With Ghanaians now spending over 50% of their income on food, an advocacy group called Garden for All is pushing for a “backyard revolution.”
Dr. Frank Kwekucher Ackar Jnr., a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Crop Science at the University of Cape Coast and founder of Garden for All, says home gardening has moved from a hobby to a necessary “insurance policy” for every household.
He warns that market produce is often compromised by contaminated water and pesticide abuse, making home-grown food the only truly safe option for families.
Health Alarm: Contaminated Vegetables
Dr. Ackar raised a serious public health alarm after discovering that some vegetable farmers in Sekondi-Takoradi are using untreated drain and gutter water to irrigate their crops.
He mentioned that during a field survey for an NGO, he observed that leafy vegetables, including lettuce, cabbage, ayoyo, and cucumbers, were grown with contaminated water.
“…we eat some of these vegetables in their raw form, and some women had even come to buy fresh lettuce. I was alarmed, and the abuse of the pesticide is on the increase, and so the safest food that you can trust is the one that you produce yourself,” Dr. Ackar Jnr. revealed during a Ghana Science Association programme on ATL FM dubbed “Science, Society & Development (SSD).
Step-by-step: Setting up your own “Space-Free” Garden
Dr. Ackah Jnr. urged consumers not to let the lack of land stop them. He highlighted successful projects at UCC’s Kwame Nkrumah Hall, where students are using “raised beds” and rooftops to produce everything from beetroot to cassava.
In an era where urban space is limited, Dr. Ackar Jnr. encouraged consumers to embrace innovative gardening techniques to safeguard their food security.
Step-by-step: Setting up your own “Space-Free” Garden
If you have a cemented floor or a rooftop, Dr. Ackar Jnr. suggested steps for consumers to follow for their space-free home gardening.
- Protect the Floor: Place a black polythene bag on the inner base of the container to prevent water damage to your building.
- Build the Box: Use wawa or redwood to create a simple frame (8ft x 4ft is recommended).
- Choose the Right Media: For rooftops, use Coco Peat instead of heavy soil. It is lightweight and perfect for high-rise gardening.
- Alternative Containers: Old car tyres, big plastic basins, or buckets can all serve as excellent pots for cassava and other crops.
A “Pension Job” for Mental Health
The “Garden for All” initiative is also targeting retirees. Dr. Ackah announced a new collaboration with the UCC Pensioners Association to provide free training, seeds, and home extension services.
Speaking from his father’s experience, he said gardening is a “pension job” that helps manage stress and ensures food sovereignty.
To maximize the benefits, he suggested rearing small animals such as rabbits or poultry to provide both protein for the family and organic manure for the garden.
READ MORE NEWS HERE
