Gideon Kwame Sarkodie Osei | January 30, 2025
News Brief
Farmer-managed Natural Regeneration is encouraging the restoration of farming land in Yameriga, Ghana – an area of rocky terrain and long droughts. FMNR is also encouraging increased gender equality, with women taking leadership roles at the household level and in the implementation of FMNR projects. Samuel Abasiba, an agroforestry specialist with World Vision Ghana, emphasizes the critical role women play in FMNR. He says, "Women bring unique knowledge to sustainable land management. They often prioritize trees that provide firewood, food, or income, making FMNR more sustainable."
It is a hot and sunny morning in Yameriga, a village in Ghana’s Upper East Region. Barikisu Salifu, a 36-year-old farmer and mother of four, walks through her three-acre farm, cutting wood from dead tree branches. She grows maize, groundnuts, and millet – crops well-suited to the sandy soil and moderate rains.
Yameriga’s rocky terrain and long droughts, worsened by climate change, make farming difficult, with poor yields and loss of vegetation. Yet Mrs. Salifu remains hopeful. Her community has stopped cutting trees and burning forests. Instead, they use techniques like Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration, or FMNR, encouraging the regrowth of trees from existing roots and seeds to restore degraded lands.
FMNR restores soil health, addresses climate change, and enhances biodiversity while improving livelihoods. Mrs. Salifu explains, “The firewood and fruits I harvest help me save money and even earn an income. With this, I’ve been able to pay for my children’s school fees.”
Women’s participation in FMNR has sparked broader changes in community dynamics. Their contributions have influenced decision-making processes and environmental stewardship. For Yameriga community leader Chief Naba Kougbira Maaltinga, involving women in FMNR has been transformative. He says, “We’ve seen a shift in how women are viewed; they’re no longer seen as helpers but as partners in rebuilding our land.”
Traditional healer Imoro Agonda notes that FMNR has replenished medicinal plants once scarce in the degraded landscape. Community members report an improved microclimate.
Gender expert Faustina Obeng Adoma calls FMNR a tool for climate adaptation and gender equality, emphasizing that empowering women strengthens entire communities. She says, “Women gain skills, confidence, and financial independence. This empowerment strengthens entire communities.” However, she highlights the need for continued support, including training, credit, and market access.
Samuel Abasiba, an agroforestry specialist with World Vision Ghana, emphasizes the critical role women play in FMNR. He says, “Women bring unique knowledge to sustainable land management. They often prioritize trees that provide firewood, food, or income, making FMNR more sustainable.” Mr. Abasiba has worked with communities to train farmers on tree management and land restoration techniques. He emphasizes that women’s understanding of household needs helps guide sustainable land management practices. He also highlights the importance of including women in decision-making roles, saying that when women lead, FMNR projects have higher success rates because they engage the whole community and ensure long-term benefits.
For 43-year-old baker Jafaru Azaratu, FMNR has brought household changes. Previously excluded from decision-making, she now works with her family on land restoration activities.
As the sun sets over Yameriga’s regrown landscape, the voices of women farmers and community leaders echo a shared vision: restoring land while renewing hope and opportunity. Through FMNR, Ghanaian women are reclaiming their rights, redefining roles, and shaping a future where equality and sustainability go hand in hand.
Photo Credit: World Vision