Tamale made motor-tricycle video technology

motor tech

 
Tolon (N/R) July 26, GNA- It is an open secret that road network to the rural areas in the Northern Region are unmotorable and this is hampering the development of most communities.

 
The region, which has one-third the nation's total land mass, has unique features, which includes inaccessible areas popularly called 'oversees.'

 
One needs to travel with a ferry to these areas, which are predominantly farming communities and often not connected to the national electricity grid.

 
Reaching out to these farmers with important information is a challenge facing partners implementing the Alliance for Green Revolution (AGRA).

 
AGRA was founded in 2006 on the belief that investing in agriculture is the surest path to reducing poverty and hunger in Africa. It works across the continent to help millions of smallholder farmers—who make up 70 per cent of Africa's population—boost their farm productivity and incomes.

 
It was inspired by former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan's call for a uniquely African 'green revolution' to improve smallholder farm productivity while preserving the environment.

 
AGRA was founded through a partnership between the Rockefeller Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It has since expanded its donor base to include governments as well as other international organisations.

 
The green revolution is being funded by Danish International Development Agency. Agricultural Value Chain Mentorship Project (AVCMP) - the implementation agency is faced with how the various manuals it has developed on the best agronomic and soil fertility management practices could get to the target group in the inaccessible areas.

 
As part of the AVCMP objectives to reach 34,000 farmers to increase the yield of staples like sorghum, maize and rice crops, two partners have developed an innovation called motor-tricycle video technology van.

 
The innovation is made up of a projector, generator, projector screen, microphones and a video player mounted on a motor-tricycle, used to dramatise best land preparation practices.

 
Mr Mohammed Issa Seidu, 34, a farmer at Tolon District, who is a beneficiary of the initiative when it was first started early this year, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the video had taught him that most of the lands in his area are not too fertile 'so we need to adopt new technologies to get good yields'.

 
'I also saw two farmers who used different farm soil technology and the results at the end of the farming season showed that one had a good yield while the other netted a bad harvest,' he said.

 
Mr Seidu observed that to get high yields does not mean one should be a large scale farmer as perceived.

 
He said high yields depend on best farming practices.

 
Dr Wilson Dogbe, Head of Rice Programmes at the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute told the GNA that the motor tricycle, popularly known as 'motor king' is the only means that could be used to travel to inaccessible communities.

 
He said the project is partnered by local radio stations to institute an interactive agricultural programme, which involves phone-in segments. The team is however challenged by target groups, which do not have access to radio.

 
'I teamed up with Mr Raymond Vuol of Countrywise Ghana, (a non-governmental organisation) to find a novelty way of reaching all the targets audience,' he said.

 
'Although yields of maize farmers practicing the Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) new Technology increased from four bags per acre to 12 bags per acre on average amounting to 200 per cent increase in the last harvesting season, with this innovation it will quadruple.

 
'A survey conducted revealed that a total of 117, 000 farmers in the region had adopted the ISFM technology and the increase in the maize to the nation's economy is about GH¢ 750, 000,' he explained.

 
So far, about 9,000 farmers from Tolon, Salevlugu and Central Gonja Districts, as well as the Tamale Metropolis have been educated on best practical lessons on good soil fertility practices in the local dialect.

 
Madam Issa Mamunatu, 30, farmer at Worribogu-Kukuo told GNA that her hope of increasing her rice yield more than 100 per cent this farming is on track due to the knowledge she acquired during the video show on a new soil fertility technology.

 
Although she recommends the use of chemical and organic manure for farming, she however, complained about high cost of inputs such as fertiliser and certified seeds despite government subsidy.

 
Mr Vuol said the innovation is economical and effective since the team normally visits communities with extension officers to address concerns of farmers and offer clarifications.

 
He said the show cost GH¢ 160.00 per night, which includes fuel for the generator and transportation to and from a community.

 
'We normally do the video show in the evening because at that time farmers would have returned from the farm and are free,' he said

 
Ms Jane Karuku, President of AGRA commended the team for developing such an innovation and encouraged the partners to contribute their best to help complement the nation's quest to increase agricultural yield to ensure food security.

 
The motor-tricycle video technology is an innovation that should be adopted by other sectors of the economy as an effective and efficient communication channel, to engage the public to disseminate information and facilitate attitudinal change on developmental issues such as hygiene, sanitation and environmental protection.

 
 
 
Caption: Picture of the motor-tricycle video technology

 
 
A GNA feature by Albert Oppong-Ansah