Case study: Talensi, Ghana

This case study examines the implementation of Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) in the Talensi district of northern Ghana. Sponsored by World Vision Ghana and supported by World Vision Australia, the project uses a low-cost land restoration technique to combat soil degradation and climate-driven food insecurity, restoring over 2,000 hectares of land across three phases between 2009 and 2020.

• The Talensi district in northern Ghana faces significant climate-related challenges, including erratic annual rainfall, intermittent droughts (defined as three or more weeks without significant rain), and unusually high temperatures from March to April. Additionally, farming communities along the White Volta experience annual flooding that washes away crops.
• Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) is a low-cost land restoration method that involves the systematic regrowth and management of trees and shrubs from existing felled tree stumps and root systems. This process restores soil structure and fertility, reduces soil moisture evaporation, inhibits erosion, rehabilitates the water table, and increases biodiversity.
• The FMNR project in Talensi was implemented in three phases starting with a 2009 pilot. The first phase (2009–2011) benefited over 3,000 people and restored 400 hectares; the second phase (2012–2017) benefited over 8,000 people and restored 700 hectares; the third phase (July 2017–June 2020) aimed to benefit 8,000 people and restore 500 hectares. In total, the project restored over 2,000 hectares of degraded land.
• The project has led to measurable improvements in agricultural productivity and environmental health. Key outcomes include increased soil fertility and crop yields, an 80% reduction in annual bush fires, and increased availability of fodder for livestock, fruit for consumption and sale, and firewood.
• Beyond FMNR, more than 10,000 farmers in the district have adopted additional conservation practices, including the use of stone bund walls, zero or minimum tillage, field mulching with crop residue, and the application of compost to improve soil fertility.

APA

Kokutse, F. (2020). Case study: Talensi, Ghana. Good Governance Africa. https://gga.org/working-from-the-ground-up/

Chicago

Kokutse, Francis. Case study: Talensi, Ghana. Good Governance Africa, 2020. https://gga.org/working-from-the-ground-up/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Kokutse |first1=Francis |title=Case study: Talensi, Ghana |publisher=Good Governance Africa |date=9 October 2020 |url=https://gga.org/working-from-the-ground-up/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kokutse2020case, author = {Kokutse, Francis}, title = {{Case study: Talensi, Ghana}}, institution = {Good Governance Africa}, year = {2020}, month = oct, url = {https://gga.org/working-from-the-ground-up/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }