More than 14,000 smallholder farmers in the Northern, Upper East and Upper west Regions have been trained in modern farming practices to boost agricultural production.

The farmers received three months training on Farming as Business, Numeracy Skills Development, Farmers Based Organisation Strengthening and Agricultural Productivity and Business Development.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is funding the project with the Agricultural Development and Value Chain Enhancement Programme (ADVANCE) implementing it, to support Government’s commitment to strengthening food security.

Mrs. Adwoa Mensima Sey, a Public Relations and Communication Specialist of ADVANCE, made these known at the graduation and certificate presentation ceremony of 263 women farmers at Bulenga in the Wa East District.

She said the project was focusing on rice, maize and soybean production in the northern part of Ghana.

She said it would also adopt a value chain approach where smallholder farmers would be linked to markets, finance, inputs and equipment service, as well as information through relatively larger nucleus farmers, who have the capacity to invest in those chains.

Mrs. Sey said the training is helping farmers to improve on crop budgeting to reduce cost of production.

The farmers are also using improved seed and applying modern technology to increase yields and maximize profits.

“As part of efforts to improve agricultural productivity, the programme trains beneficiaries to acquire new skills and knowledge in production technologies, management practices and numeracy skills that will enable them to operate in a more business-like manner”, She emphasised.