The Upper East Regional Directorate of the Department of Agriculture has taken delivery of 28 motorbikes under the West Africa Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP) to strengthen agricultural extension services and improve field monitoring across beneficiary districts.Geographic Reference
The motorbikes have been handed over to nine beneficiary districts and are expected to enhance the mobility of agricultural extension officers to enable them to reach farmers and support food production activities under the programme.
The beneficiary districts are Binduri, Bawku West, Nabdam, Talensi, Bongo, Kassena-Nankana Municipal, Builsa South, Builsa North and the Irrigation Company of the Upper Regions.
Mr Yakubu Mohammed Awal Meigoro, Upper East Regional Crops Officer of the Department of Agriculture, said the FSRP had been implemented in the region for some time and had expanded from an initial five districts to nine.
He said each of the nine beneficiary districts received three motorbikes, while the remaining units would support other programme activities.
Mr Meigoro said the FSRP was focused on strengthening food system resilience, with key commodities in the northern zone including tomatoes, soybeans, maize and rice.
He said the motorbikes were primarily intended to support field officers, including Agricultural Extension Agents and other technical officers, in their work with farmers.Motorcycles
Alhaji Zakaria Fuseini, Upper East Regional Director of Agriculture, urged beneficiary district directors and officers to properly manage and maintain the motorbikes to prolong their lifespan.
He cautioned beneficiaries against using the motorbikes for purposes unrelated to the programme.
“We want to plead with you. Let’s use it for the purpose for which they have brought them. We don’t want to hear that so-and-so motorbikes are found somewhere for a different business,” he said.
Alhaji Fuseini said ownership and maintenance arrangements would be addressed in accordance with the terms of the project, adding that beneficiaries who took good care of the motorbikes could benefit from future ownership arrangements.
Speaking on behalf of the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Akamugri Donatus Atanga, the Chief Director of the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council, Alhaji Mohammed Issahaku, said beneficiaries had a responsibility to ensure the proper use of the motorbikes, whether they were managed as a pool or assigned to specific officers.Multilateral Organizations
He said proper management of the assets would help build confidence among development partners and encourage further investment in agriculture.
“We have been crying that funding to agriculture is a challenge. So if we don’t put up any conduct that will invite others or motivate others to come and support us, I think we will be shooting ourselves in the foot,” he said.
Alhaji Issahaku said the motorbikes were intended to support food security activities and should therefore be made available to agricultural officers whenever they were required for field operations.
He urged beneficiaries to regard the motorbikes as important assets for improving agricultural extension delivery and strengthening food production in the region.
The FSRP is being implemented to strengthen food systems and resilience and support increased production of selected agricultural commodities in participating districts.
