Member of the Kranka Women's Farmer Group clearing the ground from a one acre allotment that was burnt after the harvest. The group intends to replant beans, watermelon, cabbage and carrots. - - Kranka Village Community Fruit Tree Nursery/Plantation, Kranka Women's Farmer Group: TFD-97/GHA/004. Agriculture is the mainstay of the Ghanaian economy, contributing to over 40% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with an annual growth of 2.7%. Population growth remains at a steady 2.9% per annum. This situation has led to a net deficit in some basic food crops, resulting in increased imports to augment national food security.

A recent government policy has been formulated to address constraints and increase annual growth in agriculture to 6%. The project has been established with a view to strengthening smallholder productivity. With improved inputs and new technology, it aims to increase yields of staple food crops, legumes and oilseeds, green leafy vegetables, carotene-rich crops and fruits.

The project is implemented by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ghana and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with the participation f the Kranka Village Community in the Brong Ahafo Region.

Main activities include the provision of improved inputs for establishing a fruit tree nursery and plantation in the village, with technical assistance to farmers' groups in the selection of improved species and varieties of seeds, site selection, land preparation for nursery beds, plant propagation, maintenance and transplanting. The farmers? groups will thus have access to improved productive varieties of plants, the sale of which will enable them to increase their incomes and provide them with the means to compete on foreign markets. They will also benefit from increased availability of fruits for family consumption and higher levels of vitamin intake.

The transfer of skills from organized farmers? groups to the individual or village farmers in the a