University of Ghana Validates FARM+ Proposal to Reduce Agrochemical Pollution
The University of Ghana held a validation workshop for the FARM+ Child Project Ghana, aimed at reducing agrochemical pollution through sustainable farming from 2026 to 2030. The project, implemented by UNIDO and led nationally by the University of Ghana, focuses on protecting agricultural landscapes, improving soil health, and promoting safer agrochemical use. Collaboration across sectors and farmer education are key components.
The University of Ghana organized a proposal validation workshop for the Financing Agrochemical Reduction and Management Plus (FARM+) Child Project Ghana, held in Koforidua. This workshop refined Ghana’s proposal for the global FARM+ Programme, funded by the Global Environment Facility and led by UNDP, with agencies including UNEP, UNIDO, FAO, and AfDB among others. The five-year project, running from 2026 to 2030 and implemented locally by UNIDO and the University of Ghana, aims to transition Ghana’s agriculture from unsustainable practices to sustainable, climate-resilient systems. Key objectives include protecting agricultural landscapes, improving soil health, reducing soil and water pollution, enforcing stronger policy frameworks, advancing food supply chains, and increasing financing for responsible pesticide and agricultural plastic management. The project places strong emphasis on inter-sectoral collaboration across academia, industry, and policy sectors, and involves training farmers to reduce hazardous agrochemical use and adopt safer alternatives. The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) emphasizes the importance of regulation and public reporting of substandard chemicals. Discussions also covered Ghana’s roadmap for agrochemical pollution reduction, investment opportunities, and enhancing inter-agency coordination. FARM+ will be implemented in Ghana and seven other countries including Benin, Costa Rica, Egypt, The Gambia, Mexico, Nepal, and Nigeria.
