This project is made possible through the partnership of WATER CHARITY and the NATIONAL PEACE CORPS ASSOCIATION. 
Location
Bug Nkwanta and New Longoro, Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana
Community Description
MoringaConnect (MC) works with small families in Ghana that grow moringa trees. They use a vertically integrated supply chain to process moringa leaves into moringa-based tea and snacks and the oil seeds into beauty products.
Since becoming operational in 2013, they have engaged over 2,300 farming families, provided more than $400,000 of income to them, and planted over 300,000 trees.
New Longoro is a small farming community in the Brong Ahafo Region. It has been one of the primary bases of operations for MC since the company was founded. The entire community has embraced MC and the work they are doing. Based on this success and deep level of engagement, MC launched a nucleus farm just outside the community in 2016. This farm currently provides seeds and leaves for MC’s products, income for 30+ tenant farmers who manage their own plots on the farm and sell the harvests directly to MC, and jobs for 30 workers and managers on the farm itself.
Bug Nkwanta is a smaller community on the road between New Longoro and Kintampo, the district capital. It has just a few hundred people living in it but does not have reliable water access. Despite its remoteness and lack of development, it has also been the site of the most successful moringa farmers working with MC nationwide.
Problem Addressed
MoringaConnect’s nucleus farm is right on the Volta River which provides easy access for irrigation and ostensibly for drinking water for the farmers on the land. However, during the rainy season and because of illegal gold mining in the river the water becomes muddy and turbid. As MC expands its workers and tenant farmers on the farm it becomes very challenging to ensure they all have reliable drinking water.
Bug Nkwanta had a borehole dug but the water quality was poor and wasn’t going to be adequate to provide potable water for the entire community. Now they are using a pond with standing water that is brackish.
For MC’s factory, while originally the plan was to connect the newly piped town water system to the factory, after discussing with various stakeholders, the reliability and quality of the grid water were called into question. To mitigate any issues that might arise a borehole with pump and poly tank for gravity-fed water is necessary.
Project Description
This project is to build 3 boreholes and build out the water delivery and storage systems.
MoringaConnect Nucleus Farm – While the original plan called for an integrated water filtration system using moringa seed press meal there is still R&D to be done on best methods for using press meals as a flocculant. Additionally, there is an imminent and growing need for potable water at the farm as they increase the number of farmers they grant blocks of land to. This means a borehole is a most logical and easily sustainable option. They hope to create infrastructure for many of the farmers and people working on the farm to have living quarters there in the future.
The contractor will conduct a survey, then drill a 5-inch borehole. Upon verifying the water quality, the contractor will install an Afridev hand pump which is designed for durability and heavy use.
MoringaConnect Factory – Washing is a critical step within the processing of moringa leaves into moringa powder and they need a reliable flow of potable water to provide for this. Additionally, the factory will have between 20-50 people working in it at any given time as well as living quarters for any staff visiting or working from the factory temporarily.
There is grid water in the community that will be connected to the factory and was originally the focus of the project but after further discussions with stakeholders and the local Water and Sanitation Committee, they are skeptical about the reliability and quality of the grid water. Thus they have decided to install a borehole to have dedicated water access that is directly under their management.
The contractor will conduct a survey, then drill a 5-inch borehole. Upon verifying the water quality, he will install an electric submersible pump and a poly tank to provide a gravity-fed water system to the factory.
Bug Nkwanta – The community had had a borehole dug but the water quality was poor and wasn’t going to be adequate to provide potable water for the entire community. Now they are using a pond with standing water that is brackish.
Based on the results from the previous contractor, the contractor will conduct a survey, then drill a 5-inch borehole. Upon verifying the water quality, the contractor will install an Afridev hand pump which is designed for durability and heavy use.
Project Impact
500 people will benefit from the project.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Joe Stein, RPCV Ghana, Director of Operations, MoringaConnect
Monitoring and Maintenance
MoringaConnect will manage and maintain the boreholes on the nucleus farm and at the factory. MC’s community manager sits on the Water and Sanitation Committee for New Longoro so he has experience with managing boreholes effectively.
The borehole in Bug Nkwanta will be handed over for management by the community under their Water and Sanitation Committee. MC will arrange with the committee an equitable commitment for the company to provide some support with the community providing the majority.
This project has been funded by an anonymous donor. Please donate to our other great projects in West Africa.
