Erratic and unfavorable weather pattern, inadequate extension officers and irregular release of funds by government which logistically constrain MOFA have been identified as major challenges facing agriculture sector in the northern region.
The challenges which cut across almost all the district in the Northern Region are hampering efforts by both farmers and NGOs in the agric sector to ensure food security.
For instance, the Tamale metro agric staff strength 36 and out of the number, only 8 are extension officers, while Sagnarigu district has 10 instead of 16 Agric Extension Agents.
The few AEAs in the various districts in the region are logistically challenged as some of them have no motorbikes to visit the farmers in their farms.
The situation has led to some farmers accusing AEAs of reneging on their responsibility to educate them on the best farming practices.
The farmers have also accused AEAs of turning their jobs to desk work instead of being in the field with them.
But AEAs say they cannot be blamed because their numbers are not enough to take care of farmers. However, it appears farmers may have to manage with the few AEAs because government has placed embargo on recruitment and bureaucracies on replacement process at the various agric offices still persist.
This came to light at a dialogue and information sharing meeting with representatives Farmer Base and MOFA officials from Tamale metro and Sagnarigu district organized by Urban Agriculture Network (UrbANet) in Tamale.
The meeting forms part of UrbANet efforts to promoting food security in a sustainable manner in urban and peri-urban areas.
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