James Opoakpajor Nyigmah, a graduate of the University for Development Studies with Development Planning, has become an advocate for eco-friendly agriculture after surviving a life-threatening experience caused by exposure to inorganic weedicide.

James who resides in the Faaman community with his family in the Techiman South Municipality of the Bono East Region is championing the use of organic fertilizers and weedicides to promote sustainable agricultural practices to fight climate change.

“After my National Service, I decided to venture into agriculture and was doing conventional farming until an incident which pushed me to start using organic fertilizer and weedicide. I had sprayed the weeds here with an in organic Weedicide, I nearly died from it, following the incident I decided to implement what I have learnt organic.”

He is into poultry, fish farming, vegetable cultivation, rabbit rearing among others.

The transitional zone, where Faaman is situated, is experiencing the harsh realities of climate change. Farmers in the area are struggling to cope with the dramatic shifts in rainfall patterns, which are disrupting their ability to prepare for the farming season and ultimately, threatening their food security and livelihoods.

James is gradually teaching these farmers especially the women how they can adopt to the changes using organic weedicide and fertilizer made from local things around them which does not harm the environment but help fight climate change.

“Climate change has become reality, all that we are doing here is also to contribute out quota to the fight against climate change, we do not use chemicals here, we do not have waste here it is precious commodity because we are turning them into valuable fertilizer and weedicide, James disclosed.

James produces his own organic fertilizer and weedicide using droppings from his poultry and black soldier fly. Apart from this, he also uses waste from his fish farming as fertilizer for his crops as well.

James is also training women who are into farming in Faaman in Agroecology.

Judith Kumbata, a beneficiary of James’ training has this to say, “We were taught Agroecology, this is how to use organic fertilizer for our farms. We use them for our garden eggs, tomatoes, okra.”

He is also inspiring young people in Faaman and surrounding areas to embrace agriculture, emphasizing its potential to create jobs and reduce unemployment among Ghanaian youth.

Students from Faaman Takyi MA Junior High School are beneficiaries of James’ experience.

“We are training the students on Climate change so that when they get to their respective homes, they will also educate their parents,” James noted.

A student of Faaman Takyi MA Junior High School, Yakubu Yussif said, ” We were taught about the importance of afforestation and the need to use organic fertilizer and weedicides to help protect our environment. I told my parents about it, and they have started practicing them.”

He also urged young graduates to embrace agriculture because it has the bigger space to accommodate all who want to venture into it, and it has the potential to create jobs to help reduce unemployment in the country.