MAASI A Major Contributor To Farmers Day Celebrations
By Michael Oberteye:
Six respondents in various influential positions at six districts and municipalities have unanimously agreed that the Mobilizing Action towards Agricultural Sector Improvement, MAASI initiative contributed significantly to the recently held nationwide Farmer’s Day celebrations. The six districts including the Yilo Krobo Municipal, Manya Krobo municipal, Akuapem North district, Upper Manya Krobo district and Asuogyaman district all in the eastern region as well as the Shai Osudoku district in the Greater Accra region told ritefmonline’s correspondents that the project contributed in the one way or the other.
At Manya Krobo, Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr Mohammed Mumuni told ritefmonlie’s Austin Ofori that the Mobilizing Action towards Agricultural Sector Improvement project initiated by Rite FM largely contributed in his district properly educating their Farmers on the need to engage in good farming practices. But more importantly, he admitted that the influence of the project has reflected in the selection of the deserving award winners for the celebration.
Mr. Mumuni who was speaking on the sidelines of the recently held 31st Farmers’ Day celebrations at Bueyonya in the Lower Manya Krobo district added that MAASI also adequately informed farmers of government’s plan towards the Farmer’s Day celebrations. He added that they used the MAASI platform as a medium to announce the celebration to the general public. He said hitherto, they would have paid heavily for advertisement but thanks to MAASI, that substantial amount was saved and rather went into the purchasing of more items which were donated to the award winners. Mr. Mumuni entreated the organizers of the project to ensure that it comes to stay to continue to play such an important role, adding that the project could also come in to support them financially.
At the Upper Manya Krobo district, Mr. Geoffery Kwaku Honu, the District Director of Agriculture on his part stated that the Mobilizing Action towards Agriculture Sector Improvement project which is geared towards mobilizing resources towards the development of agriculture in collaboration with USAID, has contributed immensely through its interventions in terms of increase in allocation of funds to agriculture in the district. He said the effects of the MAASI project has been seen in the celebration of the Farmers Day and therefore thanked Rite FM for improving upon their relationship with the assembly.
Director of Agriculture in charge of extensions at Akuapem North, Samuel Mensah without elaborating simply told Dorothy Serwaah that the MAASI project has been of immense contribution to the success story of the district and Farmer’s Day celebrations.
Asante Nyarko, assistant District Coordinating Director of the Shai Osudoku district told Michael Oberteye that the project partly played a role in the organization of the Farmers’ Day in the district. He said though the assembly had its own plans, MAASI added its own values in the contribution to the organization of the event.
In contrast however, the Management Information System Officer for Asuogyaman, Mr. Kumah Wilson in an interview with Newton Ogah said that, MAASI is only a recent project and therefore he was not in the position to access the impact or otherwise of the project. Mr. Kumah said the project was still in the implementation stages and therefore could not make any objective assessment of any impacts it may have on the district.
According to the Municipal Chief Executive of Yilo Krobo, Hon. Andrew Soda, MAASI has been a collaborating effort between the radio station and the assembly which has brought to the fore, the rapid resolution of the problems confronting the farmers. That is not all; the assembly through the program has been able to engage the farmers in dealing with problems they face. The MCE also stressed that MAASI has helped to bring together the various agencies in the farming sector in the district adding that it is a worthy initiative that needs to be continued.
In an interview with the Asuogyaman best grasscutter farmer for 2015, Bishop Danso also shared his view on MAASI. According to him, the ‘Feed the Future Platform,’ a one hour radio show that airs on Rite FM on Tuesdays, 9 am to 10 am has helped him a lot through the experts who come to share their views on the show. He therefore urged the farmers to keep listening to the show.
Director of Agric for Yilo Krobo, Mr. Kojo Awuah however refused to make any assessment of the program, telling our reporter, Saddath Asiamah that MAASI has not been around to be properly assessed.
Source: ritefmonline.com
