Ghana Districts: A repository of all Local Assemblies in Ghana

AGRICULTURE

KINTAMPO N: Agric Department holds stakeholder forum

The Kintampo North Agricultural Department under the Research-Extension-Farmer Linkage initiative has held a stakeholder forum to discuss and identify constraints crippling the agricultural sector.

Date Created : 8/30/2019 7:11:45 AM : Story Author : Rufina Yuoni/Ghanadistricts.com

The forum was attended by Mr. Bernard Marfo (Regional Development Officer for Extension), Mr. Newman Dela Pattick (from Regional Directorate for Agricultural Services), Deputy Directors, some Heads of departments Agriculture Extension Officers, Representatives of Non-governmental Organizations involved in Agriculture, and people involved in the agricultural value chain.

Addressing the gathering on behalf of the Municipal Chief Executive for Kintampo North, Mr. Mohammed Abubakari, deputy directors for the Municipality, disclosed that, the government took all matters related to agriculture very seriously and this is visible in the government policies such as Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ), Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) and Rearing for Food and Jobs (RFJ).

He said, the Research-Extension Famer Linkage Committees as formed by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Centre for scientific and industrial Research (SIR) and later decentralized to districts us a means of identifying the problems of farmers and helping them solve them for development of the sector.

Mr. Abubakari also viewed the forum as a means of evaluating government agriculture policies and acknowledged the role and participation of all stakeholders.

Mr. Bernard Marfo, the Regional Development Officer for Extension, who also spoke on behalf of the Regional Director for Agriculture Services acknowledge the hard work of all stakeholders and asked for their support in improving the gains of agriculture in the newly created Bono East Region.

He also noted that, agriculture was not only regarding farmers but all in the value chain while noting that it continues to be backbone of the nation and for that matter continues dialogue with stakeholders should always be facilitated.

Mr. Simon Yambor, the Municipal Director of Agricultural Services for Kintampo North gave a Presentation emphasizing that, Research Extension Farmer Committee (RELC) referred to a group of stakeholders constituted at the regional level to ensure that research and extension activities are responsive to the demands of farmers and other clients.

“Data is taken from communities and districts through fora of stakeholders such as this one”, he said identification and prioritization of agricultural constraints in the municipality is also done during the fora.

Mr. Yambor indicated that, the agriculture sector has enjoyed some tremendous growth in the past few years as a result of trainings, demonstrations and field days as well as support from the Mag Funds (Canadian Government Support and Government of Ghana). He said the implementation of government flagship policies are also on-going with maize production under Planting for food and Jobs reaching 5,284 beneficiaries covering 17,918 hectares of land. Under Planting for Export and Rural Development 100,000 cashew seeding’s have been produced to be presented to 1,200 beneficiaries.

He also revealed their continuous battle with the Fall Army Worm (FAW) with 1,819 hectares spread to battle the infestations. He also indicated that, the department was endowed with 12 Extension Officers, 6 Supervisors and 7 Vertinary officers, which he noted could be enhanced.

Finally, Mr. Newman Dela Pattick from the Regional Directorate for Agric Services who admonished the participatory approach being adopted with the inputs of all stakeholders, constraints of the Agric sector were identified and prioritized.

1. Lack of standards and weights for Agriculture produce.

2. Fall Army Worm (FAW) infestations

3. High Cost of Labor

4. Poor road network

5. Cattle destruction of farms

6. Hunters setting fires to farms

7. Inadequate tractor services

8. Unavailability of improved seeds

9. High cost of pesticides

10. Lack of market for cassava, etc.

Mr. Jonas Asare Bekye, the chairman for the event who asked all to view agriculture as a business while asking for improved farmer attitude.

He also called for efforts to help farmers with price determination.