By Prince Paul Amuzu:
The Director of the Department of Agriculture in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern region, Mr. David Dokli has noted that his outfit is currently challenged in the implementation of government’s ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ policy.
According to him, though the department has received some inputs from the government towards the implementation of the project, no amount is forthcoming with the releases. Mr. Dokli made the assertions in an interview with Krobea Asante during the Rite Morning Ride to discuss the impact of the Mobilizing Action towards Agric Sector Improvement, (MAASI) project project.
‘The Asuogyaman district under the ‘planting for food and jobs policy received one hundred and sixty three thousand (163,000) seeds of maize, three thousand (3,000) NPK and one thousand five hundred urine fertilizers without any physical money which is not enough for the district,’ he lamented.
According to him, the department is currently challenged with the decentralization system especially with respect to resource funding or allocation.
He noted that the assembly is finding it difficult to fuel the few cars available to the department as well as challenges with allowances to enable extension officers visit farmers on farms and homes in their discharge of their duties.
This was even more critical especially in the wake of the fall army worms invasion which he indicated has so far destroyed more than thirty four (34) hectares of maize farm in the district.
He has therefore pleaded with the government and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector to support them by assisting the extension service department with cars and other equipment so that they can easily reach out to farmers in their various farms and at home for consistent education on the best farming practices among other things to improve upon on the Agric sector.
Source: ritefmonline.org
