Kwame Opoku is a fifty-year-old farmer of the Atwima Kwanwoma district, struggling to upkeep his farm whilst supporting his family of six; his wife and four children. Whilst the eldest two are pursuing careers as a mason and a dressmaker, the younger children are still in school.

Kwame himself started farming after quitting school as he didn’t believe he was performing well enough and would benefit from a labour job, a path that he doesn’t wish his youngest children to follow, dreaming of furthering their education which he couldn’t do with his eldest.

He grows squash, okra, cucumber and tomato on his five and a half acres of family land, cultivating tomatoes on about three of those acres. Growing high water-content vegetables, however, proves difficult for Kwame, as for most farmers in the area. His greatest need is for a local water pump for easy transport to his crops, particularly when it is time for harvesting, as the scale of his cultivation currently requires him to be watering on an individual basis with a singular bucket. This also lowers the quality of the vegetables as they aren’t getting the amount needed.

Kwame also struggles with the finance of buying seeds, only affording to plant once a year as opposed to twice a year within season. At the market, he sells at market price, lessening his profit, due to the lower quality of his produce. More funds go towards labourers also, even with the help of his wife on the farm. Fertilizers and other chemicals can be used to support the growth of the crops, but after other expenses, Kwame usually can’t afford to invest in these.