SoilFER Programme - Soil mapping for resilient agrifood systems

Ghana

Project's full title	Soil mapping for resilient agrifood systems in Central America and sub-Saharan Africa (SoilFER)
Country	Ghana
Start date	17/05/2023
End date	16/05/2027
Status	on going
Donor	United States of America
Recipient / Target Areas	Ghana
Objective / Goal	SoilFER follows an integrated cycle that links soil governance, data generation, laboratory analysis, digital soil information systems and advisory services to support sustainable soil and fertility management and agricultural productivity. Beginning with institutional coordination and field data collection, the programme strengthens laboratory and analytical capacities, develops national soil information systems and translates data into practical tools such as soil maps, crop suitability assessments, fertilizer recommendations and implementation of sustainable soil management practice, contributing to evidence-based decision-making and more efficient use of soil and nutrient resources beyond the programme cycle.
Partners	Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA); CSRI – Soil Research Institute; University of Ghana; Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI); Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Regional collaboration: Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Beneficiaries	The programme benefits: National institutions responsible for agriculture, soils, land and natural resource management Soil laboratories and technical agencies involved in soil analysis and data management Extension services and advisory providers Policymakers and planners developing evidence-based agricultural and land-use policies Researchers, universities and technical experts Farmers and producer organizations benefiting from improved soil management recommendations and decision-support tools Capacity development embedded throughout the process helps ensure sustainability beyond the programme cycle.
Activities	Selected activities include: Institutional coordination established and operational arrangements agreed. Sampling design and field planning prepared for operational rollout. Laboratory and analysis readiness activities initiated. Development and enhancement of Soil Information Systems (SIS/NSIS) and digital soil services. Crop suitability and fertilizer recommendation modelling. Second season of field validation and sustainable soil and fertilizer management trials. Capacity development through training, technical guidance and digital tools.
Impact	Ghana’s work to date is primarily institutional and technical set-up. The focus has been on preparing the enabling conditions for a national sampling campaign and for consistent laboratory analysis and data management. Activities include stakeholder coordination with national counterparts, definition of roles for data stewardship, alignment on field and laboratory protocols, and preparations for equipment, methods, and QA/QC. This groundwork is designed to ensure that when sampling starts, data flows cleanly from field collection to validated datasets that can feed mapping and national services. Progress highlights: Institutional coordination established, operational arrangements agreed and launch of the National Soil Partnership foreseen in 2026. Sampling design and field planning ready for operational rollout. Laboratory upgrading completed and analysis readiness activities initiated. Completion of CRNS laboratory training to enhance technical capacities and harmonized analytical procedures. Development of legacy soil data repositories and the consolidation of historical soil maps and analytical records for integration onto the forthcoming national soil information system platform. Ongoing crop suitability and fertilizer recommendation modelling. Second season of field validation and sustainable soil and fertilizer management trials. Capacity development through training, technical guidance and digital tools including the pilot phase of the Soil Doctors programme.
Contact	Programme coordination: soilfer@fao.org \| FAO Representation in Ghana: FAO-GH@fao.org Sebastian Brahene – SoilFER National Project Coordinator Benjamin Kwesie – Technical Specialist in Digital Soil Mapping, Soil Information and Data Daniel Tsatsu – Technical Specialist in Soil Laboratories Angela Anokye – Technical Specialist in Soil Management and Fertility David Youngs – Comms focal point Yi Peng/Janet Nabwami – FAO Headquarters focal point/Alternate focal point
More on this topic	FAO in Ghana Global Soil Partnership
Related publications	Soil Mapping for Resilient Agrifood Systems (SoilFER) 06/2024 In Central America and sub-Saharan Africa, the Soil Mapping for Resilient Agrifood Systems (SoilFER) project stands out as a unique framework aimed at unearthing valuable information from soils to guide policymaking and fertilizer recommendations both at national and field scale.