Farmer Training Centre, UDS signs MOU

The Farmer Training Centre (FTC) of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocese, on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Faculty of Agriculture of the University for Development Studies (UDS), to commence a certificate programme in agriculture.

Under the agreement, the centre is expected to provide the needed infrastructural base for the training and see to the running of the programme while the UDS would monitor, supervise and coordinate activities to ensure its success.

The two parties would jointly issue certificates to participants who would successfully complete the six months course.

Mr. Joseph Ayimbilla, head of the Diocesan Development Office, acting on behalf of the Catholic Bishop of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese, Most Reverend Lucas Abadamloora, signed for the FTC while Dr. Gabriel Ayum Teye initialled for the UDS, at Pusu-Namogo in the Talensi-Nabdam District.

He said the centre was committed to providing a platform for sharing technical and indigenous knowledge, information, and documentation as well as disseminating relevant research findings to farmers.

It would also be expected to ensure sustainable livelihood and food security in the country.

Bishop Abadamloora said the singing of the agreement came at the right time when the world was generally confronted with food insecurity.

He said that the programme should be able to build the capacity of participants to enable them give adequate information to farmers and farmer groups to enable them improve upon farming methods.

Bishop Abadamloora said the programme would equip development experts with knowledge and skills relevant for solving the development needs of people in the Northern part of Ghana.

He said it would also help in harmonizing the development strategies of the various development experts and agencies working in the Upper West, Upper East and the Northern regions.

Bishop Abadamloora said the programme would assist in bridging the gap between theoretical and the practical aspects of development.

He explained that the FTC would start with four certificate programmes in Monitoring and Evaluation, Community and Farmer Based Organisation Management, Agribusiness and Community and Farmer Based Organisation Leadership.

Dr. Teye expressed gratitude to the management of the FTC for working with the UDS to introduce the programme.

He noted that agriculture was the predominant economic activity in Northern Ghana and urged the UDS to explore practical ways at developing the sector.