Site of the future Togbe Kotoku XI Agric Maker Space, Kpenoe, Ghana.
Agricultural Maker Space
The Togbe Kotoku XI Agric Maker Space will be a multipurpose facility that boosts opportunity and innovation for the smallholder farmers and petty traders in the GBS network/ Co-operative microloan and savings (MLS) groups in the towns of Kpenoe, Takla, Hodzo, and Akoefe, and the community of Kpenoe.
This maker space is being designed and built based upon expressed farmer, trader, and community needs. It will be expandable by phases and will start with the ground floor of a multi-story design with the capability of expanding up as needs determine and resources are secured.
Steering Committee Members: Togbe Kotoku XI, Dickson Asase, Nathan Crook, D. Elder, representatives of farmer groups in Kpenoe (4), Takla (1), Hodzo (2), and Akoefe (1), GBS advisory team of Ms. Lydia Adajawah, Rev. Dr. Richmond Nfodwo, Very Rev. Japthet Y. Ledo, and Ms. Amelia Ogwah, Community Developer. Togbe Dikro IV, Akofe. Also present will be architectural design team led by Prudence Asase and representatives of the Kpenoe School Feeding Program.
A Facility that Meets Farmer and Community Needs
In 2023, GBS secured land for the Togbe Kotoku XI Agric Maker Space, held a listening meeting with representatives from the MLS groups that will be part of this project, community leaders, our advisory board, and architects, to determine needs and priorities. Based upon broad input, we are now in the process of finalizing architectural plans so the facility will meet the most pressing needs.
Preliminary list of activities to be supported at the agricultural maker space:
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Corn milling equipment.
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Kitchen and workspace for processing produce and small-scale canning, baking, frying, other preparation. The facilities can be multipurposed to meet school food prep and feeding needs.
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Covered outdoor meeting/ workspace.
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Indoor multipurpose workspace for meetings, agric education, extension, etc.
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Secure storage space for equipment/ materials/ goods.
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Cold storage room or freezer.
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Living space for caretaker.
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2nd floor Hostel to generate income.
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Aquaponics Lab to generate income from tilapia and leafy greens.
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Retail/ marketing space for banana seller, etc.
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Secure work and storage space for welding shop.
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Secure work and storage space for seamstress/ tailor shop.
From the listening session, we learned that the farmers have agricultural equipment needs that can be met prior to the construction of the Ag Maker Space. Nine out of our 14 groups requested and received knapsack-style agrochemical pump sprayers. Each group received two, one for herbicides and the other for pesticides. Along with this in-kind donation of equipment, GBS provided personal protection equipment, and is in the process of providing extension training for safe agrochemical usage and integrated pest management. For the remaining five groups, GBS provided each farmer with a pair of PVC work boots. Funding for this important equipment came through the Agric Maker Space Project.
Plans for the Future Togbe Kotoku Agric Maker Space
