Inadequate Agricultural Extension Officers across the country have been one of the setbacks confronting the sustenance of the various pro-poor agricultural interventions from the government.
According to the Municipal Director, Department of Agriculture, West Akim in the Eastern Region, Emmanuel Amenu who dropped the hint in an interview with the Farmer TV Show on Joy Prime said until recently, the staff strength in the whole municipality was four.
"About two years ago we were having four extension officers to man the whole municipality which is too small.
"But recently they have recruited to beef up the staff and instead of four we are having 13 field officers; even with that we still need more. Because we have about 28,000 farmers," he told host Enyonam.
Mr Amenu further said although the various agricultural initiatives were among the best projects to be rolled out in the country, the lack of personnel to support these interventions posed a great danger to their successful implementations.
He has, therefore, called on government to consider recruiting graduates from the various agricultural colleges to work as extension officers across the country.
The Municipal Agric Director said this will assist farmers on the best agricultural practices to enable the successful implementation of the various products to enhance food production for both local and foreign markets.
"If you check the extension officer to farmer ratio it's one to 2,000 plus farmers; how would an officer visit every farm in a year?
Some farmers will not have access to the officers so that's a challenge so we want the government to recruit more extension officers to beef up our strength so we can deliver extension services efficiently."
Meanwhile, this week's episode of the Ghanaian Farmer TV Show on Joy Prime featured beans farmers in the Asamankese District of the Eastern Region.
The Show is a tailored program aimed at educating local farmers on best practices in the industry.
It has a segment known as 'Support the farmer project' by employing individuals and philanthropists to contribute their quota by supporting farmers with tools.
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