Representatives from Senegal, Mali, USA, Burkina Faso and Benin converged in Jirapa to share ideas on adoption of ecological farming methods in the continent and beyond for effective, efficient soil conservation and increase in agriculture production.

Mr Ben Guri, the Executive Director of CIKOD, told participants that the conference was expected to create awareness of ecological farming as a new way that farmers could adopt to conserve the soil.

He praised Zoomlion for being supportive towards land management systems and maintenance of biodiversity by subsidizing compost to local farmers, and called for government support to make ecological farming succeed in Ghana.

CIKOD has inaugurated committees whose members have received specialized training from Ghana National Fire Service to deal with wanton bush burning and enforce bylaws, he added.

Mr Majid A. Mohammed, the Municipal Coordinator of Lawra, commended CIKOD for its support towards social and economic development of the municipal area.

He said the organisation’s “vital role” had contributed in preventing the youth from migrating to southern parts of the country in search of non-existing job opportunities by engaging them in income generating activities.

Several women and young people were reported to have been engaged in farming activities and tree planting projects, which helped the beneficiaries to earn income to fend for themselves and their households.

It also spearheaded in providing portable water through borehole construction local communities.Mr Steve Brescia, the Executive Director of Groundswell International Washington, partner organization to CIKOD, was excited about the vast impact of CIKOD’s activities on the lives of the people.

He said many farmers were getting greater harvests than the previous seasons, which he pointed to adoption of ecological farming methods by the farmers.CIKOD received funding from United States Aid for International Development (USAID), which is targets less developed areas in Africa by providing portable water and supporting women into farming among others.