A Partnership for delivery (P4D) workshop has been held to validate the Integrated Soil Fertility Management Manual and farmers’ handbook developed for the Partnership for Delivery (P4D) component of the CocoaSoils project on August 20 – 21, 2020. The purpose of the workshop was to bring together all stakeholders to review and validate the training manual and handbook. The 18 participants (Appendix B) represented ten organizations, namely Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocoa Health and Extension Division – CHED; Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana – CRIG), Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH), YARA, World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), Kuapa Kokoo, Mondelez, Rockwinds/TransRoyal, Grameen Foundation, and International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
Improving the productivity of cocoa while avoiding deforestation is the main objective of the CocoaSoils program. This objective is being achieved by using Integrated Soils Fertility Management (ISFM) options through research activities on-site and with farmers in four countries: Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria. It is within this framework that the P4D component of the program has as part of its mission developed a training manual for use by extension workers and technicians from the private and public sector partners. The primary purpose of this workshop was to have a technical discussion and validation of the training manuals that have been developed for this purpose.
The training manual for extension agents has three main sections:
- The duality of productivity and deforestation sets the scene,
- Good agricultural practices
- Management of soil fertility
The draft manual had received previous comments from members of the CocoaSoils team, ahead of the validation meeting. This meeting was held at the level of the in-country P4D Committee, to ensure the alignment of the contents of the manual with existing policies in the country and guarantee the institutional credibility of the Manual and its acceptance by stakeholders in the country. The manual validation workshop was attended by the P4D steering committee members, Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), and other private sectors partners.
