Rite FM’s Mobilizing Action Towards Agric Sector Improvement, MAASI on Wednesday took its engagement with the district assemblies to the doorsteps of the Lower Manya Krobo Department of Agriculture at Kpong in the Eastern region.
The workshop which involved the sub-committee members of the department was aimed at conscientizing members of the sub-committee on the need to appreciate and accept their powers and what influence they wield in lobbying for more resource allocation to the DOA.
General expectations from various individuals and members were generally towards an increased budget allocation for the department. Addressing the participants, Mr. A.T. Odonkor, a sub-committee member explained that though many budgets have woefully failed in the past, it was his and the hope of other concerned stakeholders that the institution of the committee would ensure that enough funds are allocated to the department.
Mr. Philip Teye Mensah, government appointee in the Municipality expressed the hope that farmers’ livelihood would be enhanced at the end of the workshop. It was also the hope of other members that the consensus raised by the committee will change farming activities in the Lower Manya Krobo municipality.
Meanwhile, Owuraku Asamoah, facilitator for the programme expressed optimism that Committee members would understand the budgetary plans so that good funding could be allotted to DOA. He also called on sub-committee members at all levels of the assembly meetings to spearhead all issues and concerns. ‘Just as it’s done in Parliament, sub-committee members should have a concrete plan on how they will engage the assemblies in a written document,’ Mr. Asamoah stressed.
He entreated members to be abreast with developments and information pertaining to the assembly at their fingertips while stressing that Assembly Members should know every detail of the budget. ‘If in a sessional address of the District or Municipal Chief Executive, he claims to have constructed ten boreholes, members can cross check where because they know about the document,’ he added.
On his part, Mr. Seth Martey, Director of the Lower Manya Krobo Department of Agric thoroughly explained to participants the way forward in achieving the plans for the 2017 budget. He highlighted a thematic area which is ensuring the productivity of crops such as rice, maize and cassava, noting that this will be done through 30 demonstrations.
He touched on various varieties of crops which he noted were in the pipeline for adoption. These, he indicated included Bankye hemaa (cassava), Agra rice and Obatanpa.
Source: ritefmonline.org
