutions, the eight-member research team compared and contrasted
the realities of UA in Accra with what was assumed from the pre-eld trip review of secondary data and attempted to identify
the opportunities for change within the farmers existing networks and what the potential room for manoeuvre is to build new
relationships.
This report presents the research ndings which elaborate the challenges and opportunities faced by farmers cultivating in
the city of Accra and viewed through the theoretical lens of UPE, these ndings are articulated in terms of ows of
knowledge, power, and resources, and the interdependencies that are created. This framework places UA and its farmers
within a larger urban system which is reliant on diverse ows and cycles, and as such, demands diversity and resilience from
its participants. Therefore, the farmers in the urban metabolism, as in reality, are not merely being acted upon, but meaningful
participants within the system.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 5
Acknowl edgements
This research would not have been possible without the tremendous support the team received from individuals and
organisations.
First of all, we are indebted to IWMI, who has partnered with the DPU eld research programme over the past three years.
We are grateful to IWMI for their logistical support, their willingness to share information with us, and their guidance in the
eld.
We would also like to express our gratitude to Eunice Agyarko, MoFA Agricultural Extension Ofcer, who assisted us in the
eld as a facilitator and translator.
Special thanks go to the DPU staff who were invaluable in terms of providing academic advice and coordinating the
eldwork opportunities.
Furthermore, we are grateful to all the representatives from the various institutions who contributed their time and energy to
this research.
Finally and most importantly, we would like to express very special thanks to the Dzorwulu farmers who kindly welcomed us
and shared with us tremendous amounts of their time and knowledge.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 6
Research Obj ecti ves
This is the third year that the University College London (UCL)
students from the Development Planning Unit (DPU) in the
Environment and Sustainable Development Masters of
Science programme are researching on potentials and
constraints of Urban Agriculture (UA) as a planning tool for
sustainable urbanisation in Accra, Ghana. This report is built
on past years reports and meant to complement the previous
research through a different theoretical framework in order to
reach a holistic understanding of the case for UA in Accra.
The objectives of this years research are intended to elaborate
on important ndings and to explore unattended matters from
previous reports:
1. Reach a diagnosis of the development of UA in the site
of Dzorwulu, including an understanding of the
stakeholders involved, their interactions and perceptions
over the potentials and limitations of the development of
more sustainable UA as well as the strategies pursued to
achieve their specic objectives.
2. Understand how governmental bodies, NGOs, specic
policies and projects related to UA are supporting or not
supporting the development of more sustainable UA in
Dzorwulu.
3. Develop a set of strategic interventions that would lead
to more sustainable UA in Dzorwulu, which could be
implemented by the farmers or their organisations,
community groups, local government or other actors and
institutions involved in urban agriculture in order to
contribute to:
- the positive transformation of the living conditions of the
farmers and of the surrounding physical, social and
natural environment
- the promotion of sustainable UA in the urban region and
its articulation with urban development, land, water and
sanitation policies and planning
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 7
Theoreti cal Framework
This research focuses on explaining the current situation of UA in Dzorwulu through the lens of Urban Political Ecology (UPE)
which attempts to explain the current challenges faced by urban farmers in cultivating vegetables in the city of Accra by
linking specic analysis of urban-environmental problems to larger socio-economic solutions (Keil, 2003). UPE is rooted in
Marxist traditional critical thinking about the current mode of operation (i.e. neoliberal capitalism) which has the tendency to
separate nature and society, and with pride rather than shame (Smith, 1984, xvi). Central to the concept of UPE is urban
metabolism which understands the urban reality as a living organism with dynamic ows of vital energy and resources
shaped by power geometries (Castn Broto, 2011). The critique resides in the linearity of the throughput of
contemporaneous capitalist cities as centres of appropriation of nature, and the solution in embracing bio-mimicry and local
circularity: the conversion of outputs into inputs, limiting inefciencies and wasteful practices of accumulation.
This framework was chosen because it allows to clarify, as with a hatchet (Robbins, 2004), the interdependencies between
the local (Dzorwulu), regional (Accra and West Africa) and global (World) scales through different power relations (ows)
which are essential to understand consequences of planning and when practicing and recommending development
strategies. For example, as Swyngedouw (2004) suggests, the material conditions surrounding urban environments are
controlled and manipulated by the interests of the elite at the expense of the marginalised populations. However, such
material conditions need to be understood within the context of the economic, political and social relations that have led to
urban environmental change (Swyngedouw and Kaika, 2000). Indeed, UPE enables researchers to unearth non-material
ows such as knowledge and power and shows how they are related and how they shape the access and use of resources
(see gure 1). UPE also assists in unpacking how power imbalances and external forces affect the sustainability of UA in this
specic case study.
Figure 1. Pillars of the framework
The UPE binoculars are used throughout this report, hence it follows that the criteria for SUA are based on concepts inherent
to the theoretical framework (e.g. closing loop; autonomous agencies; multidirectional knowledge transfer; etc...); the site
descriptions and historical events are depicted in four different spatio-temporal scales; the conclusive ndings are interwoven
in ows of power, knowledge and resources and the recommendations are an attempt to address the current ows that
exacerbate the unsustainability of UA in Dzorwulu.
Power
- Tease out who is
bargaining against
who, who gains and
who loses (and in
what ways), who
benets and who
sufers in current
power geometries.
Knowledge
- Unearth level of
information is (de)
centralised, and
how it is shared,
participatory
process? how it is
used and who is
empowered by what
type of information?
Resources
- Identify the
circulation and
accumulation of
physical, chemical,
biological
components and
relate their dynamics
with current power
geometries, what are
the underlying
causes of current
circuits?
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 8
Sustai nabl e Urban Agri cul ture -
Cri teri a and Defi ni ti on
Criteria
Based on the framework of UPE, the research team has identied a set of interconnected criteria essential to a desired SUA
that assure the outcomes of ows of power, knowledge and resources to lead to a productive, healthy and inclusive UA (Van
Veenhuizen, 2006). As demonstrated in Fig. 2, the three spheres of SUA - economic (productive metabolism), ecological
(healthy metabolism) and socio-political (inclusive metabolism) dimensions - are heavily interdependent in the metabolic
Figure 2. Interconnected criteria of SUA
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 9
Legen
d
Circular Value
Chain
N.B.: A more equitable and productive
value-chain should expand within the
biophysical limits of the local
ecosystem carrying capacity.
LEGEND
Highlighted in orange are the criteria
of focus in this study
Planning (circular metabolism)
SUA
Ecological
(healthy metabolism)
Socio-political
(inclusive metabolism)
UA is integrated in the overall city development policy and long-term strategy
Connectivities between stakeholders from government, communities and private sector in
Accra are created and strengthened
Policy makers acknowledge that UA ofers ecological, social and economic services to Accra, and
hence is recognised as legitimate land use
Mutual benecial relationships between UA and Accra are reinforced and
are reevaluated through time

[Dzorwulu] Embraces Agro-Ecologic principles:


Reestablish ecological connectivities
Maximises land productivity through bio-intensive agricultural
practices
Diversity of locally cultivated crops: rotating intercrop
Seed harvesting: Conserve genetic resources
[Accra] Minimisation of throughput in urban system:
Embraces circularity (seed to seed):
-makes use of composted organic waste
-makes use of non-competitive water sources
Economy
(productive metabolism)

[Accra] Decentralisation of knowledge:


Harness and disseminate indigenous knowledge
UA is socially accepted through multi-directional
information transfer
Farmers apply safe practices that protect their own
and the consumer's health
![Dzorwulu] Diversication of livelihoods:
Farmers have control over a diversity of production inputs
Farmers have control over value added processing
Farmers have access to diverse marketing channels
Farmers avoid dependence on external subsidies
[Accra] UA is a valuable form of livelihoods:
UA-produce generates employment opportunities
UA produce is competitive with non-UA-produce
Use multiple crops to diversify seasonal timing
[Dzorwulu] Organisational capacity:
Farmers have capacity to organise
Farmers participate meaningfully

[Accra] Land tenure security:


Farmers have access to secure land tenure
process of Accra (circular metabolism).
Hence, planning should address the
t h r e e d i f f e r e n t d i me n s i o n s
si mul taneousl y and i t shoul d be
holistically integrated in temporal and
spatial dimensions.
Note: The focus and limitations of the
study necessitated the research to only
exami ne certai n el ements of the
compiled criteria of SUA found in the
diagram of gure 2.
Denition
Urban Agriculture is sustainable when it
employs well-informed and organised
farmers, uti l i si ng non-competi ti ve
sources of wat er and avoi di ng
dependency on external inputs. It is
sustainable when the mutually benecial
relationship between urban agriculture
and its city environment materialises in
integrated city planning and where
connectivities between stakeholders
from government, communities and
p r i v a t e s e c t o r i n A c c r a a r e
strengthened, reevaluated and created
through time.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 10
Research Methodol ogy
The research team faced a difcult challenge in that, once in Accra,
the intended study group (Roman Ridge Farmers Association) had
collectively decided not to participate in the research. This meant
that the pre-trip review of secondary literature was potentially
useless. As a result, the research facilitator provided by MoFA, Eunice
Agyarko, negotiated with the neighbouring farmers association and
the team was able to conduct the research at Dzorwulu; the site and
the farmers had similar issues to the intended study area so no major
changes to the theoretical framework were required. Therefore, the
pre-eld trip research, while not specic to Dzorwulu, did uncover
some general concerns in the area.
Pre-Field Trip: London
An initial diagnosis of the current situation in Roman
Ridge was made based on a systematic review of
the secondary data, including past DPU reports; a
list of stakeholders was made (see App. 1a for a
comprehensive list), from which a stakeholder map
was created showing their inuence and interest in
moving towards SUA (see App.1b). Additional
information on the site was gathered from an
informal interview with Marielle Dubbeling from
RUAF. Hypotheses were developed relevant to the
research objectives and the teams denition of SUA
and its criteria.
Field Trip: Accra
Once the study site was changed from Roman
Ridge to Dzorwulu, the research team reformulated
the diagnosis of the situation and the hypotheses
were rewritten according to the information
gathered from the 2009 report and from a rapid
assessment of the site. The research methods used
included interviews, transect walks, mapping, and
focus groups with farmers, and question and
answer sessions with representatives from various
stakeholder groups. A full list of which methods
were used and why can be found in App. 2a and
App. 2b, as well as an overview of eld trip activities
(App. 2c).
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 11
Li mi tati ons
A major limitation during the pre-eld trip phase of the
research came with the policy analysis due to a lack of
access to relevant policy documents.
The main limitation encountered during the eldwork was the
small number of eld visits during the two week period.
Although the team was successful in engaging with the
farmers and acquiring the necessary data from them, the four
days allocated for eld visits was not adequate to fully
address the complexities raised by the research objectives.
Another major limitation of the research was the unwillingness
of the Roman Ridge Farmers Association to participate in the
study, requiring the team to reformulate the site diagnosis and
rewrite the hypotheses on the spot. Due to late access to
(access was provided on the nal day of the research) and
incomplete nature of the minutes of the Dzorwulu Farmers
Association meetings, the team had insufcient time in the
eld to review data related to the organisational capacity of
the association, and there were signicant time gaps in the
data collected. While conducting interviews and focus
groups, language posed a signicant barrier and a translator
was necessary, whi ch l eft open the possi bi l i ty of
miscommunications and misinterpretations of concepts and
questions. On this point, there was one instance where a
female-only group interview was being conducted and the
female facilitator was not available to translate, so a male
farmer translated.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 12
Context and Si te Descri pti on
Figure 3. Map of Accra, circle indicating Dzorwulu farming site (Source: http://www.dotori.pe.kr/ghana/map-accra.jpg)
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 13
Accra Facts
Figure 4. Dzorwulu in Accra (Source: Google Earth, 2010).
History of the Site
During the early 1970s the Dzorwulu site served as the rst MoFA
model farm and farming was institutionally recognised, but since the
beginning of the 1980s farming has been taking place informally on
land owned by GRIDCO.
The implementation of a SAP in the year 1983 brought macro
structural changes that affected farming at the micro level. The SAP
generated ows of power, knowledge and resources that have
generated interdependencies and ecological ows in ways which will
be explained subsequently.
Through liberalising the market and the currency, ows of knowledge
and power have led to the altering of farming practices. Former
traditional practices have been replaced by ones in which chemical
fertilisers are employed. This has led, throughout the years, to a
decrease in the quality of soil and water and to an increase in the
amount of waste generated.
The SAP generated economic growth that has made it attractive for
foreign young labourers to come and work on the Dzorwulu site.
Consequently, after having previously hired friends and family
members as farm helpers, the farmers on the Dzorwulu site started
hiring foreign labourers from Burkina Faso in 2006.
In 2002, farmers sought to improve the power relations vis a vis other
groups by forming a farmers association. This happened almost
concomitantly to the emergence of external interventions in 2001 that
generated ows of knowledge further affecting farmer practices.
For a visualisation of the above, see App. 3.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 14

Population: 1.96 million = Accra Metropolitan


District

Population growth rate is estimated at 3.4% per


year

Rapid growth of Accra is due to economic and


political reforms over last 20 years, and more
recently to oil-led growth

60% of population resides in informal


settlements

Around 80% of Accras inhabitants work in the


informal sector

250,000 people in Accra benet every day from


produce grown in the city (Amoah, 2007)

24% of households in Accra are considered


food insecure

Nutritional status of children is deteriorating,


with increased stunting, malnutrition and
wasting

Costal Savanna zone with low average annual


rainfall 810 mm (over less than 80 days)

700 to 800 tons/per day of municipal solid


waste. Up to 20% of which is uncollected, 60%
of which is organic matter (Coe et al. 2006)

About 80,000 m3 per day of wastewater is


generated by 1.66 million inhabitants based on
an average per capita daily consumption of 60
litres, and a wastewater return ow of 80
percent (Coe and Awuah, 2008)
Current Situation

31 farmers cultivate on site; 28 men


and 3 women. 16 labourers are
employed at the site.

Most crops grown are non-native or


exoti c: l ettuce, spri ng oni on,
cassava, cabbage, Indian spinach,
etc

The production process on the


Dzorwulu site is shaped by global,
regional and national forces such as
GDP growth (4.8 % in 2009, CIA
Worl d Fact book) , real est at e
development and climate change.

For exampl e, t he ext ensi ve


urbanisation (3.4% pop. growth
1984-2000, CIA Fact Book) has
resulted in the increased generation
of wastewater (Onyasia Drain) that
is now used as an input in the
cultivation of vegetables.

Global and regional forces also have


a positive impact on the usage of
imported processed inputs such as
chemi cal ferti l i sers and hybri d
seeds.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 15
Hypothesi s 1 Moneti sed farm-
i ng i nputs
The farmers use of monetised inputs such as chemical fertilisers, piped water and hired labour
increases their yields in the short term but leads to environmentally unsustainable practices and to
marginalisation of certain members of the community.
Diagnosis and Findings
This hypothesis aimed at exploring the environmental, economic and social impacts of the increased monetisation of
production inputs with respect to their sustainability.
Since the 1970s, urban farming practices in Accra have
intensied and monetised as a result of rising pressure on
land due to urbanisation and growing farmer-land ratios.
Amongst other changes in farming practices, water for
irrigation turned increasingly pipe-borne rather than
stemming from drains and streams, imported chemical
fertilisers replaced and supplemented organic manure
and hiring workers increased the labour intensity.
However, it has become evident that some of these
changes have had negative social and environmental
impacts.
Government subsidies for chemical fertilisers have
encouraged their use to improve yields in the short term
but have led to a decline of soil fertility and consequently
increased input requirements over time. This leaves farmers today dependent on relatively expensive chemical fertilisers and
vulnerable to market and policy changes as a current subsidy intermission evinces (2010 subsidised fertiliser: 25 GHS/50g;
2011 non-subsidised fertiliser: 50 GHS/50g). Simultaneously, the majority of farmers in Dzorwulu uses besides chemical
fertilisers (approx. 60%) a more sustainable combination of saw dust and chicken manure (approx. 40%), which they obtain
from chicken farms in Labadi free of charge and which they
partly compost to improve its quality. However, there are barriers
preventing the farmers from fully moving away from chemical
fertiliser such as the previously mentioned soil depletion as well
as the promotion of chemical fertilisers by MoFA extension
ofcers and commercial inputs dealers.
In Dzorwulu, the use of piped water is a means to reduce labour
requirements for manual irrigation of those plots further away
from the streams and drains, which provide the other water
source. The relationship between the distance to the water
source and the type of water used for irrigation in each plot can
clearly be seen in the map (gure 5).
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 16
Figure 5. Relationship between the distance to the water source
and the type of water used for irrigation for each plot by
Dzorwulu farmers.
However, using piped water is comparatively more expensive
and unreliable due to water shortages and it poses additional
strain on the water supply of the underserved population of
Accra. On the other hand, the use of untreated water from
streams and drains poses health risks to farmers, labourers
and consumers as it contains wastewater from the city such as
surface run-off, sewage and household wastewater, for which
the city authorities struggle to provide adequate treatment.
During the 1980s farmers began hiring workers to assist in
highly labour intensive activities such as digging, planting,
watering, and weeding. Later, this posed an opportunity for some of the workers to obtain their own plots from the retiring
employers, contributing to the spatial densication of the site. During recent years, a shift of the workers prole indicates
dramatic social implications as all workers at the site are minors between the ages of 11 and 17 who were forced to
emigrate from Kominatenga, Burkina Faso to obtain work abroad as their families were no longer able to provide for them
and their school fees. Despite having only an informal agreement with the farmers and no work security, the strenuousness
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 17
of work, crowded living conditions and language barriers, the workers stated that farming was a preferred option due to its
higher protability in comparison to other petty trading allowing them to send remittances to their families.
Strategy 1: Closing the Water Loop - A Low-Cost Multi-Barrier Approach
Strategy Objectives
In order to address the ndings, which were discussed in the previous chapter, it was challenging to design an intervention,
which could be implemented within the boundaries of the site and incorporates the following objectives:

Reduction of impact urban agriculture has on the piped water system of Accra

Reduction of labour input

Reduction of use of chemical fertiliser

Reduction of costs for all farmers in the long run

Reduction of health risks for farmers and labourers who use waste water

Improvement of food safety for end consumers


Furthermore, it has to be low-tech, low-cost and easily implementable to ensure maximum adoption by the farmers. The
intervention should consist of a modular structure to ensure maximum exibility and usability in order to be easily adapted
and implemented in other projects.
Strategy
The planned intervention focuses in particular on the existing drain, which crosses the Dzorwulu site from North to South
which can be seen in Fig. 6. In comparison to the Onyasia River, which forms the southern border of the site this drain is not
governmentally but privately owned and therefore allows room for manoeuvre to implement a low tech, small-scale water-
upgrading scheme. The drain water is fed by household wastewater, stream- and surface water and agricultural runoffs and
is currently used by adjacent plot owners for irrigation purposes. Water fetching happens all along the drain and is based on
water intensive irrigation practices. According to the farmers the ow of water in the drain is constant throughout the year.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 18
Planning limitations
To successfully implement a water treatment project the following limitations of the site have to be considered and
consequently abolished with the planned intervention.

Geography - the site is too small to offer space for large waste water treatment facilities like oxidation ponds

Land tenure - due to lack of land tenure permanent structures cannot be part of a solution

Credit - the lack of sufcient credit limits the use of high tech and advanced water treatment methods

Control over upstream water - no control over upstream water source for downstream agricultural use

Alternative water sources - groundwater is not useable due to salt intrusion from the sea

Tested and validated low tech solutions - there is a general lack of low-tech solutions for waste water treatment at a
small scale
Figure 6. Stream impacted by suggested intervention
The suggested water treatment scheme consists of 3 main parts. A pond system, a solar pump and storage unit and a
gravity based drip irrigation system. Within the boundaries of the North-South drain a pond system is created, which
consists of a series of consecutive, cascading ponds from North to South, which terminate in a nal reservoir. A reduction of
pathogenic bacteria and viruses is achieved through the targeted and prolonged exposure to the natural environment (UV
light, oxygen, bafe system within the ponds, plants and natural predators like sh and algae) and sedimentation, which
consequently leads to a major reduction of helminth eggs and protozoa cysts. The second stage consists of a robust and
simple to use solar pumping system, which guarantees minimal maintenance for the farmers and is based on a carbon free
and sustainable energy source. The pump taps the water from the nal reservoir and sends it directly into an elevated
storage tank from where the water is distributed across the site through a gravity based drip irrigation network. The system
delivers the water directly to the roots of the plants and has a predicted water savings of up to 80% over the mode of
operation. The drip irrigation works automatically and therefore saves labour and time for the farmers and their labourers.
Additionally it allows the targeted application of fertilisers and pesticides, which signicantly lowers the amount of inputs
needed and consequently leads to more sustainable practices (see App. 4 for visualisation of strategy). It is important to
mention that the pathogen reduction of the system only works efciently when the short-circuiting of water fetching is
suppressed. The longer the water is exposed to the natural environment the higher the cleaning processes are. Fig. 7 shows
a comparison of the current mode of water extraction and the changes suggested by the intervention.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 19

Action Plan
Stage TIme Frame Actors Role Resources
Create ponds and
reservoir
2-3 months Farmers, labourers Labour Time
Labour
Installation of solar
pump and storage
tank, maintenance
training
2 weeks NOV Mono reps,
farmers, labourers
NOV Mono as
technical trainers
Time
Labour
Installation of drip
irrigation system
2 weeks Farmers, labourers Labour Time
Labour
See App. 5 for an analysis of stakeholders and motivations for Strategy 1.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 20
Figure 7. Current mode of water extraction
from the stream (left) and the suggested
future mode of water extraction from the
stream covering the water demand of the
whole site (right).
The system can be easily implemented
with the help of the farmers, due to the
simple but effective design. One downturn
however exists within the intervention; the
livelihood of the helpers who currently
irrigate the elds may be jeopardised.
Before implementation, the situation of the
l abour er s woul d r equi r e s peci al
consideration as not to diminish their
livelihoods.
Monitoring and Impact Assessment
Action Potential Impact Indicators Monitoring Bodies
Build the ponds and the
reservoir
Cleaner water Water samples Farmers, IWMI, MoFA
Install the solar pump and
storage tank
Increased use of wastewater,
reduced spending on petrol,
water available for longer
during dry periods
Usage of piped water,
petrol expenditures,
water availability
Farmers, IWMI, MoFA
Install the drip irrigation
system
Reduction of pathogens
transmitted via foliage
Water samples Farmers, IWMI, MoFA
Begin irrigating with the
system
More efcient use of water,
fertilisers, pesticides and
reduced labour required
Yields, amount of water
used, amount of fertilisers
used, amount of pesticides
used, amount of labour
required
Farmers, IWMI, MoFA
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 21
Hypothesi s 2: Pl anned I nter ven-
ti ons and Knowl edge Systems
The different governmental bodies and NGO interventions implemented in Dzorwulu have had a positive
impact on the sustainability of practices and on the maturation of the farmers hybrid localised
knowledge systems.
Diagnosis and Findings
There has been a high frequency of
interventions by NGOs, research institutes
and MoFA in Dzorwulu in the last decade
and in comparison to other sites in Accra.
This hypothesis is aiming at unpacking the
impact it has on the hybrid localised
knowledge of the farmers as well as on
their farming practices.
Different types of planned interventions
have addressed different skills and issues
(see App. 6 for a detailed overview):
techni cal i nterventi ons on f armi ng
practices (e.g. composting experiment by
RUAF and CHF, transplanting techniques
by MoFA and pesticides trials by private
input dealer), health interventions (e.g. safe
vegetables handling by IWMI, cholera
prevention by Poly clinic), marketing interventions (e.g. kiosks by RUAF/IWMI/EW/University of Ghana), organisational and
nancial services interventions (e.g. Multi-features and capacity enhancing services and Eden Tree).
The high organisational capacity of Dzorwulu farmers appears to be one of
the main reasons why so many interventions take place. The association
has a Constitution, elects its executives, provides a fee structure with
saving accounts, sets up schedule of meetings and mechanisms for
settling disputes. However, there is conicting information on the process of
how interventions are being chosen in the rst place. According to the
farmers interviewed, they were not being consulted on which interventions
would be implemented on site whereas MoFA representatives stated that
interventions chosen at the annual planning meeting are based on
feedback from the MoFA agricultural extension ofcers.
The research has identied different ows of knowledge, from within and from above. First, farmers are beneting to
different degrees, dependent upon their level of participation in the interventions and within the association. Overall, by
cooperating with external bodies, farmers learn organisational skills that further strengthen their organisational capacity; trial
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 22
outcomes are being shared amongst one
another by word of mouth and those
visiting workshops report back information
to the association members in their
meetings. However, two-way feedback
between farmers and organisations (e.g.
results from soil and water analyses done
by IWMI) is not always evident as
organisations are not forthcoming with
information and yet farmers are not
requesting it. Moreover, while knowledge
is currently shared informally amongst
Dzorwulu farmers and between Dzorwulu
and Plant Pool, farmers do not have a
consistent system for recording the results
of the interventions nor for disseminating
the knowl edge. Fi nal l y, whi l e some
technical planned interventions emphasise
the safe production of vegetables, they are
not neces s ar i l y env i r onment al l y
sust ai nabl e, and ar e somet i mes
contradictory (e.g. when MoFA promotes
mi xi ng compost i ng wi t h chemi cal
fertilisers).
The research has also identied various
power dynamics. In accordance with their
experiences, farmers exercise their power
to choose by deciding whether to adopt,
adapt or drop those practices. For instance, the urine project was not
adopted for logistic and cultural constraints while the nursery and
transplanting techniques was successful as the drilling of seeds in line allows
farmers to manage better their beds productivity. Other marketing
interventions, such as the management of kiosks, failed because of lack of
interest on the part of farmers in dividing their time between production and
post-production. Furthermore, the language used shows implicit value
judgments; for example, the IWMI composting experiment denes good
practice - that stands for the researchers - versus farmers practices and
MoFA representatives compare proper versus primitive agricultural
practices. Finally, more opportunities of access to credit have encouraged
individual investments in production equipment whereas previously those
goods would have been bought collectively and shared but with people not
taking enough care or taking responsibility to repair. This indicates that
collective power is not necessarily preferred by farmers because of practical
reasons.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 23
Strategy 2: Increasing Farmer Power through Collaboration and Control over
Knowledge
Strategy Objectives
Through the exploration of Hypothesis 2, the data revealed that the farmers had
very little participation in the decision making process when it came to
determining which planned interventions would take place on the site. Therefore
the strategy objectives focus on the Dzorwulu Farmers Association collaborating
with other farmers associations, thereby increasing the amount of knowledge
sharing and dissemination of information that is currently happening. A second
objective is to increase the level of farmer participation and presence within
AWGUPA and MoFA, with particular attention paid to the decision making
process, specically as it relates to planned interventions. An overall objective is
to raise awareness about UA and farmers problems and practices in the context
of Accra, and this could be facilitated by the Dzorwulu FA diversifying their
networks through increasing the number of stakeholders with whom they engage.
Additionally this diversication of networks could strengthen the farmers
negotiating capacity if some stakeholders would advocate on their behalf.
Strategy
The strategy that was devised to achieve the objectives would be implemented in three concurrent stages in the short and
long terms. Initially, a dialogue proposing a possible collaboration between the Dzorwulu FA and the Plant Pool FA would be
introduced. Through this engagement, the Dzorwulu FA would share organisational knowledge regarding the drafting of a
constitution, record keeping, enforcement of payment of dues, mechanisms for settling disputes, and establishing a regular
schedule of meetings.
The second step in the strategy is to form
an informal yet structured group involving
both farm sites with the purpose of
sharing, exchanging, and disseminating
knowledge. This knowledge would include
but not be limited to sharing of farming
practices, organisational and leadership
ski l l s, proposal s f or the col l ecti ve
purchasing of inputs, and concerns
regarding representation of farmers in the
urban areas. The group would also call for
more active participation by farmers in
AWGUPA, more meaningful interaction
with MoFA and their decision making
processes, and whatever else the farmers
would determine to be instrumental in their
development. Group visits to other UA
sites could lead to future collaborations and
a diversication of farmer networks and knowledge exchange opportunities, leading to more cohesion among urban farmers
in Accra. It would be necessary the group be formed in such a way as to be integrated into the cultural make-up of the two
communities; scheduling of meetings would be designed around tea or meal times or before or after prayers. This would
ensure regular attendance and not require any articial time being imposed on the farmers schedules.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 24
The nal step in the strategy, and the most long term of the four stages, is to propose to the Greater Accra Cooperative
Vegetable Farmers and Marketing Union that they shift their focus from primarily economic concerns to emphasising the
importance of networking among urban farmers, knowledge sharing, and increasing presence and participation of farmers in
the decision making process at the city level. Farmers involvement in a larger, citywide, farmer led organisation would benet
the farmers in their negotiating capacity, access to knowledge, and could lead to better representation in AWGUPA and
MoFA. Also, with a stronger presence, the farmers could expect better accountability from organisations and institutions and
improved communication and feedback that would assist in their knowledge sharing and dissemination capacity.
Action Plan
Stage TIme Frame Actors Role Resources
Dzorwulu FA meets
with Plant Pool FA to
share their
organisational
knowledge
0-6 months after PP
executive elections
Dzorwulu and Plant
Pool farmers
DZ As mentors to
share their
experiences and
lessons learnt with PP
farmers to help build
their organizational
capacity
PP As partners in
the process of learning
together and as future
collaborators
Time, association
records
Create an informal but
structured knowledge
sharing and
dissemination group
between the farmers
of the two sites
6-12 months Dzorwulu and Plant
Pool farmers
Both- As colleagues
who share knowledge
and practices,
functioning as
teachers and
students, building on
past experiences and
setting goals for the
future
Time, knowledge
Propose a shift in
focus by the Greater
Accra Cooperative
Vegetable Farmers
and
Marketing Union to
emphasize farmers
networks, knowledge
exchange, and
increased presence in
decision making
process at the city
level.
Long term after PP
has been organised
Dzorwulu and Plant
Pool farmers, Greater
Accra Cooperative
Vegetable Farmers
and
Marketing Union
DZ and PP As a
cohesive group that
works together for
common goals but
retains separate
identities
The Union As an
umbrella organisation
that is open to the
needs of its
membership and is
willing to adapt
accordingly
Time
Political commitment
People
Knowledge
Advocates
See App. 7 for an analysis of stakeholders and motivations for Strategy 2.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 25
Monitoring and Impact Assessment
Action Potential Impact Indicators Monitoring Bodies
Dzorwulu FA meets with
Plant Pool FA to share their
organisational knowledge
Positive: PP builds their
organizational capacity and
DZ helps build a stronger
partner for future
collaboration.
Negative: PP duplicates
DZs organizational format
with no intention of
collaboration
Draft of a constitution for PP,
consensus on common
goals, records of payment of
dues, records of meeting
regularly (minutes)
DZ and PP Farmers, MoFA,
IWMI
Create an informal but
structured knowledge
sharing and dissemination
group between the farmers
of the two sites
Positive: Knowledge is
created, adapted, circulated
among the farmers and they
retain the control over it.
Practices are improved and
productivity is increased.
Negative: A knowledge
hierarchy is created and the
knowledge is controlled by
few
Record of attendance, notes
on topics discussed, notes
on shared practices and
innovations, record of
attendance at AWGUPA
meetings, written request to
attend MoFA planning
meeting
DZ and PP Farmers, MoFA,
IWMI
Propose a shift in focus by
the Greater Accra
Cooperative Vegetable
Farmers and
Marketing Union to
emphasize farmers
networks, knowledge
exchange, and increased
presence in decision making
process at the city level.
Positive: Farmers enjoy
better representation and a
stronger political voice
through a larger organization
and they are able to diversify
their knowledge sharing
network.
Negative: The needs of the
farmers are lost in the
context of an organization
with many diverse members
Membership in Greater
Accra Cooperative
Vegetable Farmers and
Marketing Union, record of
farmer presence at relevant
city planning sessions
DZ and PP Farmers, MoFA,
IWMI
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 26
Hypothesi s 3: Land Securi ty
Because of the length of continuous land occupation in Dzorwulu, farmers do not perceive an immediate
threat of eviction; therefore there is a lack of strategies that would enhance their response to a positive
threat.
Diagnosis and Findings
The land issue is one of the major problems related to UA in
Accra. The scarcity of spaces to cultivate, the lack of tenure
or security regarding the land and the absence of usufruct
rights have created fear among farmers who could lose the
area they farm at any time.
In Dzorwulu, farmers have been cultivating vegetables on 4
hectares of Institutional land owned by GRIDCO adjacent to
the power station and under the high-tension cables for
more than 35 years. Farming activity on the site rst began
during the mid-1970s as a MoFa model farm (see site
description). After the project was terminated some of the
employees stayed and continued to farm the area, inviting
family and friends to cultivate on vacant land. Currently, the
site is divided among 31 farmers, with no land going
unused.
An informal agreement with GRIDCO to use the land exists
as a mutually benecial relationship: from the GRIDCO
perspective, farmers are maintaining land that used to be
over gr own, cl eani ng t he ar ea and pr event i ng
encroachments; from the point of view of the farmers, they
are cultivating the land as a means of livelihood. However,
farmers do not have any legal agreement with GRIDCO to
secure their presence in the area.This hypothesis was
elaborated based on the 2009 ESD Report which did not
explore the matter of land insecurity and attested that a
perception of secure land tenure is shared by both the
farmers and government institutions such as MoFA and the
Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines.
Although the farmers interviewed conrmed that they had
never had problems about cultivating the land, the research
revealed that most of them are aware of the vulnerability and
insecurity of the land. Dependent on where farmers are
cultivating on the site, they face the challenge of varying
levels of land insecurity (see map, g. 8).
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 27
I dont feel secure. If someone comes and says go, I
am ready to go. Because land is small, I am looking
for a larger land outside Accra
(Alhassan Idrissu)
The farmers association is presently looking to secure additional land in rural and peri-urban areas, but some farmers are
also searching individually to rent land outside Accra. As a result of the collective action towards securing more land, in
October 2010 a group of Dzorwulu farmers signed a MoU with Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, which allow the farmers
to cultivate atomic land in Legon near the University of Ghana; during the same period farmers were looking at renting private
land to farm in Bator outside of Accra.
Nevertheless, the current land situation of Dzorwulu farmers remains delicate: from the farmers perspective it has been very
difcult to secure land in Accra, as a result of the process of rapid urbanisation. As was by Dr. Larbi, Chief Executive of the
Land Commission, UA is not considered an urban land use by the Commission. In 2010 the farmers, with the support of
Enterprise Works, attempted to arrange a negotiation with GRIDCO with the goal of signing a MoU, but GRIDCO did not
attend. The workshop designed to bring the different stakeholders together was organised by RUAF and AWGUPA, but due
to the unwillingness of GRIDCO to negotiate, the process of clarifying the farmers status on the land was suspended.
Figure 8. Farmers are subjected to different levels of vulnerability due to threats of encroachment and eviction, as there are
different land use policies and regulations in place on the site: Red area: Buffer zone, legally protected from construction;
Green area: Outside buffer zone, legally not protected from construction; Blue area: Buffer zone, legally protected from
construction, but under caterpillar impacts from stream maintenance.

DPU Accra Field Report 2011 28
Strategy 3: Secure Usufruct
Rights in other Localities and
in Situ
Strategy Objectives
Having taken into account the ndings and
diagnosis, three objectives have been set up: 1)
increase negotiation capacities of farmers on
issues of land and usufruct rights; 2) increase
farmers resilience through the development of a
safety net strategy; and 3) intensify the farmers
collective voice by creating a network of
advocates. As farmers stated during interviews
and focus groups, if the land use were more
secure, they would be willing to invest more in
vegetation on the site, which would improve the
food production cycle within Accra.
Strategy
Based on the objectives, a two-step strategy is
proposed. The rst step is to secure the usufruct
rights of land in other localities as a backup
strategy in the case of eviction; farmers would
look for alternative and additional land in rural or
peri-urban areas. Dzorwulu farmers have already
begun this process last October. It would be a short-term strategy to secure their livelihood. During the focus group, most
male farmers expressed their willingness to nd additional land outside of Accra, because of more economic opportunities.
Looking at the socio-political dimension, securing additional land would strengthen their negotiating capacity to obtain
usufruct rights and increase farmers resilience by developing a safety
net strategy.
The second step of the strategy is to secure usufruct rights in situ.
The strategy mentioned in the section on Hypothesis 2 proposes that
farmers push the existing union to shift their focus from economic
activities to helping farmers build networks and knowledge sharing
capacities; this strategy suggests establishing a collaborative land
committee, which would involve support from more diverse
stakeholders, such as political advocates, non-governmental
organisations, and the media. For example, one potential partner
could be Land for Life. The Former Minister for Land, Mr Nartey,
explained that Land for Life has been encouraging farmers to secure
land through land regularisation. Land regularisation is one of the
proposals of Ghanas Land Administration Project (LAP) which aims
to improve land governance at the national level, including land tenure
issues for agriculture. By strengthening collaborations amongst
various actors, the farmers would have a stronger voice in
negotiations with GRIDCO for obtaining usufruct rights.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 29
Action Plan
Stage TIme Frame Actors Role Resources
Feasibility Study Long term, On-
going
Dzorwulu Farmers
MoFA
AMA
AWPUPA
RUAF
IWMI
Enterprise Works
Land for Life
LAP
CICOL
Coordinate opportunities for
networking and knowledge
sharing on land issues
amongst different
stakeholders
Research potentials of policy
and regulatory framework
Human resources, Finance
for researches, Technical
knowledge of land policies
Step1:
Develop a safety
net strategy by
securing the
usufruct rights of
land outside of
Greater Accra
3-6 months Dzorwulu Farmers
Land owners
Look for land in other
localities
Sign a document to allow
farmers to use land for
vegetation
Land, Financial resources,
Labour, Legal
documentation skills
Step2:
Establish a
collaborative land
committee
3-6 months to
establish, On-
going meetings
Dzorwulu Farmers
Delegates from other
FAs in Accra
Knowledge sharing
Document the shared vision,
goals, and timeline of the
committee
Search aggressively for
opportunities to secure land
for the groups
Strengthen the farmers
negotiation capacities as a
collective voice
Active participation by each
actor, Financial input for
start-up
Regular meetings
Documentation in the form
of meeting records
Create and
strengthen the
connectivity
between
stakeholders
from
government,
communities and
private sector in
Accra
Long term, On-
going
Dzorwulu Farmers
MoFA
AMA
AWPUPA
RUAF
IWMI
Enterprise Works
Land for Life
LAP
CICOL
WIAD
FEDUP
Politicians
Media outlets
Organise meetings and
workshops to invite diverse
stakeholders to discuss land
issues
Propose political support in
discussion with GRIDCO
Disseminate the merits of
urban agriculture and its
insecure land issues through
media
Human resources, Network
with political advocates,
Financial input for media
campaigns
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 30
Stage TIme Frame Actors Role Resources
Negotiate with
GRIDCO upon
usufruct rights in
situ
6 months Long
term
Dzorwulu Farmers
GRIDCO
MoFA
AMA
Organise meetings between
farmers and GRIDCO to
discuss land use issues and
potentials
Sign a document between
GRIDCO and farmers on
usufruct rights under the
observation of the third party
Human resources, Strong
incentives for negotiation,
Legal documentation skills
and knowledge
See App. 8 for an analysis of stakeholders and motivations for Strategy 3.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 31
Monitoring and Impact Assessment
Action Potential Impact Indicators Monitoring Bodies
Step1:
Develop a safety net
strategy by securing the
usufruct rights of land
outside of Greater Accra
Create farmers resilience
and improve their livelihood
by increasing their incomes
Strengthen their negotiating
capacities on usufruct rights
for current land
Location and size of the
additional land
Increase of farmers income
Number of farmers who
secure additional land
Written contracts for land in
other localities
Farmers
IWMI
Enterprise Works
Land for Life
LAP
CICOL
Step2:
Establish a collaborative land
committee
Create opportunities for
farmers to share knowledge
and information
Strengthen the collective
voice of farmers
Approach to potential
advocates
A constitution of the
committee
Number of committee
members and FAs involved
Frequency of regular
meetings
Recording documents
Number of meetings with
potential advocates
Accountability of the
meetings
Farmers
MoFA
AMA
AWGUPA
RUAF
IWMI
Land for Life
LAP
CICOL
Create and strengthen the
connectivity between
stakeholders from
government, communities
and private sector in Accra
Support and disseminate
the farmers voice in public
Reect farmers voices for
land use planning in Accra
Number of political
advocates involved
Number of contacts with
GRIDVO under the political,
private and public supports
Number of workshops for
land, organised by research
institutes and NGOs
Farmers
MoFA
AMA
AWGUPA
RUAF
IWMI
Enterprise Works
Land for Life
LAP
CICOL
Negotiate with GRIDCO
upon usufruct rights in situ
Secure usufruct rights for
farming in Dzorwulu
Increase farmers incomes
by more investments in
vegetation
Number of meetings
between farmers and
GRIDCO
Signed MoU between the
farmers and GRIDCO
Description in the MoU to
secure usufruct rights of
farmers
Farmers
MoFA
AMA
AWGUPA
RUAF
IWMI
Enterprise Works
Land for Life
LAP
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 32
Concl usi on
The ndings of the research have revealed the ways in which
ows of power, knowledge, and resources can create
interdependencies amongst the different stakeholders and
between the farmers and resources such as labour, water, and
chemical inputs. The most dramatic conclusion drawn from
the research ndi ngs was surroundi ng the farmers
perceptions of the insecurity of their land tenure and assumed
land use rights. Their ongoing collective search to secure
additional land for cultivation and their previous attempt at
institutional negotiations for usufruct rights demonstrate their
organisational capacity and their ability to adapt to change and
respond to external shocks. Through the lens of UPE, it was
shown that the farmers in Dzorwulu engage with the urban
system with varying degrees of participation, sometimes exercising control over ows (labour, wastewater, collaboration),
and at other times being controlled from above (chemical inputs, water cuts, land insecurity, planned interventions, land
policy). The strategic recommendations address these peaks and valleys of power and weakness by showing how the
farmers can, through building on existing networks and organisational capacities, increase their control over ows of
knowledge, power, and resources, thereby creating conditions under which change can happen.
The ow of labour and the farmers control over it is an area that requires much more careful examination. The nding that
all of the labourers employed on the Dzorwulu site are boys aged 11 to 17 and have emigrated from rural Burkina Faso is
particularly interesting from the theoretical perspective of UPE since they represent a resource ow of labour into the
Dzorwulu site. This represents a complex set of interdependencies, which may be viewed simplistically as labour owing into
the site, knowledge, power, and some natural resources circulating within the site, economic ows going in and out of the
site, and depending on the migration patterns of the labourers, knowledge and power could be owing in and out of the site
as well. A critical examination of these ows of knowledge, power, and resources and the resulting interdependencies, and
their impacts on how the non-material resources evolve or devolve and how they impact those within their sphere of
inuence could produce fascinating and socially important research.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 33
References
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Management in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area, Current Status and Strategic Directions for the Future, SWITCH/
RCN Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
AMOAH, P., DRECHSEL, P., ABAIDOO, R. C. AND HENSELER, M. (2007): Irrigated Urban Vegetable Production in Ghana:
Microbiological Contamination in Farms and Markets and Associated Consumer Risk Groups. Journal of Water and
Health, 5(3).
CASTN BROTO, V. (2011): Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Urban Metabolism, Application to Urban Studies Foundations &
Urban Studies Journal. Seminar Series Competition, UCL Environment Institute.
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last visited the 16/04/2011.
COFIE, O, ADAM-BRADFORD, A AND DRECHSEL, P. (2006) Recycling Urban Organic Waste for Urban Agriculture. In Cities
Farming for the Future: Urban Agriculture for Green and Productive Cities, RUAF Foundation, IDRC and IIRR.
COFIE, O AND AWUAH, E. (2008) Technology and Institutional Innovation on Irrigated Urban Agriculture in Accra, Ghana. In
Urban Agriculture Magazine, Vol. 20, pp.14-16.
DPU - ESD STUDENT REPORT (2009) Promoting Sustainable Livelihoods through Sustainable Urban Agriculture, Case Study:
Dzorwulu, Ghana, University College London.
DPU - ESD STUDENTS REPORT (2010) Promoting Sustainable Agriculture in Accra, Ghana, University College London.
KEIL, R. (2003) Urban Political Ecology, Urban Geography, 24(8): 723-738.
ROBBINS, P. (2004): Political Ecology: A Critical Introduction. Blackwell, Oxford.
SMITH, N. (1984): Uneven Development: Nature, Capital and the Production of Space, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.
SWYNGEDOUW, E. (2004): Social Power and the Urbanization of Water: Flows of Power. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
SWYNGEDOUW, E. AND KAIKA, M. (2000): The environment of the city or... The urbanization of nature. In Bridge, G. and Watson,
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IDRC and IIRR.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 34
Appendi x
Appendix 1
App. 1a. Overview of Stakeholders Involved in Urban Agriculture in Accra
Stakeholder Description
Accra
Metropolitan
Assembly
(AMA)
AMA has a total land size of 200 square kilometres and is made up of 11 sub metropolitan districts
namely Ashiedu Keteke, Osu Klottey, Ayawaso East, Ayawaso Central, Ayawaso West (which consists
of ve electoral areas:Abelemkpe, Dzorwulu, Roman Ridge/Airport Residential Area, Okponglo and
Legon), Ablekuma South, Ablekuma Central, Ablekuma North, Okai Koi South, Okai Koi North and La.
[http://ama.gov.gh/ama/page-5052/c_offset-0]
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly, like any other District Assembly is a corporate body and the highest
political and administrative arm of the Government at the local level. The full membership of the
Assembly is 104; of this, 70% are elected and 30% are government appointees. AMA oversees the:
Metropolitan Education Department
Metropolitan Public Health Department
Waste Management Department
Department of Food and Agriculture
Town and Country Planning Department
Metropolitan Works Department
Metropolitan Planning and Co-ordination Unit
As well as the above mentioned Sub-Metropolitan District Councils
[http://ghanadistricts.com/districts/?r=1&_=3&sa=3037]
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 35
Stakeholder Description
Accra Working
Group on Urban
and Peri-Urban
Agriculture
(AWGUPA)
AWGUPA was constituted at the multi-stakeholder forum organised by the Accra Metropolitan
Assembly-Ministry of Food and Agriculture (AMA-MoFA) and IWMI-RUAF in 2005. AWGUPA
coordinated the implementation of a joint situation analysis on urban agriculture in Accra metropolitan
area and the multi-actor preparation of a City Strategic Agenda on urban and peri-urban agriculture.
AWGUPA member institutions:
Accra Metropolitan Authority:
Department of Food and Agriculture,
Planning and Coordination Unit,
(Public-) Health Department,
Town and Country Planning unit.
University of Ghana:
College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences
Department of Geography and Resource Development;
Furthermore: CSIR-STEPRI, IWMI-Ghana, Environmental Protection Agency-Accra, Ministry of Food
and Agriculture, Directorate of Extension, Enterprise Works, Ghana (NGO), Ghana Agriculture Workers
Union, New Times Corporation, Crop farmers Association, Livestock Farmers Association.
[http://www.ruaf.org/node/498]
Ayawaso West
Sub Metropolitan
District Council
West Ayawaso Sub-Metro is one of the eleven Sub-Metro District Councils of the Accra Metropolitan
Assembly. Dzorwulu electoral area is one of ve electoral areas making up West Ayawaso Sub-Metro.
The Sub-Metro is made up of:
Administration Department, Treasury Department, Audit Unit, NADMO, Birth & Deaths Registry,
Metropolitan Guards Unit, Waste Management, Metro Health, Building inspectorate, and Roads Unit.
[http://ama.gov.gh/ama/page/5063/ayawaso-west--sub-metro]
The Civil Society
Coalition on Land
(CICOL)
The CICOL is a network of Civil Society Organizations working and advocating equitable land tenure
practices, policies and management in Ghana.
The goal of the workshop was to enhance the capacity of the participants to effectively advocate
equitable access; transparency; accountability and fairness in dealing with land rights and
administration for the marginalized and the poor in policy formulation.
http://www.modernghana.com/news/246681/1/cicol-school-stakeholders-in-upper-east-on-land-ri.html
Consultative
Group on
International
Agricultural
Research
(CGIAR)
The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) is a global partnership that
unites organizations engaged in research for sustainable development with the funders of this work. The
funders include developing and industrialized country governments, foundations, and international and
regional organizations. The work they support is carried out by 15 members of the Consortium of
International Agricultural Research Centers (one of which is IWMI) in close collaboration with hundreds
of partner organizations, including national and regional research institutes, civil society organizations,
academia, and the private sector. [http://www.cgiar.org/who/index.html]
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 36
Stakeholder Description
Council for
Scientic and
Industrial
Research
(CSIR)
CSIRs mission is to generate and apply innovative technologies, which efciently and effectively exploit
Science and Technology for socio-economic development in the critical areas of agriculture, industry,
health and environment and improve scientic culture of the civil society.Technologies developed will be
commercialized for Private Sector Development in Ghana and abroad.
[http://www.csir.org.gh/index1.php?linkid=79]
Department of
Cooperatives
The Department of Cooperatives exists to facilitate the development of vibrant cooperative and other
group enterprises that are capable of contributing positively to sustainable employment generation,
poverty reduction and community development. This is achieved through mobilization of the people to
form co-operatives, capacity building, policy implementation coordination, monitoring, evaluation, and
regulation based on the belief in effectiveness of group action.
The main objectives of the Department are:
To create an enabling environment for the operations of co-operatives and non-co-operative
groups.
To facilitate the formation of co-operatives and other groups for employment generation and
poverty reduction.
To build the capacity of co-operatives and other groups (Boards, Managers and Staff, Rank and
le members) for effective and efcient service delivery.
http://www.lmisghana.org.gh
Department of
Food and
Agriculture
In line with the Governments policy on decentralisation, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture was
restructured by decentralising extension activities to the district level to facilitate grassroots participation
in the implementation of agricultural policies and programmes.
The decentralization programme took effect from the 15th of October, 1997 with the merger of the
following departments Veterinary Services Department, Crops Department, Extension, Fisheries,
Animal Production, Plant Protection and Regulatory Services & Agricultural Engineering all coming under
one umbrella as District Agricultural Development Unit (DADU).
[http://ghanadistricts.com/districts/?r=1&_=3&sa=3037]
EnterpriseWorks/
VITA (EWV)
EWV, based in Washington DC is an international not-for-prot organization working to combat poverty
through economic development programs based on sustainable, enterprise-oriented solutions.
EWV reduces poverty and raises living standards in developing countries by identifying opportunities for
economic growth among small-scale businesses increasing employment and incomes along the
entire value chain.
EWV has developed a proven, sustainable approach for promoting appropriate technologies, building
markets, expanding trade, and broadening access to nancing, with an emphasis on irrigated
horticulture, tree crops, agro-processing, household energy, natural products, and potable water.
[http://www.enterpriseworks.org/display.cfm?id=2&sub=1]
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 37
Stakeholder Description
Environmental
Protection
Agency (EPA)
The Environmental Protection Agency is the leading public body for protecting and improving the
environment in Ghana.
EPAs general objectives are:
Create awareness to mainstream environment into the development process at the national,
regional, district and community levels;
Ensure that the implementation of environmental policy and planning are integrated and
consistent with the countrys desire for effective, long-term maintenance of environmental
quality;
Ensure environmentally sound and efcient use of both renewable and non-renewable resources
in the process of national development;
Guide development to prevent, reduce, and as far as possible, eliminate pollution and actions
that lower the quality of life;
To apply the legal processes in a fair, equitable manner to ensure responsible environmental
behaviour in the country;
Continuously improve EPAs performance to meet changing environmental trends and
community aspirations;
Encourage and reward a commitment by all EPA staff to a culture based on continuous
improvement and on working in partnership with all members of the Ghanaian community
[http://www.epa.gov.gh/]
EPA has taken up issues of urban agriculture as dened in the City Strategic Agenda
[http://www.ruaf.org/node/498]
Ghana Irrigation
Development
Authority (GIDA)
GIDA was mandated to perform all functions related to irrigation development, including co-operation
with health authorities to contain any water-related health problems that may arise out of an irrigation
project. Irrigation in the inner cities could be considered under informal irrigation and has not formed
part of the activities of GIDA.
[http://www.waterfoodecosystems.nl/docs/Wastewater/fh030624_GHANA_nal.PDF]
Ghana Water
Company Limited
(GWCL)
GWCL is publicly owned and replaced Ghana Water and Sewage Cooperation (GWSC) in 1999. Today,
GWCL is responsible for urban water supply, whereas District Assemblies are responsible for sanitation.
The regulation of water supply has been shifted from the government to independent agencies: Public
Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) and the Water Resources Commission (WRC)
[http://www.gwcl.com.gh/aboutus.php]
The Institute of
Local
Government
Studies (ILGS)
The ILGS strives to be a centre of excellence for education, training, research, advisory, consultancy,
and information management services responding to demands of modern local governance in Ghana.
The Institutes training and education services are intended to facilitate continuing professional
development for effective local governance in Ghana. Educational programmes tailored to suit the
requirements of local government functionaries and stakeholders and are conducted on-site as well as
through distance learning and experience-sharing events.
[http://www.ilgs-edu.org]
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 38
Stakeholder Description
International
Water
Management
Institute (IWMI)
IWMI is a non-prot organisation and one of 15 international research centres supported by the
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). IWMI's Mission is to improve the
management of land and water resources for food, livelihoods and the environment.
[http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/About_IWMI/Overview.aspx]
IWMI's sub-regional research portfolio focuses on efforts to reduce poverty and to provide improved
food security through sustainable and efcient agricultural water use. Related projects range from the
analysis of adoption factors for different farming technologies to basin-scale modelling, irrigation policy
development, understanding the relationship between malaria and irrigation, and identifying and
implementing health risk reduction measures for safer wastewater reuse. Projects are currently
distributed over ve major research areas:
Adaptive management strategies to address climate change
Improving land and water management in agricultural river basins
Identifying promising agricultural water management solutions
Sustainable groundwater use
Urban agriculture and resource recovery from liquid and solid waste
[http://westafrica.iwmi.org/iwmi-in-west-africa.aspx]
Lands
Commission
In December 2008, a new act was enacted and gazetted to establish a new Lands Commission to
integrate the operations of public service land institutions under the Commission in order to secure
effective and efcient land administration and to provide for related matters. The new Lands
Commission is made up of the Survey and Mapping Devision, Land Registration Devision, Land
Valuation Devision and the Public and Vested Lands Management Devision.
[http://www.ghanalap.gov.gh/index1.php?linkid=244]
Metropolitan
Planning &
Coordination Unit
The new Local Government Act 1993 (Act 462) section 46(3) established for each Assembly a District
Planning Coordinating Unit (DPCU).The DPCU or the Metropolitan Planning Coordinating Unit (MPCU)
is to serve as a Secretariat to the Metropolitan Planning Authority and to advise on planning,
programming, monitoring, evaluation and coordination of development plans, policies, programmes and
projects within the Metropolis.
[http://ama.gov.gh/ama/page/5116/planning]
Assists urban agriculture by building market infrastructure for farmers to sell their produce. It educates
and raises public awareness about urban agriculture and food safety.[RUAF, 2008]
Ministry of Food
And Agriculture
(MoFA)
The main goal of the Ministry is to create an environment for sustainable growth and development in the
Agricultural Sector including: Provision of food security, Supply of raw materials for industry, Creation of
employment, Reduction in poverty and the creation of wealth, Greater contribution of the sector to GDP
and the Generation of foreign exchange earnings. The Ministry has departments at the metropolitan,
municipal and district level
[http://www.mofa.gov.gh/]
MoFA reviewed the overall policy document Food and Agriculture Sector Development
Policy (FASDEP), is now incorporating urban agriculture and expecting its urban departments (Metro,
districts and municipalities) to deal with urban agriculture.
[http://www.ruaf.org/node/498]
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 39
Stakeholder Description
Ministry of Local
Government
The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development exists to promote the establishment and
development of a vibrant and well resourced decentralized system of local government for the people of
Ghana to ensure good governance and balanced rural based development.
This is being done by:
Formulating, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and co-ordinating reform policies and
programmes to democratize governance and decentralize the machinery of government.
Reforming and energizing local governments to serve effectively as institutions for mobilizing and
harnessing local resources for local national administration and development.
Facilitating the development of all human settlements through community and popular
participation.
Facilitating the promotion of a clean and healthy environment.
Facilitating horticultural development.
Improving the demographic database for development planning and management.
Promoting orderly human settlement development.
The Ministry believes in efciency, effectiveness and transparency.
Focus on the above will be based on two divisions:
Local government - Strong Structures, Revenue Mobilization and Collection, and Sanitation.
Rural Development - Rural roads, Information and Communications Technology, Tourism and
Agric Processing.
[http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/republic/ministry.prole.php?ID=27]
Public Utilities
Regulatory
Commission
(PURC)
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission of Ghana is an independent body set up toregulate and
overseethe provision of the highest quality ofelectricity and water services to consumers.
PURCs key tasks are to:
Provide guidelines for rates to be charged for the provision of utility services.
Examine and approve water and electricity rates;
Protect the interest of consumers and provides of utility services;
Monitor and enforce standards of performance for provision of utility services;
Promote fair competition among public utilities;
Receive and investigate complaints and settle disputes between consumers and public utility.
Advise any person or authority in respect of any public utility.
[http://www.purc.com.gh/]
Resource Centre
on Urban
Agriculture and
Food Security
(RUAF)
The RUAF Foundation is an international network ofresource centres on Urban Agriculture and Food
Security, which is made up ofPartners representing eight denedregions of the world. International
Water Management Institute (IWMI) is the Partner representing Anglophone West Africa.
The mission of the RUAF Foundation is to contribute to urban poverty reduction, employment
generation, food security, participatory city governance and improved urban environmental
management, by creating enabling conditions for empowerment of male and female urban and peri-
urban farmers, developing the capacity of local authorities and other stakeholders and facilitating the
integration of urban agriculture in gender-sensitive policies and action programmes of local
governments, civic society organisations and private enterprises through participatory approaches.
[http://ruaf.iwmi.org/home.aspx]
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 40
Stakeholder Description
SWITCH SWITCH is an action research programme, implemented and co-funded by the European Union and a
cross-disciplinary team of 33 partners from 15 countries around the world. The SWITCH Consortium
represents academics, urban planners, water utilities and consultants. SWITCH aims to bring about a
paradigm shift in urban water management away from existing ad hoc solutions to urban water
management and towards a more coherent and integrated approach. The vision of SWITCH is for
sustainable urban water management in the 'City of the Future'. Accra is one of 12 cities in which
SWITCH has been involved in developing a vision for water, 30 to 50 years into the future.
[http://switchurbanwater.lboro.ac.uk/index.php]
University of
Ghana
The University of Ghana is a member of AWGUPA with involvement of the College of Agriculture and
Consumer Sciences and the Department of Geography and Resource Development.
In January 2011, the IWMI-RUAF Supported FStT project has commissioned two vegetable sales
outlets at the University of Ghana and at the Ministries. The launch was attended by Urban Agricultural
farmers from Dzorwulu, Plant Pool and Roman Ridge, Dean and lecturers of the College of Agric. and
Consumer Sciences, Representatives from MoFA-AMA, Enterprise Works Ghana, Department of
Cooperatives, IWMI and members of the general public.
[http://ruaf.iwmi.org/events.aspx]
Waste
Management
Department
(WMD)
One of the major tasks given to District Assemblies (or Metropolitan Assemblies) when they were
created was to manage the waste generated within their jurisdiction. They have created Waste
Management Departments (WMD) to manage their liquid and solid waste. In exercising the power
conferred upon them by section 79 of the Local Government Act of 1993, the DAs have made by-laws,
which help the WMDs to perform their functions. [http://www.waterfoodecosystems.nl/docs/
Wastewater/fh030624_GHANA_nal.PDF]
The department has been decentralised to the eleven Sub-Metropolitan District Councils at Ashiedu
Keteke, Osu Klottey, Ayawaso East, Ayawaso Central, Ayawaso West, Ablekuma South, Ablekuma
Central, Ablekuma North, Okai Koi South, Okai Koi North and La.These ofces are headed by a District
Cleansing Ofcer (DCO) and supported by Cleansing Guards.
[http://ama.gov.gh/ama/page/5122/waste-management]
Water Resources
Commission
(WRC)
The Water Resources Commission was established by an Act of Parliament (Act 522 of 1996) with the
mandate to regulate and manage Ghanas Water Resources and co-ordinate government policies in
relation to them. The Act stipulates that ownership and control of all water resources are vested in the
President on behalf of the people, and clearly denes the WRC as the overall body responsible for water
resources management in Ghana. The Commission, which provides a forum for integration and
collaboration of different interests, is composed of the major stakeholders involved in the water sector.
[http://www.wrc-gh.org/]
Women in
Agriculture
Development
(WIAD)
Unit under the ministry of food and agriculture. Mission: To assist rural households and other women in
the agricultural sector to improve their standard of living through improved agricultural practices. Vision:
To improve access of women and other target groups to information, improved agricultural and post
production practices for adoption, facilitating their access to resources towards an increase in
production, high incomes, improved nutrition, health and food security on environmentally sustainable
basis.
[http://mofafoodsecurity.wordpress.com/women-in-agriculture-development/]
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 41
App. 1b. Power-Interest Mapping
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 42
Appendix 2
App. 2a. Overview Field Methodology
Method Application
Participatory mapping 3
Transect walks 3
Focus groups 4
Unstructured interviews 5
Semi-structured interviews 3
Structured interviews 31
Video documentary 1
Market visits 2
Review of minutes from Association
meetings
1
App. 2b. Reasoning Behind the Choice of Methods Used
Question and answer sessions with the various stakeholder groups provided the research team with an opportunity to clarify
stakeholders level of involvement with, advocacy for, and inuence on the Dzorwulu farmers as well as their organisational
beliefs.
The mapping exercises aimed at addressing the issues in the rst and third hypotheses through the analysis of the spatial
dimensions of the site, highlighting differing levels of access to resources. The mapping also intended to graphically depict
the relationships between the farmers, the site, the infrastructure, and neighbouring institutions within the context of the site.
The maps produced through the exercises are to be given to the farmers association and used in whatever capacity the
farmers decide.
The aim of the focus groups was to gather information on the site, the farmers, and their practices for comparison with
secondary data already reviewed, and to engage the farmers in discussion on issues surrounding the three hypotheses. It
was anticipated that out of these discussions the underlying factors would emerge and possible strategies would be
devised. It was also expected that the power relationships within the farmers association would be revealed in the displayed
levels of participation or non-participation in these exercises.
The intentions behind the structured interviews with the members of the farmers association were to gather quantitative data
on the individual farmers and to acquire preliminary information on their farming practices. It was hoped that through the
analysis of the data correlations could be made and conclusions drawn regarding power relationships based on access or
lack of access to resources. The proles produced by the structured interviews provided the research team with a tool
which they are able to give to the farmers association to enhance their organisational capacity.
While the main intention of the video was to document farmers perceptions of traditional rural farming practices and
conventional urban practices, the by-product of the video was the creation of a tool to enhance knowledge sharing among
farmers and stakeholders and a way to raise awareness on urban agriculture in Accra.
On two occasions, members of the research team helped farmers transplant vegetable seedlings, and while this was meant
only to be a gesture of gratitude towards the farmers for participating in the research, these actions assisted the team in
building rapport with the farmers and increased the teams knowledge of the current practices.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 43
The two market visits that were conducted by members of the research team were intended to conrm or challenge
assumptions based on previously reviewed secondary data and to provide deeper insight into power relations between
farmers and market traders as well as an understanding of how these relations affect the farmers position in the value chain.
The semi-structured interviews allowed the researchers to more fully explore issues raised in unstructured interviews and to
examine informant perceptions that would not necessarily have been shared in focus groups or unstructured interviews
where other people would have been present.
The unstructured interviews were conducted to collect general data to conrm and/or challenge previously gathered data
and to inform subsequent interviews.
The transect walks were intended to familiarise the research team with the site and offered the opportunity for them to begin
building rapport with the farmers. The walks also provided the team with a notion of the scale of the site and an initial
assessment of the spatial relationships and inherent advantages and disadvantages implicit in the rst hypothesis.
Additionally, the walks began to reveal to the researchers the power dynamics at play on the site: between the farmers and
the institutions, between the farmers and the land, and between the farmers themselves.
App. 2c. Overview of Field Trip Activities
DATE ACTIVITIES & METHODOLOGY OUTCOMES
Mon. 10 May
(IWMI Day)
Plenary sessions
Presentation of each group
Feedback and Q&A from IWMI and facilitators
Meeting with our facilitator (Ms Eunice Agyarko,
a MoFA extension ofcer)
Received the grounded feedback and useful advices from
Rika, Larbi (IWMI), facilitators and DPU lecturers after the
presentation.
Eunice hinted us about the issues of management of
kiosks in Roman Ridge.
Tue. 11 May Field visit 1
Discussions with farmers in Roman Ridge and
IWMI (Mr Philip)
Proling (Questionnaires and Photographs)
Transect walk 1 with a famer in Dzorwulu and
Alex
Transect walk 2 with a farmer, Philip and Eunice
Understood the issues of Roman Ridge with Kiosks and
research institutions
Learned the basic geographical and historical
backgrounds in Dzorwulu through transect walk
Conducted questionnaires and collected data for famers
proling
Wed. 12 May
(PLANNING
DAY)
Plenary sessions (Presentation and Q&A)
Millennium Village Project and Accra
Metropolitan Associate (AMA)
Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS)
Ministry of Local Government
Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic
Research (ISSER)
Grasped the main objectives and contexts of Millennium
Village Project, as well as the structures of AMA and Sub
Metro
Learned the New Local Governmental System in Ghana,
which emphasises decentralisation, and the 2010-2013
DMTDP-IN line with National Vision, which is under
GSGDA (Ghana Shared Growth and Development
Agenda).
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 44
DATE ACTIVITIES & METHODOLOGY OUTCOMES
Thu. 13 May Field visit 2
Weekly Dzorwulu FA meeting
Demonstration by IMWI (Mr Philip) how to wash
vegetables for selling them at kiosks
Demonstration of CHF (NGO)s organic
composting on the site
Focus group 1 on Knowledge Systems &
Planned interventions
Focus group 2 on Land
Proling (Questionnaires + Mapping +
Photographs)
Unstructured interviews with farmers
Plenary sessions (Presentation and Q&A)
ZoomLion (ZL) (2 Waste Researchers and 1
Communication Employee)
Department of Cooperatives (DC) (Mr Nyarko)
Observed the weekly FA meeting
Learned how planned interventions (Kiosks and CHFs
composting) are carried out in Dzorwulu
Grasped what types of planned interventions have been
carried out and their impacts on farmers practices
Understood the background of the site and farmers and
issues related to land
Mapped out all farmers plots
Conducted questionnaires and collected data for famers
proling
Learned about their inputs (seeds, fertiliser, pesticides,
etc.)
Learned about ZLs Pilot compost project with CFH: at the
depot near plant pool, where the organic waste comes
from the households around, free compost to farmers
(during the pilot project), and the farmers will be trained to
do their own compost.
At the DC we found out that Dzorwulu farmers were
perceived as more organised than Roman Ridge: they
are mature, enlightened and learned.
Fri. 13 May
(LAND DAY)
Plenary sessions (Presentation and Q&A)
Enterprise works (Mr Seth Mahu)
CICOL (The Civil Society Coalition on Land) (Mrs
Lillian Bruce, Co-ordinator))
Land for Life (Mr Nartey, Former Minister for
Land)
Peoples Dialogue and Ghana Federation of the
Urban Poor
Learned about "From Seed to Table project,
establishment of kiosks, composting schemes,
constraints with access to credits, water quality and
piped water, and land security, particularly related to three
farmers groups (Dzorwulu, Plant Pool and Roman Ridge)
Grasped current land tenure issues in Ghana, the roles of
governments and on-going Ghana Land Administration
Project (LAP)
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 45
DATE ACTIVITIES & METHODOLOGY OUTCOMES
Sat. 14 May Morning meeting (Interview and Q&A)
Mr Philip from IWMI
Field visit 3
Proling (Questionnaires + Photographs)
Interview with a staff from a NGO Multi-Feature
and Capacity Enhancing Service
Unstructured group interview and Q&A with
Fuseini and Olu
Unstructured interviews with individual farmers
Market visit 1
Market womens association at Ozona Market
with Eunice
Visit to Eden Tree (NGO for credits) (Catherine)
Learned from Philip about more details upon SWITCH
projects and From Seed to Table (FStT) as well as piped
water systems in Dzorwulu
Collected information about markets women, farming
practices, credits, composting, planned interventions,
water-related problems, land tenure issues, FA, etc.
Learned about the NGO Multi-Feature and Capacity
Enhancing Service, which provides credits to certain
famers in Dzorwulu
Learned the organisation of a recent market womens
association and their perception over urban agriculture
produce
Learned from Eden Tree that farmers need to have piped
water to access loans.
Mon. 16 May
(VALUE-
CHAIN DAY)
Market visit 2
Agbogbloshie Women Market Association with
Sowah
Plenary sessions
MoFA extension ofcer (Mr John Lovelace)
Department of Agriculture extensional services
(Mr Theophilas Osei Owusu, Deputy Director)
Women In Agriculture and Development (WIAD)
(Ms Paulina Addy, Executive Director)
Waste (Mr Blay, Director Waste Department
AMA)
Town and County Planning (Ms Gadys)
Planning Coordinating Unit, AMA (Mr Timothy
Oman, Director)
Learned the organisation of one of the largest markets
association in Accra and their perception over urban
agriculture produce
Learned about MoFAs training to promote more
technology in farming practices, regulations on fertilisers
and current conditions of promotion of organic farming
(sustainable farming practices).
Learned from Mr Theophilas about technical support of
NACE, started from 1993-94, such as trainings for
machinery and material supplies.
Learned from Mr Theophilas about issues of land,
assessment of water quality, on-going land survey with
the geographical specialist
Learned about IWMIs trainings for female farmers, such
as appropriate processing after productions
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 46
DATE ACTIVITIES & METHODOLOGY OUTCOMES
Tue. 17 May Field visit 4
Unstructured group interviews with three women
farmers and Olu
Interview with a staff from Ghana Water
Company (bill delivery government ofcer)
Focus Group 3 with labourers
Focus Group 4 about monetised farming inputs
Collected more details about fertilisers/composting,
labourers, water, FA, kiosks, other alternative work (for
ladies).
Learned about water supply systems from Ghana Water
Company.
Learned from labourers about their backgrounds, salaries,
farming practices, their relation with market women, etc.
Learned about farmers incomes, yield, inputs (seeds,
water, fertilisers/composting), labourers, and asked what
they want to be changed in terms of farming.
Appendix 3
History of the Site and Flows of Power, Knowledge and Resources. 1970-2011
1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020
! !!
First MoFA model
farm !
SAPs/Trade and Currency Liberalisation/Real Estate
and Infrastructure Development!
Change from planting traditional crops to more protable foreign crops!
Usage of chemical fertilisers!
Decrease in the quality of water and increase in the amount of waste!
Decrease in the quality of soil due to chemical fertilisers!
Hiring of family/friends as farm helpers!
Hired
foreign
labour!
Expanded piped water system!
Farmers
Association!
Regular planned
interventions!
!
Structural changes
resulting in ows of
knowledge, power,
interdependencies and
altered ecological
ows!
Flows of
knowledge and
power that have
affected
practices and
ecological ows
that have
resulted in
environmental
degradation!
Flows of power
resulting in the
marginalisation of
groups in the society!
Flows of power strengthening
capacity!
Flows of knowledge inuencing farmer
practices!
Farming continued informally on land owned by
GRIDCO!
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 47
Appendix 4
Visualisation of Strategy 1 - Closing the Water Loop
1.) ond svsLem
Serles of consecuuve
cascadlna ponds Lermlnauna
ln a nal reservolr
reducuon of helmlnLh eaas
and proLozoa cvsLs Lhrouah
sedlmenLauon
reducuon of paLhoaenlc
bacLerla and vlruses Lhrouah
exposure Lo Lhe naLural
envlronmenL (uv, oxvaen),
maxlmlzlna reLenuon umes,
planLs and naLural predaLors
2.) Solar pump
& sLoraae Lank
ump ls powered bv a
carbon-free and susLalnable
enerav source
Slmple and robusL svsLem,
whlch ensures LhaL
malnLenance ls mlnlmal and
servlce or repalrs can be
conducLed bv Lhe farmers
Lhemselves
ConnecLed Lo elevaLed
sLoraae Lank
3.) CravlLv based drlp
lrrlaauon svsLem
urlp lrrlaauon dellvers waLer
(and ferullzer) dlrecLlv Lo Lhe
rooLs of planLs
redlcLed waLer savlnas of up
Lo 40-80
lerullzer, pesuclde, and labor
savlnas over convenuonal
lrrlaauon svsLems
URBAN AGRICULTURE - ACCRA - DPU - ESD 2011
DZORWULU
Appendix 5
Hypothesis 1: Analysis of stakeholders and motivation
Stakeholder Motivation
Farmers Reduction in pathogens, reduction in chemical inputs (lower cost), reduction in labour
Labourers Initially more opportunity for employment during the pond-building stage, but less demand for
labour after system is installed
NOV Mono Financial, can be used as an example when trying to sell for use in UA
IWMI Can be studied as a potential solution to the wastewater issue
Can be seen as a way to promote UA in the city
MoFA Using project as an example for waste water usage as a model for other UA sites within
Accra
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 48
Appendix 6 Overview of Planned Interventions Taking Place in Dzorwulu since 2006
External
interventions in
Dzorwulu
Actors Date What Results
Research on soil and
water quality
IWMI 2006 N.A. N.A.
Farmer eld school on
integrated pest
management
MoFA 2006 N.A. N.A.
Research on compost
and Neem extract
using lettuce as a test
crop
MoFA 2007 N.A. N.A.
Demonstrations on the
correct use of agro
chemicals
MoFA 2007-2009 To apply the right amount at the
appropriate time
N.A.
Research on using
urine as a fertilizer
IWMI 2009-2010 Field trials (compare the effects of
urine coupled with NPK, faeces
or poultry manure on the yield of
cabbage); Provide training and
sensitise farmers and extension
ofcers for the topic
Not adopted. Logistics and
cultural barriers. The rst run was
successful, however the second
one during the dry season
showed negative impacts on the
productivity. After termination of
the trials, the practices were not
taken up by any of the farmers
Capacity building on
group strengthening
Dept. of
Cooperatives
, funded by
Enterprise
Works
2009 N.A. N.A.
Kiosks Enterprise
Works,
funded by
IWMI
2010 -
onwards
Improve the Dzorwulu, Plant Pool
and Roman Ridge farmers
position in the value chain by
training them to market their own
produce and to create an
additional and stable marketing
channel. 30% of each sites
produce were aimed to be sold
through the kiosk
On-going. Only 5 % of the
vegetables produced at
Dzorwulu are being sold to the
kiosk at present. The farmers are
not managing the marketing
themselves.
Composting
experiment
RUAF-IWMI February
2011
Compare farmers practices and
good practices of use of
composted and non-composted
poultry manure in terms of
pathogen contamination and
yields
On-going
Composting
demonstration and
trials
CHF May 2011 Provide farmers with a sample of
the compost and offer work
opportunities at the composting
plant in exchange for compost
N.A.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 49
External
interventions in
Dzorwulu
Actors Date What Results
Fungicide, Herbicide
and Insecticide trials
Israeli input
dealer,
Dissengulf
March 2011 Provide farmers with a free
samples of the products for
marketing purposes
N.A.
Nursery and
transplanting
techniques
FstT-RUAF N.A. Training on sowing seeds and
transplanting techniques to
improve the yields, reduce the
amount of seed waste and
enable farmers to facilitate easy
crop counts
Adopted. Farmers combined it
with their conventional practices
and came up with new
outcomes. Farmers can count
the number of products from the
beds more easily. That provides
more clarity about their future
incomes.
Intercropping and crop
rotation
MoFA N.A. Introduce natural pest control and
preserve soil quality
Partially adopted
Demonstration of safe
vegetable washing
and handling
IWMI On-going N.A. N.A.
Credits, loans Multi-
features
capacity
enhancing
services
---------------
Eden Tree
2010-2014
(5 year
project)
N.A. The credits allow farmers to buy
their personal equipment
(pumps, pesticide canisters etc.).
Previously, farmers borrowed
money from customers, which
had led to problems, so farmers
appreciate the new system.
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 50
Appendix 7
Hypothesis 2: Analysis of stakeholders and motivation
Actor Motivation
Dzorwulu Farmers To increase their control over how their knowledge is created, shared, disseminated, and
used.
To increase their control over how and which interventions are chosen for their site
To improve their capacity for negotiating with institutions and other stakeholders
Plant Pool Farmers To improve their organizational capacity thereby improving their efciency
Greater Accra Cooperative
Vegetable Farmers and
Marketing Union
To gain more political power through increased membership
MoFA To simplify MoFA-farmer interactions and reduce overall Ag Extension Ofcer workloads.
IWMI To full part of their aims and objectives to support UA
To simplify the coordination of planned interventions across multiple farm sites and reduce
duplication
Appendix 8
Hypothesis 3: Analysis of stakeholders and motivation
Actor Motivation
Dzorwulu Farmers
Association and Farmers
Secure land tenure
AWGUPA/RUAF, IWMI Full part of their aims and objectives to support UA
MoFA Demonstrate the case as a blueprint to show the potentials for UA
GRIDCO. Benet from more responsibilities of famers to take care of the site
Political advocates Support UA as their political platform
Media (Radio, Television,
Newspaper, Magazines,
etc.)
Pursuit social ethics and disclose the accountabilities
Enterprise Works Continue the negotiation process with GRIDCO
Land for Life, Ghanas LAP
(Land Administration
Project), CICOL (The Civil
Society Coalition on Land)
Full part of their aims and objectives
DPU Accra Field Report 2011 51

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