Our focus
We work to strengthen farmer networks, share knowledge, and promote policies that support sustainable agriculture and rural livelihoods.
All African Farmers Network
AAFANET
Supporting farmers and rural communities across Africa through partnership, advocacy, and sustainable development.
Get in touchWho we are
The All African Farmers Network (AAFANET) is a non-governmental organization dedicated to the interests of farmers and agricultural development on the African continent.
Our headquarters
Africa Headquarters
Dodowa, Greater Accra Region
Ghana, West Africa
All African Farmers Network (AAFANET)
History of organization
Background of association
All African Farmers Network (AAFANET) is a non-governmental organization established in Ghana in 1998 by a group of public-spirited individuals. It was subsequently registered with the Registrar General’s Department in accordance with the Companies Code, 1963 (Act 179) of Ghana and the Department of Social Welfare in the year 2000. The aim of the association is to promote improved methods of agricultural production among small-holder peasant agricultural producers and traders in Ghana and across the West African sub-region, with the objective of enhancing food security among member countries. Established in Ghana in 1998, the association has expanded to include agricultural producers from Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Cameroon, Niger, Côte d'Ivoire, and Nigeria, among others, to form a continental network. Each country implements its own programmes and activities aimed at promoting good agricultural practices and the use of modern technologies to increase food security and facilitate agricultural trade. The network has a membership of about twelve thousand (12,000) members across the continent and has its regional headquarters situated at Dodowa, a suburb of Accra in the Dangme West District of the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. The current membership in Ghana is approximately 300 members across the sixteen (16) regions of the country. AAFANET has been promoting good agricultural practices aimed at reducing land degradation, protecting natural resources, and enhancing the acquisition of skills and technical know-how in the use of improved agricultural methods among small-holder agricultural producers and traders in Ghana. The association has also been assisting members and other agricultural producers and traders by providing information through research and advocacy on all aspects of agriculture and rural development. The association has actively participated in decision-making, policy formulation and implementation, seminars, workshops, and programmes organized by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), the Ghana AIDS Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), District and Municipal Assemblies, and other relevant agencies and departments in Ghana.
AAFANET has been promoting good agricultural practices aimed at reducing land degradation, and natural resources protection; enhancing acquisition of skills and technical know-how in the use of improved agricultural methods among small-holder agricultural producer and trade in Ghana. The association has also been assisting member and other agricultural producers and trade information through research and advocacy access on all spheres of agriculture, and rural development.
The association has also participated in decision making,policy formulation and implementation, seminars, workshops and programs of sector ministry of food and agricultural (MoFA).The food and agricultural organization; of the United Nations (FAO) the United Nations information center (UNIC); the Ghana Aids Commission, the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) of Environment and Science; District and Municipal Assemblies; andother agencies and departments in Ghana.
Moments from our history
Vision
To achieve increased food security and reduced rural poverty among small-holder agricultural producers and traders.
Mission statement
All African Farmers Network exists to promote modern and scientific methods of agricultural production and trade as a means of enhancing environmental quality, increasing agricultural production, improving food security, and reducing rural poverty.
Constitution / governance / management
AAFANET operates under a constitution and by-laws that define the structure of the association, the terms of office, and the tenure of the National Executive Committee and Management Team. The association is governed by the National Executive Committee. The structure comprises seven (7) members: the Executive Director and Deputy, the General Secretary and Deputy, the Financial Controller and Deputy, and the Coordinator for Programmes and Projects. The office structure is headed by the Secretary General and comprises an Administrator, a Secretary, a Clerk, an Accountant, a Messenger, and about six Field and Technical Officers.
Values
AAFANET is a non-governmental, non-profit-making, non-political, and non-partisan organization.
Membership
Membership is open to all rural small-holder agricultural producers, including farmers, fishermen, micro-food processors, and traders in Ghana and throughout the West African sub-region.
FOCUS FOR THE FUTURE
AAFANET seeks to strengthen the organization through strategic planning, capacity building, training, and services that improve agricultural productivity, increase incomes, and reduce poverty and disease across rural communities..
ACCREDITATIONS
Since 2000, AAFANET has been an accredited member of the FAO Intergovernmental Working Group on the Elaboration of the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security.
AAFANET is also in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
Objectives
- Create an information network for farmers and traders. Link farmers and traders to credit, markets, and agricultural services. Provide extension services and skills training. Create employment through Agricultural Youth Corps and Farmers' Cooperatives. Promote environmentally sound modern agricultural practices. Undertake research and advocacy for rural farmers and traders. Promote the health and welfare of agricultural producers. Provide training through seminars, workshops, field visits, and agricultural clinics. Promote awareness of human rights and girls' education.
- To promote increase agricultural production using environmentally sound and appropriate modern practices to raise the socio-economic status of rural subsistence small-holder farmers and traders.
- AaFaNet is also committed to Research and Advocacy for the welfare of the rural farmers and traders especially women to increase production in the various agricultural enterprises including micro-food processing and trade through the adoption of modern and scientific methods.
- To promote the health and welfare of agricultural producers in Ghana and within the sub-regions.
- To provide training to members through seminars, and workshops, field visits and clinics, aimed at capacity development for improved agricultural productivity, and reduction in post-harvest losses.
- To promote the awareness of human right issues e.g. Women and Children, the Right to Girl Child Education etc.
Main functions
- Mobilization and registration of farmers and traders. Facilitating access to microfinance. Training in good agricultural practices. Providing agricultural information. Entrepreneurship and project management training. Facilitating market access. Educational and UN awareness activities. Programmes with UNIC. Representation on commissions and boards.
Activities
- AaFaNet since its formation has been embarking on mass mobilization and registration of small-holder farmers and traders into different commodity co-operatives.
- Facilitation of access to micro-finance or credit by small-holder agricultural producers and traders to improve their activities.
- Training for capacity building in good agricultural practices and use of improved methods of production through seminars, workshops field visits and agric clinics.
- Facilitation of information access to by members and small-holder agricultural producers through the use of extension aids, books and experience sharing.
- Entrepreneurial and project management skills development through workshops and seminars.
- Facilitation to trade and marketing access of members produce through Research and Advocacy.
- Embarking on educational activities, the dissemination of information on the UN in its search for peace and security and human right activities through symposium and conferences.
- Organizing for programs in collaboration with the UNIC in commemoration on various UN international days and anniversaries throughout the year.
- Representation of members and agricultural producers on commissions, committees, boards, of Ministries, Agencies and Departments to promote and defend the course of small-holder farmers and traders.
Affiliations
AAFANET has a working collaboration with:
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Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA)
Ghana AIDS Commission
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
District Assemblies in Ghana
United Nations Information Centre (UNIC)
United Nations recognition
NGO in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations
This status reflects our engagement with international dialogue on economic, social, and environmental issues affecting farmers and communities in Africa.
Contact
Postal address
P.O. Box DD 46Dodowa
Greater Accra Region
Ghana, West Africa