About this module
This module trains you to grow six vegetables on a small plot, from choosing the site to selling the harvest. You learn by doing: most of the time is spent on a real plot, and every unit ends with a practical task and homework.
Who it is for. Beginners with no formal certificate. The level is National Proficiency I, the first level of Ghana's TVET qualifications framework. At this level a trainee carries out routine tasks under close supervision. COTVET's own skills directory places basic crop work at this level: watering, thinning, weeding, picking vegetables, grading and packing.
The crops. Tomato, hot pepper, okra, garden egg, cabbage and amaranth (green leaf). Together they cover the four plant families you need for crop rotation, two crops sown directly in the field, and four raised in a nursery first.
Where. Southern Ghana, written for the Western Region. The calendar and soil advice use Western Region data. Other southern regions are close, but check your own district's GMet forecast.
This is not an accredited CTVET programme. CTVET has no published standard for vegetable production. The nearest accredited curriculum is Arable Crop Production (National Certificate II), held at the CTVET Secretariat. This module follows CTVET's published format so that it can be put forward for accreditation later. Contact the Secretariat at info@ctvet.gov.gh or +233-312-291965.
How the module is built
Each unit follows the layout COTVET uses for competency-based training: learning outcomes, performance criteria for each outcome, the range (what situations the skill must cover), and the evidence an assessor needs. Then comes the teaching content, a class exercise, a practical on the plot and homework.
How you are assessed
You are judged Competent or Not Yet Competent on each unit. There are no percentages. An assessor watches you do the work on the plot, asks you questions, and checks your logbook. If you are not yet competent, you practise and try again.
Keep your logbook (Section 11) up to date from the first day. It is part of your evidence.
Practical and theory
About 70% of the time is practical, on the plot, and 30% in class. CTVET has not published one ratio for all programmes. The only agriculture figure on record is the Oil Palm programme, at about 30% in school and 70% at the workplace. This module follows that split.
Safety on the plot
Health and safety is a compulsory subject for CBT apprentices in Ghana. Read this before you touch a tool or a chemical.
Tools and the body
- Wear closed shoes or boots on the plot. Carry cutlasses blade down and never leave them lying in grass.
- Lift with your knees bent. Share heavy loads like manure bags and water.
- Work in the cooler morning and evening. Drink water often.
- Wash your hands after handling soil, manure or plants, and before eating.
Manure
Raw (fresh) manure can carry germs that make people sick. Do not put raw manure on a growing crop. Compost it first, or work it into the soil well before planting.
How long to wait after raw manure. A US food-safety rule says at least 120 days between applying raw manure and harvesting a crop whose edible part touches the soil, such as amaranth, and 90 days for crops that do not touch the soil. A Nigerian government guide says work uncured poultry manure in 3 months before planting. No Ghana rule was found. The NIHORT rule is stricter in practice, so this module uses it: raw manure goes in at least 3 months before planting, or it is composted first.
Pesticides
- Only use pesticides registered in Ghana. It is illegal to sell or use unregistered ones. The Environmental Protection Act 2025 (Act 1124) replaced the old EPA Act and renamed the regulator the Environmental Protection Authority.
- Spot fake products. Fakes often have a poor or foreign-language label and no manufacturer address, expiry date or batch number.
- Read the label for the dose, the protective clothing needed and the pre-harvest interval: the number of days you must wait between spraying and harvesting.
- Wear gloves, boots, long sleeves and a mask. Spray in the cool morning or evening, never in the hot afternoon. MoFA reports that many farmers spray without gloves or overalls and in the afternoon, and reuse empty containers at home. Never do this.
- Trainees at this level do not mix or spray pesticides. They watch the trainer, and learn the safe alternatives in Section 08.
Safety at home
Find one pesticide or fertiliser container at home, in your community or at an agro-input shop (do not open it). Copy into your logbook: the product name, what it is for, the protective clothing the label asks for, and the pre-harvest interval if it has one. If the label is missing any of these, write that down too.
Unit 1 · Plan the plot and the season
Good vegetables start with a good site and the right timing. In this unit you choose a site, mark out a plot, and plan which crop goes where and when.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 1.1 Select a suitable site | identifies sun, slope, drainage and nearness to water; rejects low, waterlogged or shaded spots; records the reasons |
| 1.2 Plan the season | reads the GMet seasonal forecast; marks nursery, transplanting and harvest weeks on a calendar |
| 1.3 Plan the crop rotation | divides the plot into four blocks; places crops so that no tomato, pepper or garden egg follows another of the same family |
Range. Rain-fed major and minor seasons; one dry-season irrigated plot; plots up to about 1 acre. Evidence. Direct observation of the site walk; a plot plan and season calendar in the logbook; oral questions.
Choosing the site
Vegetables need full sun and good drainage. Water lying on the soil brings disease: for tomato, waterlogging increases bacterial wilt, and even a short waterlogging makes pepper drop its leaves. Garden egg copes poorly with waterlogging or heavy shade.
Look for:
- a gentle slope, not a valley bottom where water collects
- a water point close by, because you will carry water in dry spells
- a fence or hedge to keep out goats and fowl
- land that has not grown tomato, pepper or garden egg in the last couple of years
The two rainy seasons
Southern Ghana has two rainy seasons, so you can grow two rain-fed crops a year. GMet's records for 1991–2020 give the normal timing for the Western Region:
| Zone | Major rains start | Major rains end | Minor rains start | Minor rains end |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Coast (Axim, Half Assini, Takoradi) | Weeks 1–4 of March | Week 2 of July – week 1 of August | Week 4 of Aug – week 2 of Sep | Week 4 of Oct – week 4 of Nov |
| Forest (Tarkwa, Dunkwa, Sefwi) | Week 4 of Feb – week 4 of March | Week 2 of July – week 1 of August | Week 3 of Aug – week 1 of Sep | Week 1 of Nov – week 1 of Dec |
"April to July" or "March to July"? Many books and GMet's own press summaries say the major rains run April to July. GMet's detailed 30-year records for the Western Region show them starting earlier, between late February and late March. Plan with the detailed records, but wait for the rains to settle before you transplant.
The rains change every year. For 2026 GMet expected a late start around Axim, Dunkwa and Sefwi Bekwai, and two dry spells, in March–April and May–June, lasting up to 19 days. Its advice was to wait for steady rain before planting and to plan extra watering. Read the new forecast every season: the major-season forecast comes out around February–March and the minor-season one around August.
Which season suits which crop. In the forest zone cabbage tends to grow better in the minor season, and it does well in the moist higher land around Tarkwa. Chilli pepper can be grown rain-fed from May to November, or with irrigation in the dry season. MoFA is promoting dry-season irrigated tomato because demand is highest then.
Crop rotation
Some crops belong to the same plant family and share the same pests and diseases. Tomato, pepper and garden egg are all in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). Cabbage is in the cabbage family. If you grow the same family in the same soil season after season, its diseases build up.
MoFA's rules:
- Do not grow garden egg in the same place two years running.
- Against root-knot nematodes, rotate for at least 3 years with maize, beans or cassava.
- Against tomato Fusarium wilt, keep nightshade crops off that soil for at least 5 years.
- Do not put pepper where tomato, garden egg or okra grew before, because of nematodes.
- Rotate cabbage for 3 years with cereals or beans against soft rot and black rot.
The plan below uses four blocks and moves each crop group one block every season.
Rotation helps, but it does not solve everything. Bacterial wilt lives in the soil for a long time and attacks many plants, so rotation is of limited use against it. If a site had bacterial wilt, choose another site for tomato and pepper.
Read a forecast
Your trainer gives you GMet's latest seasonal forecast for your zone. In pairs, answer:
- When are the rains expected to start this season?
- Are any dry spells forecast? When, and how long?
- Using the calendar above, in which week should you sow seedlings?
Walk the site and peg the plot
- As a group, walk the training land with the trainer. Note where water lies after rain, where shade falls in the morning and afternoon, and how far the water point is.
- Choose the plot. Write down three reasons for your choice.
- Using a tape and pegs, mark a plot of 15 × 10 m and divide it into four blocks with a 1 m path between them.
- Mark which way is downhill. Beds will run across the slope.
- Draw the plot plan in your logbook, labelling blocks A–D and the crop group for each.
Talk to a grower
Visit a vegetable farmer near your home. Ask: which crops they grow in each season, how they decide when to plant, and what crop they would not plant twice in the same place. Write their answers in your logbook, with the date and the farmer's first name or community.
Unit 2 · Prepare the land and soil
Western Region soils are mostly acidic and low in phosphorus. In this unit you test the soil, build raised beds, and add organic matter so the crop has food from the start.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 2.1 Clear and prepare land | clears weeds and debris without burning near the plot; digs to a workable depth |
| 2.2 Test the soil | takes a sample correctly; measures pH with a kit; records the result |
| 2.3 Build beds | builds raised beds of the stated width and height across the slope |
| 2.4 Add organic matter | applies compost or cured manure at the planned rate and mixes it in |
Range. Sandy and loamy soils; rainy-season and dry-season beds; compost and poultry manure. Evidence. Observation of bed building; pH result and manure calculation in the logbook; oral questions.
What Western Region soil is like
About 80% of Western Region soils are acidic, mostly with a pH below 5, and short of phosphorus. Most vegetables do best around pH 5.5 to 7: tomato at pH 5–7, pepper at 5.5–7.0, and acid soils need liming. Okra needs 6.0–6.8, and MoFA recommends liming below that. Amaranth is tolerant, growing from pH 4.5 to 8.0.
How acidic? One study says Western Region soils are "mostly below 5". A 2025 study measured pH 4.8–5.9. The only way to know your plot is to test it. No Ghana lime rate for vegetables was found; if your pH is below 5.5, ask the district MoFA extension officer how much lime to use.
Raised beds
Beds lift the roots above standing water. Make beds in the rainy season for drainage. For amaranth, beds about 90 cm wide, 20 cm high in the dry season and 30 cm or more in the rains. MoFA advises ridging cabbage on wet or heavy soil against soft rot, and ridges or raised beds help against bacterial wilt.
On this training plot every bed is 1 m wide, with a 50 cm path, and runs across the slope.
Organic matter
Compost and well-rotted manure feed the soil and help it hold water. Rates from the sources, converted for a small plot (1 t/ha = 0.1 kg per m²):
| Crop | Rate in the source | On a 1 × 5 m bed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Cured poultry manure 10–15 t/ha, 2 weeks before transplanting | 5–7.5 kg | NIHORT Tomato |
| Tomato (Kumasi trial) | 6 t/ha poultry manure gave the best yield of the rates tried | 3 kg | KNUST Saidy 2015 |
| Garden egg | 0.2–0.5 kg manure or compost per planting hole | per plant | WorldVeg Eggplant |
| Amaranth | 2 kg/m² manure | 10 kg | WorldVeg Amaranth |
| Pepper | 10 t/ha composted manure | 5 kg | Farm Radio 2020 |
The bed column is calculated from the source rate.
Tomato manure rate. A Nigerian government guide gives 10–15 t/ha of cured poultry manure. A trial at KNUST in Kumasi found 6 t/ha was the best of the rates it tested (2, 4 and 6 t/ha), raising yield by 62%. The Kumasi trial did not test higher rates, so the two do not truly contradict. This module uses 6 t/ha as the starting rate because it was tested in Ghana.
Work out the manure
Your bed is 1 × 5 m. You are planting tomato at 6 t/ha of cured poultry manure.
- How many m² is the bed?
- How many kg of manure per m² is 6 t/ha?
- How many kg do you need for the bed?
- A bag holds 25 kg. How many bags for 8 beds?
Test the soil and build a bed
- Sample. Take 5 small scoops of soil from across your block, 15–20 cm deep, and mix them in a clean bucket. (This general sampling practice gives one result for the whole block.)
- Test pH with the kit, following its instructions. Record the number in your logbook.
- Feel the soil. Wet a pinch and rub it: gritty means sandy, smooth and sticky means clay. Record it.
- Build one bed: 1 m wide, 5 m long, at least 20 cm high (30 cm in the rainy season), across the slope.
- Add manure at your calculated rate and mix it into the top 15 cm.
Start a compost heap at home
Collect kitchen peelings (no meat or oil), dry leaves and green grass. Layer them in a corner or old container and keep it damp. Photograph or sketch it on day 1 and day 14 and describe the change in your logbook.
Unit 3 · Raise seedlings in a nursery
Tomato, pepper, garden egg and cabbage start life in a nursery. Strong, healthy seedlings are half the harvest.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 3.1 Prepare the nursery | prepares clean nursery soil or a tray mix; sets up shade and insect netting |
| 3.2 Sow | sows at the correct depth and spacing; labels each row or tray |
| 3.3 Care for seedlings | waters correctly; thins; spots and removes damped-off or diseased seedlings |
| 3.4 Harden off | reduces water and shade on schedule before transplanting |
Range. Seed trays and nursery beds; tomato, pepper, garden egg, cabbage. Evidence. Observation of sowing and daily care; nursery record in the logbook; a tray of healthy seedlings at transplanting.
Trays or a bed?
Tomato seedlings raised in individual pots or plug trays establish almost 100% in the field. Seedlings pulled from a bed lose roots. Trays cost more but lose fewer plants.
Tray mix: soil, sand, compost and rice hulls in equal parts (1:1:1:1). Nursery bed: raised at least 15 cm, 80–100 cm wide, with 2 kg of compost per m².
Clean soil first
Damping-off fungi make seedlings rot at soil level and fall over. Waterlogging makes it worse. Prevent it:
- Use subsoil for the nursery bed, and sterilise soil for seed boxes.
- Solarise: cover moist soil with clear plastic in hot sun so the heat kills germs and nematode eggs.
- Sow thinly, and do not overwater or overfeed with nitrogen.
How long to solarise, and with what plastic? 3–4 weeks under transparent plastic; 4–6 weeks; 6 weeks under transparent, "not black", plastic. A Nigerian guide says black polythene. Three of the four sources say clear plastic, and clear plastic lets the sun heat the soil directly, so this module uses clear plastic for at least 4 weeks, the overlap of MoFA and WorldVeg.
Sowing
- Tomato: rows 5 cm apart, 0.5 cm deep, thin to about 5 cm apart.
- Garden egg: rows 15–20 cm apart, seeds 1 cm apart, thin to 1–2 cm.
- Cabbage: seed 2–3 cm apart in rows 8–10 cm apart.
Cover the nursery with a fine net (50–60 mesh) to keep off whiteflies and aphids, which carry virus diseases. Water daily in hot, dry weather and every two days in cool weather.
If seedlings look pale, feed once with 5 g of sulphate of ammonia per litre of water, or 2.5 g of urea per litre. Too much nitrogen makes them tall and weak.
Hardening off
Seedlings raised in shade must get used to full sun before they go to the field. Start when they have 4 true leaves (about 20–25 days after sowing) by watering less. In the last 6–9 days, remove the net and give full sun. Water thoroughly 12–14 hours before transplanting.
When are they ready?
| Crop | Ready to transplant | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tomato | 25–35 days | FAO Tomato |
| Tomato | 3–4 weeks, about 10 cm tall | NIHORT Tomato |
| Pepper | 25–35 days, 10–20 cm tall | FAO Pepper |
| Pepper (Legon 18) | 4-week-old seedlings gave the best yield | KNUST Osei 2013 |
| Garden egg | 4–6 weeks, or 4–7 true leaves | WorldVeg Eggplant |
| Cabbage | 5–6 weeks, 10–12 cm, 4–6 leaves | Farm Radio 2020 |
The sources broadly agree: about 4 weeks for tomato and pepper, 4–6 for garden egg and cabbage.
Nursery timetable
The rains are expected to settle in the week of 23 March. Working backwards, write the date to: (a) start solarising the nursery soil, (b) sow tomato, (c) start hardening off, (d) transplant.
Set up and run the group nursery
- Prepare one seed tray per crop (or one nursery bed) with clean, solarised mix.
- Sow tomato, pepper, garden egg and cabbage at the spacing and depth above. Label each tray with the crop, variety and date.
- Put the trays under shade and netting.
- Keep a daily nursery record in your logbook: date, watered (yes/no), number of seedlings up, any that fell over or look sick.
- Thin when the first true leaves appear.
- Harden off on schedule.
Germination test
At home, place 10 seeds of any vegetable on a damp cloth or paper in a covered dish. After 7 days count how many sprouted. Record the germination percentage (sprouted ÷ 10 × 100) in your logbook. Bring the result to class: would you trust this seed for a whole field?
Unit 4 · Transplant and sow in the field
Moving seedlings to the field is when many plants die. Correct spacing and gentle handling make the difference.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 4.1 Mark out spacing | uses a line and measuring stick to mark rows and planting holes at the planned spacing |
| 4.2 Transplant | lifts seedlings with soil around the roots; plants at the right depth in the cool of the day; waters in |
| 4.3 Direct-sow | sows okra and amaranth at the correct depth and spacing; thins on time |
Range. All six crops; rainy-season beds. Evidence. Observation of transplanting; count of plants surviving after 7 days recorded in the logbook.
Spacing
Spacing is written as between rows × within the row. Closer spacing gives more plants but more competition and disease.
| Crop | Module spacing | Plants on a 1 × 5 m bed | What the sources say |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | 60 × 50 cm | 2 rows × 10 = 20 | 60 × 50 or 75 × 60 cm by variety (NIHORT Tomato); 0.75 m × 0.4–0.5 m (WorldVeg Seedlings); 0.6–1 m × 0.3–0.6 m (FAO Tomato) |
| Hot pepper | 45 × 45 cm | 2 rows × 11 = 22 | 45 × 45 cm best for Legon 18 at KNUST (KNUST Osei 2013); 0.9 m × 0.4–0.6 m (FAO Pepper) |
| Okra | 60 × 40 cm | 2 rows × 12 = 24 | 60 × 40 cm best for Asontem at Mampong (Anim 2022); 60–80 cm rows, 10 cm in the row (PROSEA Okra) |
| Garden egg | 75 × 50 cm | 1 row × 10 = 10 | 75 × 50 cm (WorldVeg Eggplant); 1 m × 0.5 m on a related eggplant |
| Cabbage | 60 × 60 cm | 2 rows × 8 = 16 | 45–60 cm each way (Farm Radio 2020); 75 × 60 cm in a Weija trial (Cobblah et al.) |
| Amaranth | rows 25 cm, thin to 10–15 cm | 4 rows × about 40 | rows 20–30 cm, thin to 10–15 cm (WorldVeg Amaranth); rows 50 cm (NIHORT Amaranth) |
Plant numbers per bed are calculated for this module. Where a Ghana trial exists (pepper, okra) the module uses it.
Spacing differs a lot between sources for tomato, pepper, garden egg and amaranth, as the last column shows. One KNUST trial at CSIR-CRI found pepper spacing made little difference to yield. Treat the module spacing as a starting point and compare yields on your own plot.
Transplanting
- Transplant in the morning or evening, never in the midday heat.
- Water the nursery 12–14 hours before, so soil holds around the roots.
- Plant at the same depth the seedling grew in the tray, firm the soil, and water at once.
- Stake tomato with 1 m stakes in the rainy season.
Direct-sown crops
- Okra is sown straight into the field, often after soaking the seed; it comes up within a week.
- Amaranth seed is tiny. Mix it with sand so it spreads evenly, and sow 0.5–1 cm deep. Sowing direct gives a faster first harvest than transplanting.
Sand to seed for amaranth. 1 part seed to 3 parts sand or 1 to 10. Both work; more sand spreads the seed more thinly. Start with 1:10 so you do not sow too thickly, which is the common beginner mistake.
Count the plants
A farmer has a plot of 20 m × 10 m for tomato at 60 × 50 cm. Rows run along the 20 m side.
- How many rows fit across 10 m?
- How many plants fit in each 20 m row?
- How many plants in total?
Plant out your bed
- Stretch a line along the bed and mark planting holes with a measuring stick cut to the right length.
- Transplant your group's seedlings in the evening, following the steps above.
- Direct-sow okra and amaranth in the blocks set for them.
- Water everything in.
- After 7 days, count how many plants survived on your bed and record it: survival % = alive ÷ planted × 100.
Market check
Visit a market. For three of the six crops, record: price, unit of sale (e.g. per olonka, per bowl, per head), and where the seller says it came from. Repeat the visit in four weeks and compare.
Unit 5 · Water, feed and weed
From transplanting to harvest the crop needs steady water, food at the right time, and freedom from weeds.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 5.1 Water the crop | checks soil moisture before watering; waters at the base in the cool of the day; gives extra care at flowering and fruiting |
| 5.2 Apply fertiliser | measures the correct amount per plant; applies it in a ring away from the stem; waters it in |
| 5.3 Mulch and weed | lays mulch; weeds without damaging roots; keeps paths clear |
Range. Watering can and hose; drip where available; NPK 15-15-15, sulphate of ammonia and urea; dry grass mulch. Evidence. Observation of watering and fertiliser application; watering and feeding record in the logbook.
Water
| Crop | Water needed in the season | Most sensitive stage | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | 400–600 mm over 90–120 days | transplanting, flowering, fruit formation | FAO Tomato |
| Pepper | 600–900 mm (up to 1,250 mm for long picking) | start of flowering | FAO Pepper |
| Cabbage | 380–500 mm | head formation | FAO Cabbage |
| Garden egg | less than tomato, but dry-season watering is essential | — | WorldVeg Eggplant |
| Amaranth | regular watering; drought makes it flower early and give less leaf | — | WorldVeg Amaranth |
What does 1 mm mean? 1 mm of water over 1 m² is 1 litre. A practical guide for cabbage in hot dry weather is at least 25 litres per m² per week, more on sandy soil. That is about 125 litres a week for a 1 × 5 m bed, or 12–13 full 10-litre watering cans. (Calculated.)
Water at the base of the plant, in the morning or evening. Shortage at flowering makes tomato drop its flowers. Pepper suffers from both too much and too little water. Do not overwater cabbage once the head forms, or it cracks.
Drip kits can save water, but in a Zimbabwe study only 16% of donated kits were still used after three years; they work only with training and follow-up. On a training plot, start with watering cans.
Mulch (dry grass or straw between the plants) keeps the soil moist, holds down weeds and stops soil splashing onto leaves. MoFA recommends staking and mulching tomato against early blight.
Fertiliser
Organic manure went in at bed preparation (Section 04). Mineral fertiliser tops it up. Always measure: use a bottle cap or teaspoon you have weighed once on a kitchen scale.
| Crop | What and when | Per plant (calculated) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | NPK 15-15-15, 200–250 kg/ha, in two equal doses: about 3 weeks after transplanting, and at fruit set | about 3–4 g per dose | NIHORT Tomato |
| Pepper (Legon 18) | 9 g NPK + 5 g sulphate of ammonia per plant was best | 9 g NPK + 5 g SA | KNUST Osei 2013 |
| Cabbage | 5 g NPK 15-15-15 at planting; 3 g urea at week 2 and again at week 6 | as stated | Farm Radio 2020 |
| Okra | Urea at 69 kg N/ha was best for Asontem | about 3.6 g urea per plant | Anim 2022 |
| Garden egg | If no manure, 5 g CAN or urea per plant; top-dress after the third harvest | 5 g | WorldVeg Eggplant |
Per-plant figures for tomato and okra are calculated from the per-hectare rate and the module spacing (tomato 33,333 plants/ha; okra 41,667 plants/ha; urea is 46% nitrogen).
Put fertiliser in a ring 5–10 cm from the stem, cover it lightly and water it in. Fertiliser touching the stem can burn it. Too much nitrogen brings aphids, jassids and Fusarium wilt.
Two very different tomato rates. The NIHORT rate of 200–250 kg/ha of 15-15-15 supplies only about 30–38 kg of nitrogen per hectare. FAO says high-yielding tomato needs 100–150 kg of nitrogen per hectare. The gap is partly filled by the manure added in Section 04. The same pattern shows for cabbage: 450 kg/ha of 15-15-15 plus 250 kg/ha of sulphate of ammonia, the rate used in a Weija trial, against about 185 kg/ha of 15-15-15 plus urea from the Farm Radio guide. This module uses the lower rates plus manure, which is cheaper for a beginner. If your plants are pale and slow, ask your extension officer before adding more.
Weigh the dose
Using a kitchen scale, weigh how many grams of NPK fill one bottle cap. Then answer: how many caps make 9 g? How many grams of NPK for 22 pepper plants, and how many caps is that?
A care week
For one week, your group is responsible for your bed.
- Each morning push a finger into the soil to 5 cm. Water only if it feels dry. Record litres used.
- Lay mulch between the rows once the plants are established.
- Weed by hand close to plants and with a hoe between rows. Do not dig deep near the stems.
- On the scheduled day, apply fertiliser to each plant at the measured dose, in a ring, and water it in.
- Record every action in your logbook.
Rain gauge
Make a simple rain gauge from a straight-sided bottle or tin with a ruler taped to it. Set it in the open at home and record rainfall in mm each morning for two weeks. Compare your total with the crop water needs in the table.
Unit 6 · Protect the crop
Pests and diseases are the main reason beginners lose a crop. In this unit you learn to find problems early and stop them with clean practice first, and chemicals only as a last resort.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 6.1 Scout the crop | walks the plot weekly; checks under leaves; records pests, damage and sick plants |
| 6.2 Identify common problems | names the main pest or disease from its signs, using the table |
| 6.3 Apply non-chemical control | removes and destroys sick plants; uses traps, nets and soap or neem sprays correctly |
| 6.4 Follow pesticide safety | states the rules for registered products, PPE and pre-harvest intervals; does not spray at NP I level |
Range. The pests and diseases in the table below; soap, neem and pepper sprays; sticky and pheromone traps. Evidence. Weekly scouting record in the logbook; identification test on samples or photos; oral questions on pesticide safety.
Integrated pest management (IPM)
IPM means using every method together, with chemicals last. MoFA's IPM guidance for vegetables rests on: rotation, clean seedlings, resistant varieties, removing sick plants, field hygiene, protecting natural enemies such as ladybirds, and regular scouting.
The main problems you will meet
| Crop | Problem | Signs | First action | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (spread by whitefly) | small, curled, yellowing leaves; stunted plant. MoFA calls it the most serious tomato disease | pull out infected plants early, from the nursery on; net the nursery; remove weeds | MoFA IPM Guide |
| Tomato | Tomato leafminer (Tuta absoluta) | pale tunnels in leaves; holes in fruit | pheromone traps from 2 weeks before planting; crush larvae; destroy old crop and leave at least 6 weeks crop-free | PPPW Leafminer |
| Tomato, pepper, garden egg | Bacterial wilt | whole plant wilts while still green. Cut the stem and stand it in water: white ooze streams out in 3–5 minutes | remove wilted plants; clean tools; raised beds; move to clean land | PPPW Bacterial wilt |
| All nursery crops | Damping-off | seedlings rot at soil level and collapse | clean soil, thin sowing, less water | MoFA IPM Guide |
| Cabbage | Diamondback moth | small green caterpillars, holes in leaves | scout weekly from the 4-leaf stage; plant in the rains; intercrop with tomato or chilli; Bt or neem in the evening | MoFA IPM Guide; Farm Radio 2020 |
| Garden egg | Fruit and shoot borer | wilting shoot tips; holes in fruit | cut out and bury damaged shoots and fruit; harvest often; do not grow garden egg 2 years running | MoFA IPM Guide |
| All | Aphids | clusters of small soft insects under leaves and on tips | protect ladybirds; avoid excess nitrogen; jet water; soap spray | MoFA IPM Guide |
| All | Root-knot nematodes | swollen knots on roots; plants yellow and stunted | rotate 3+ years; solarise the nursery; clean seedlings; marigold; organic matter | MoFA IPM Guide |
Tuta absoluta reached Ghana in 2017 and was found in the Western Region by 2018. It is not in MoFA's older pest tables, so check with your extension officer for current advice.
Safe sprays you can make
- Soap spray for aphids: 30 ml of liquid soap in 5 litres of water. Test on a few leaves first.
- Pepper spray for diamondback moth: 20 g of dried pepper powder per litre of water, left overnight and strained.
- Neem extracts and neem cake are endorsed by MoFA. No MoFA recipe with exact amounts was found, so follow your trainer.
Spray in the cool evening, cover the undersides of leaves, and wear gloves. Even home-made sprays can sting eyes and skin.
Chemicals against Tuta absoluta. A Nigerian guide suggests cypermethrin for severe attacks. A Pacific pest guide reports that the pest has become resistant to pyrethroids (the group cypermethrin belongs to), organophosphates, abamectin and spinosad. Resistance builds where the same chemical is used again and again. Do not reach for a spray first; ask the extension officer which registered product works in your area now.
Diamondback moth in Ghana has been reported resistant to the chemical insecticides available since 1990. Its natural enemy, a tiny wasp, made up about 92% of the parasites found at Weija. Spraying broad insecticides kills these helpers. This is why IPM works better than spraying.
Name the problem
Your trainer shows you 8 photos or real samples. For each, write: the crop, the problem, one sign you used, and the first action you would take.
Weekly scouting
Every week from transplanting to harvest:
- Walk your bed in a W pattern. Stop at 10 plants.
- On each, look at the top, the underside of 3 leaves, the stem base, and any flowers and fruit.
- Record in your logbook: date, plant number, what you found (or "clean"), and the action taken.
- Remove and bag any plant with virus symptoms or bacterial wilt. Take it off the plot and destroy it.
- Once in the course, make and apply a soap spray under supervision.
Agro-shop visit
Visit an agro-input shop. Ask the seller what they recommend for whitefly on tomato. Write down the product, its price, and whether the label shows the manufacturer's address, batch number and expiry date. Do not buy anything. Bring your notes to class for discussion.
Unit 7 · Harvest and handle the produce
Up to half of Ghana's tomato production can be lost after harvest. Picking at the right time and handling gently keeps the money you have grown.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 7.1 Judge maturity | picks each crop at the right stage for its market |
| 7.2 Harvest | harvests in the cool of the day without damaging the plant or produce |
| 7.3 Handle and grade | sorts produce by quality; packs in clean crates in the shade; records harvest weight |
Range. All six crops; local market and distant market. Evidence. Observation of harvesting and grading; harvest record (date, crop, kg) in the logbook.
When to harvest
| Crop | First harvest | How often | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | 12–18 weeks after sowing | at least twice a week | NIHORT Tomato |
| Pepper | first green fruit about 1 month after flowering; flowering 1–2 months after transplanting | every 1–2 weeks for up to 3 months | FAO Pepper |
| Pepper (Legon 18) | — | every 5 days gave the best yield; every 7 days gave firmer fruit | KNUST Osei 2013 |
| Okra | pods 7–8 days after flowering; first harvest about 7 weeks after sowing for early types | every 2–3 days | PROSEA Okra |
| Garden egg | about 2 months after transplanting | weekly for 6–7 months | WorldVeg Eggplant |
| Cabbage | about 90 days after transplanting | once, when the head is firm | Farm Radio 2020 |
| Amaranth | uprooting: 3–5 weeks after sowing; leaf picking for up to 4 months | every week or so | WorldVeg Amaranth |
First amaranth harvest. 3–5 weeks after sowing or 35–45 days. They overlap at 5 weeks. Harvest when the plants are about knee-high and still tender, before flowers appear.
Pick right for the market
Tomato: pick at the mature-green or just-turning stage for a distant market, and red for selling the same day. Garden egg is usually picked unripe (green, white or light yellow), though some markets want ripe fruit. Okra pods become tough if left too long.
Handle with care
- Harvest in the morning or evening and keep produce in the shade.
- Do not harvest when the produce is wet.
- Use clean plastic or wooden crates, not sacks, for tomato; do not overfill.
- Sort out damaged and diseased produce before packing.
- For cabbage, store only firm, dry heads without blemishes.
How much tomato is lost after harvest? Between 20% and 65% of production (Vowotor 2012), about 38% (Ridolfi 2018), and "up to half" (all cited in Source: MoFA-IFPRI Tomato). A study in the Upper East found farmers themselves lost 10–13%, but traders lost 20–26% further down the chain. Most loss happens after the produce leaves the farm, through rough handling, heat and delay. Good handling at your end still raises your price.
Grade a crate
Your trainer gives you a crate of mixed tomatoes (or another crop). Sort them into three grades: Grade 1 (sound, even size), Grade 2 (small or slightly marked), Reject (split, rotten or insect-damaged). Count and weigh each grade. What percentage was rejected?
Harvest days
Through the harvest weeks:
- Harvest your bed on the scheduled days in the early morning.
- Grade the produce into Grade 1, Grade 2 and Reject.
- Weigh each grade and record it in your logbook.
- Pack Grade 1 in clean crates in the shade.
- At the end of the season, total your harvest per crop and compare it with your neighbours' beds.
Price per grade
Ask a market seller how much they would pay for Grade 1 compared with Grade 2 of one crop. Write the difference in your logbook and calculate how much more a full crate of Grade 1 would earn.
Glossary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Competent / Not Yet Competent | The two possible results of a CBT assessment |
| Damping-off | Fungal rot that makes seedlings collapse at soil level |
| Direct sowing | Sowing seed straight into the field, with no nursery |
| Hardening off | Getting seedlings used to sun and less water before transplanting |
| IPM | Integrated pest management: using all methods together, chemicals last |
| Mulch | Dry grass or straw laid on the soil to keep moisture in and weeds down |
| Nightshade family | Tomato, pepper, garden egg (Solanaceae); they share pests and diseases |
| Performance criteria | What a trainee must do to show a learning outcome |
| pH | How acidic or alkaline soil is; below 7 is acidic |
| Pre-harvest interval | Days you must wait between spraying and harvesting |
| Range | The situations a skill must cover |
| Rotation | Changing which crop family grows in a piece of land each season |
| Solarisation | Heating soil under clear plastic in the sun to kill germs and nematodes |
| Top-dressing | Fertiliser added around growing plants |
| Transplanting | Moving seedlings from the nursery to the field |
Logbook
Copy these pages into an exercise book, or print them. Your logbook is part of your assessment evidence.
Trainee details: name · group · plot block · start date · trainer.
Records to keep
- Unit 1: site reasons, plot plan, season calendar
- Unit 2: pH result, soil feel, manure calculation
- Unit 3: daily nursery record (date, watered, seedlings up, problems)
- Unit 4: planting date, number planted, survival after 7 days
- Unit 5: watering (litres), fertiliser (date, product, grams per plant), weeding dates
- Unit 6: weekly scouting record (date, plant, finding, action)
- Unit 7: harvest record (date, crop, grade, kg)
- Every homework, dated
Weekly sign-off
Each week, your trainer initials your logbook to confirm the work is yours and was done on the date shown.
Self-check quiz
Try these before your oral assessment.
- Name the three nightshade crops in this module. Why should they not follow each other on the same land?
- When do the major rains usually start in your zone, according to GMet's records?
- Why are beds raised in the rainy season?
- What pH do most vegetables prefer? What do you do if your soil is below 5.5?
- What is damping-off and how do you prevent it?
- What does hardening off mean, and when do you start it?
- What spacing does this module use for tomato? How many plants fit on a 1 × 5 m bed?
- At which stage is tomato most sensitive to water shortage?
- Where do you place fertiliser around a plant, and why?
- How do you test a wilted tomato plant for bacterial wilt?
- Give three signs that a pesticide might be fake.
- What is a pre-harvest interval?
- At which stage should tomato be picked for a distant market?
- Name two ways to reduce losses after harvest.
Further reading and sources
Best next reads for a Ghanaian beginner:
What this module does not cover: sweet pepper (no Ghana source found), exact lime rates, a current list of registered pesticides with pre-harvest intervals, and farm budgets (the Ghana price data found was out of date).
Every source used in this manual is listed, with links, in the Teacher Copy.