Elvis Tah
22 February 2008
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, MINADER, and the Ministry of Livestock Fisheries and Animal Industries, MINEPIA, have donated a vehicle, 41 motorcycles and accessories to field staff of the National Agricultural Extension and Research Programme for the Southwest Province.
The motorcycles were handed to the field staff on Tuesday, February 12, under the supervision of the Provincial Delegate of Agriculture and Rural Development, Lawrence Forwang and the Provincial Delegate of Livestock Fisheries and Animal Industries, Robert Agbor Takang.
The initiative, financed by the HIPC fund from MINADER, saw the frontline staffs as first beneficiaries followed by some sector and regional supervisors.The motorcycles are coming at a time when they are badly needed. One of the beneficiaries, Mojoko Makaka, a field staff of the Bolifamba Zone, said it was her second motorcycle since she started working with MINADER.
"I received my first motorcycle in 1994 and it is not in good shape. It made me not to go into the hinterlands but with this one, I can get into all the nooks and crannies. In fact it is very timely because this is the beginning of the rainy season," Mojoko said.
The Provincial Supervisor of the National Agricultural Extension and Research Programme, James Enang Enang, said the machines would improve the working conditions of the field staff and the farmers.
Enang said the research programme has changed its method of intervention, from the classical 'Training and Visit' system, in which the producers association receive only technical advice and training, to support through institutional and infrastructural/equipment.
To ensure a judicious use of the motorcycles, the beneficiaries were compelled to sign an undertaking in which the machines could be confiscated when they are not properly used, and handed to other hardworking field staff.
A refresher course was organised at the Community Education and Action Centre, CEAC, Bokova, to train the management staff of MINADER on some operational concepts of community development geared towards an effective and sustainable implementation of the Rumpi Project.
The Director of Local and Community Development of MINADER, Francis Leku, facilitated the workshop, which brought together management staff of Agriculture in the Southwest Province.
Speaking to The Post at the end of the workshop, Leku said that the Rumpi Project is taking a new dimension. "There is going to be about 34 water projects, 237 km of road to be constructed and many other infrastructural development. We are also going to empower the communities through community development schemes to be able to effectively manage their own structures within their areas," Leku said.
On why the delay in implementing Rumpi projects, Leku said the initial stages consisted of planning.
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