CRS, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs launch AGILE Project to support farmers in Northern Region

Catholic Relief Services (CRS), with funding from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has officially launched the Agricultural Growth and Improvement for Livelihood Enhancement (AGILE) Project.

The three-year initiative aims to boost crop yields, increase household incomes, and strengthen the resilience of smallholder farming families in the Savelugu Municipality and Kumbungu District in the Northern Region of Ghana.

Speaking at the launch ceremony on March 27, the Country Representative of CRS Ghana, Beauty Abena Amedomey highlighted that the agricultural sector remains a backbone of Ghana’s economy and a lifeline for millions of Ghanaians.

“The agricultural sector employs about 33% of the total workforce in Ghana. However, many smallholder farmers face critical challenges, including erratic rainfall, land degradation, and limited market access, all of which hinder their ability to thrive,” she said.

“The AGILE project provides a direct response to these challenges with a focus on three key measures: increasing the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices to improve crop yields and soil fertility, enhancing integrated water resource management, including restoring the Nawuni Sub-Catchment of the White Volta River Basin for reliable water access, and improving access to markets and inclusive financial services for smallholder farmers to boost their incomes and economic opportunities,” she added.

On her part, Ms. Vivian Hilde Opsvik, Counsellor/Deputy Head of Cooperation at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Accra, said the AGILE project aligns with the Embassy’s food security strategy by stimulating local food production, creating employment opportunities across agricultural value chains, and improving access to nutritious food.

“I am delighted that the AGILE project will directly benefit approximately 3,325 farmers and have an indirect positive impact on over 31,000 residents across the project communities,” she stated.

Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf, while expressing concerns over the incidence of low productivity recorded in the agric sector, emphasized that farmers will be given the necessary resources to increase production.

“For the past two years, the region recorded over 70 percent decline in food production due to climate change which has resulted in increased food prices. We will work with the farmers and the AGILE project partners to change the narrative,” he assured.

The AGILE Project stands as a landmark intervention in the ongoing effort to ensure sustainable water management, climate-resilient agriculture and long-term environmental conservation in Ghana.

In all, over 3, 000 farmers are expected to benefit directly from the project with more than 30,000 indirect beneficiaries.

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