Training of smallholder/low-income farmers (P4P`s) on value addition to local crops: development and utilization of composite flours and production of winimix

Abstract

The World Food Program, under its Purchase for Profit Project organized a training workshop for smallholder/low-income farmers in Ejura-Sekyedumase District from 29th September, 2014 to 4th October, 2014 and from 13th to 26th October, 2014. The CSIR-Food Research Institute offered technical expertise in training participants on bakery and pastry products as well as the production of winimix. This Farmers’ Groups workshop was held at the Baptist Retreat Centre, Ejura Ashanti. In all 18 Farmer Organizations (FOs) consisting of 30 members each, from the district were trained over the 3-week period. These FOs were from Bemi, Ejura Zongo, Ejura-Dagomba Line, Kasei, Nyame Bekyere, Nkwanta, Dromankoma, Kobriti, Hiawoanwu, Dejau, Sekyedumase and Nyame Bekyere, all in the Ejura-Sekyedumase District. The purpose of the workshop was to train farmers on value addition to local crops through processing. Participants were taught the production of flours from local crops such as cassava, sweetpotato, yam, water yam, maize, rice, soyabean, making composites from these flours with wheat and utilizing the composite flours in pastry production. They were also taken through the formulation and processing of winimix and as well as food packaging. The sessions were done by practical demonstration, with trainees participating actively. Participant agreed that the training workshop was very important and timely since they gained more knowledge and equipped them with processing technologies. They promised to apply these in order safeguard their harvest, generate more income through value addition and improve their livelihood