As in most of Africa, Ghana is also a country where more then half the population gets its livelihood from farming. Often primitive methods are used to farm the land and rear the animals. OCEP has a project that allows you to participate as a volunteer in Ghana's farming.

Assin North S.S.S. forestry project

Description
OCEP Ghana has established an forestry farming project with Assin North secondary school, consisting of five acres. The fields contain mainly cash crops such as maize, cassava, plantain and cowpea. Furthermore, animal husbandry is about to be introduced; the theoretical aspects are already being taught at the school. The school has moreover some 30 acres of unused land due to lack of manpower.

Working on a farm in Ghana is physically challenging because of the manual work and the blazing sun during the day. On the other hand, it is a great opportunity to experience tropical farming first-hand. If you have an agricultural background in Europe, Australia or North America, you will find it an entirely different ball game.

Time of year
Anytime

Place
Assin North district, Central Region

Rural/urban
Rural

Max number of volunteers
6 (together with the Assin North school SSS)

Volunteer job description
1) Nursing seeds and saplings
2) Weed control
3) Line and pegging (demarcation of the plant base for planting)
4) Pruning (=removal of unwanted branches)

Depending on the volunteer’s preferences, he can choose to combine teaching and practice of the Agric Science subject or focus on practice only. The subjects taught under Agric Science are (1) general agriculture, (2) crops and horticulture, (3) animal science and (4) physics/chemistry.

Requirements for volunteers
Preferably strong interest, experience, studies or degree relating to farming or tropical agriculture.

Accommodation description
Volunteers will have their own room close to their work. There is electricity, but no running water. The water is supplied from boreholes.

Accommodation cost
70 EUR a month

Meals
If the volunteers wish they can get 3 meals a day from the school canteen at a charge of 5 EUR per day.