INTRODUCTION
Agricultural Innovation for Food Security and Rural Development (AISFaRD) is a Ghanaian NGO founded on 20/09/2012 with the aim of promoting Household Food Security, Microfinance and Rural Development in Northern Ghana. Its foundation was laid by a group of professionals from diverse fields including Agriculture, Environmental, Rural Development and Education. These professionals wer
e moved by the food insecurity situation resulting from improper agronomic practices, inadequate credit facilities, improper storage techniques, inefficient marketing linkages and absence of organized farmer groups. Other problems that were identified include inaccessibility of farm inputs, unavailability of appropriate banking opportunities. Other problems identified include improper sanitation and health services; and inadequate and poor water supply system for the communities in the Northern Ghana. All these reasons among others induced the professionals to form an organization that would bring their professional skills together as one body with the aim and interest in helping the rural poor in the Northern Region of Ghana.
2.0 LEGAL STATUS
AISFaRD was incorporated under the company’s code act 1963 (act 179) as NGO on 13th June 2016 and carries Registration Number: CG037142016
3.0 MISSION STATEMENT
Development towards empowering rural communities through multi-faceted business oriented interventions
• Food Security
• Micro-finance,
• Participatory Rural Development and
• Capacity building through training, advocacy and campaign among others.
4.0 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The aims and objectives of AISFaRD among others are:
• To create and strengthen gender balanced Community Based Organizations (CBO) for sustainable development and good management.
• To provide farm management services, financial and resource support to resource poor productive rural communities to increase farm production and productivity.
• To provide new markets and create local and international linkages for farm produce.
• To promote gender equity, health and sanitation services through education and participatory training.
• To promote Household Food Security in targeted communities.
• To promote financial and resource support.
5.0 MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE
AISFaRD is managed through the organizational structure comprising:
• Board of Directors;
• Manager;
• Co-coordinators for
Extension & Farm Management
• Project Districts and
• Project Communities.
6.0 CURRENT ACTIVITIES
AISFaRD main activities at the moment are to provide farm management services, financial and resource support to poor productive rural communities to increase farm production and productivity
this comprises:
A. Extension and Farm Management
The interventions here are aimed at capacity building of AISFaRD field staff through training in the following topics:
• Agronomy of the food crops grown in Northern Ghana
• Livestock production and animal health
• Rural Sociology and rural development
• Rural enterprise development
• Credit and small business management
• Group formation, training and development
• Post-harvest management
• Warehouse Management
• Information & communication Technology and
• HIV/AIDS
Micro-financing is one of the core activities of AISFaRD. It comprises the following:
B Input Credit Facilities
AISFaRD provides credit facilities in the form of ploughing service, supply of seeds, fertilizers, farm tools etc. to the farmers during the farming season in the following project districts i.e. Tolon, Gusheigu, Karaga, Savelugu/Nanton, Central Gonja and Zabzugu of the Northern Region of Ghana. Payment for the above provision is in kind (farm produce) and effective after harvesting of the crops. This component has enjoys a considerable patronage and goodwill.
