Farmers turn to film-making

An innovative scheme in Ghana is helping cocoa farmers learn how to make videos. The farmers, who have been through a Farmer Cocoa Field School process under the Sustainable Tree Crops Programme, are being taught how to handle video cameras and plan and edit digital video episodes. The aim is for these farmers to document the important lessons learned from their Farmer Field School experiences, as well as those of their friends and colleagues. The video episodes will be in DVD and VHS format and used by organisations and farmers interested in cocoa and its development. Already, farmers have produced a cocoa management video on pruning and rehabilitating old cocoa trees. Two more videos, each lasting about 15 minutes, are planned on black pod disease, its identification and control. Videos are available free of charge to readers in developing countries. Dr Keith A Holmes Cocoa Coordinator, Commodities Group CABI Bioscience Silwood Park Ascot Berks SL5 7TA UK Fax: +44 (0)1491 829123 Email: mailto:k.holmes@cabi.orgAn innovative scheme in Ghana is helping cocoa farmers learn how to make videos..