Regional Agriculture Department

Hawa Musah

Regional Director of Agriculture

  • VISION

The Department’s vison is same as MoFA’s vision which is to modernized agriculture culminating in a structurally transformed economy and evident in food security, employment opportunities and reduced poverty in the country.

  • MISSION

The Department of Agriculture’s mission is same as MoFA’s mission which is to promote sustainable agriculture and thriving agribusiness through research and technology development, effective extension and other support services to farmers, processors and traders for improved livelihood in the country.

  • RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Liaise with the Regional Coordinating Council and development partners to promote the region’s agriculture;
  • Ensure timely preparation and submission of consolidated annual regional agricultural development programs and budget to the Regional Coordinating Council and the Chief Director of MOFA;
  • Ensure timely mobilization and allocation of resources for the region and their judicious utilization;
  • Monitor and evaluate the performance of regional and district programs and submit reports to RCC and Chief Director
  • Ensure capacity building of staff;
  • Prepare and submit quarterly, semi-annual and annual reports on all agricultural and agricultural related projects, programs and special situational reports to the Chief Director of MOFA and the Regional Coordinating Director;
  • Promote agribusiness development in the region;
  • Supervisor and provide technical backstopping for agricultural activities in the region;
  • Liaise with national directorates and relevant research and training institutions for information and assistance for the promotion of the region’s agriculture;
  • Formulate and implement a program of regional capacity building and training for all categories of staff in conjunction with the Regional Human Resource Development Unit;
  • Ensure that agricultural development programs and projects are implemented in accordance with the rules, regulations and quality of standards of MoFA.

Technology Transfer

  • The Regional Agriculture Department through its district departments is responsible for the overseeing of agricultural technology diffusion through the management of an extension delivery service in the region. These technologies are disseminated to farmers through home and farm visits, establishment of field demonstrations and the use of electronic media principally radio stations
  • Among the agricultural technologies demonstrated and disseminated to farmers included:
  • Raising vegetable seedlings
  • Preparation of sunken bed
  • Use of hermetic silo / sack
  • The use of mulch to conserve moisture
  • Safe use and handling of agro-chemicals
  • Determination of moisture content in cereals and legumes
  • Improved livestock housing
  • Soya bean utilization
  • Orange Flesh sweet Potato vine production
  • The use of organic manure to improve soil fertility
  • Postharvest management
  • Processing and utilization of Orange Fresh Sweet Potato (OFSP)
  • Various rice recipes
  • Nursery Management
  • Composting
  • Land preparation (Ploughing and Harrowing across the slope)
  • Linning and pegging
  • Seed testing
  • Planting (Use of Jack planter)
  • Fertilizer application (right amount and dibbling)
  • Insect pest identification
  • Proper control of fall armyworm
  • Use of Inoculum in Soya bean production
  • Improved livestock housing
  • Tree crop apiculture integration, etc.

       Technology Transfer.

  • Demonstration of bund construction for water management.
  • Discussion with farmers on the importance of bund construction.

Training of farmers on Biochar preparation at Nanumba North and Mion respectively

 

 

 

Maize varietal trial demonstration at Nanumba South

Disease Surveillance and Vaccination of Livestock

RVO conducting disease surveillance at Zabzugu district with the HOD and other PPR vaccination by Veterinary officers at Tolon District

Monitoring and Supervision

One of the core mandates of the Regional Agriculture Department is to monitor and evaluate the performance of agricultural activities in the various MMDAs in the region.

 

Monitoring of agrochemical/input dealers’ warehouses and shops to ensure compliance to safety regulations

Monitoring of rice and cassava processing factories at Bimbilla in Nanumba North MunicipalityPostharvest management

Handing over of hermetic silos to women groups in Zabzugu by Regional Director of Agriculture

Training Sessions

Technical building trainings were done all the actors along the agricultural value chain

Training of Input dealers at Regional Agric Department conference hall, Tamale

Training of AEAS at Tatale-Sanguli on SRID activities

Monitoring of Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD)

Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) Programme is a decentralized National Tree Crop Programme to promote rural economic growth and improve household incomes

Cashew nursery at Nanton District. Visit by RDA to cashew nursery at Mion

E-Agriculture

e-Agriculture is a practice that facilitates dialogue, information exchange and sharing of ideas related to the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for sustainable agriculture and rural development.

Regional WIAD Officers

Radio Programmes were held to educate farmers on the following:

1.PFJ

2.Good Agronomic Practices

3.Dry season gardening

4.Good Animal husbandry.

Sagnerigu Municipal Director of Agric                                            Savelugu Municipal Crops officer

Regional Crops Officer       District Directors of Agric for Zabzugu and Kpandai

Facilitation of Market Linkages

Market linkages describe the flow of produce at different levels of the marketing system by connecting buyers and sellers thus building trade relationship between targeted groups such as smallholder farmers, FBOs, cooperatives and the various markets such as processors, supermarkets, district and satellite markets, government institutions and food joints among others. Other actors including transporters, input suppliers, financial houses/ credit unions could also be linked. The Regional Agriculture Department has made efforts to link actors along the agricultural value chain

  • Regional Agriculture Department through the MMDAs linked 8,163 value chain actors to promote their enterprise. An Estimated volume of 55,611.15 metric tonnes of the various commodities such as maize, soybeans, yam, paddy rice among others traded

38th Farmers’ Day Celebration

Every year on the first Friday of December, Ghana celebrates National Farmers Day to recognize the contributions of farmers and fishermen. On Farmers Day, Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture bestows special awards on meriting farmers and fishermen as a means of recognizing the significance of agriculture and fishing in Ghana’s economic growth.

Hon. Regional Minister presenting certification to the Northern Regional Best Farmer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Display of recipes from OFSP and promotion market linkages

RCD and Mayor of Tamale tasting recipes from OFSP

Hon. Reg. Minister tasting OFSP drink

Participants queuing for OFSP chips and cake

Display of local drinks