The Empowering Elderly Farmers for Improved Livelihood Security (2E-FILS) Project is an IDEAS Ghana initiative designed to support elderly farmers facing livelihood vulnerability, food insecurity, and declining wellbeing in rural communities of the Bawku West District of Ghana’s Upper East Region.
The project is implemented in Komaka, Kobore, Kamega, Gbere, and Farig, with a focus on strengthening the livelihoods and nutritional wellbeing of elderly farmers through small-scale poultry production.
Project Approach
The 2E-FILS Project uses poultry production as a practical and manageable livelihood option for elderly farmers. The intervention provides beneficiaries with starter poultry stocks while strengthening their knowledge and skills in poultry husbandry, feeding, housing, disease prevention, hygiene, and flock management.
The project combines livelihood support, practical capacity building, nutrition education, veterinary guidance, and continuous monitoring to help beneficiaries establish and maintain productive household poultry flocks.
Beyond income generation, poultry production provides elderly farmers with improved access to eggs and poultry meat as sources of animal protein, while creating opportunities for household income generation through the sale of birds and eggs.
Project Objectives
The project seeks to:
- Improve household livelihood security and food access among elderly farmers.
- Increase access to nutritious sources of animal protein.
- Strengthen knowledge and skills in poultry production and management.
- Promote sustainable household poultry production through flock multiplication.
- Support the dignity, participation, and overall wellbeing of elderly farmers.
Expected Impact
Through the 2E-FILS Project, IDEAS Ghana seeks to contribute to more resilient and self-reliant elderly households. Sustainable poultry production can provide a combination of food, nutrition, income, and productive engagement, helping elderly farmers meet some of their household needs while reducing their vulnerability to livelihood shocks.
The project also demonstrates IDEAS Ghana’s commitment to inclusive livelihood development*, ensuring that vulnerable and often overlooked groups, including elderly farmers, are considered in community development and food security interventions.
Looking Ahead
IDEAS Ghana will continue to strengthen the sustainability of the intervention through follow-up support, improved poultry management practices, access to appropriate veterinary services, and continued capacity building.
The experience from 2E-FILS provides an opportunity to explore and strengthen age-responsive livelihood approaches that combine food security, nutrition, income generation, and wellbeing for vulnerable rural households.
