INTRODUCTION
The Agric Department of the Bosome Freho District Assembly on Thursday 5th August 2021 held a training workshop for Agric Extension Agents, Chiefs, Opinion leaders and selected farmers to equip them on design models for implementation of agricultural needs for communities through mobilisation and consultation procedures. These needs to be addressed through consensus based on the expectations, ideas, projects and initiatives through dialogue and negotiation among participating actors of local communities.
The workshop focused on exhibiting transparency and allowed the local community and local players to express their views and to help define the agricultural challenges for their area in line with their own views, expectations, and plans.
The expectation was to develop a strategic plan that reflects the desires and aspirations of all stakeholders in relation to economic prosperity and renewed relationship between farmers and District Agricultural Development Unit.
METHOD EMPLOYED
The process was done by Selected local stakeholders (farmers, Agric agents, DADU) who formulated strategic plans for developing local agriculture based on prevailing production challenged issues and transparent consensus through dialogue and negotiation among participating actors.
COMMUNITY LEVEL PLANNING
Agricultural extension agents in sixteen (16) operational areas were tasked to brainstorm and deliberate on key agricultural productivity challenges with parties or ‘farmers’ to ensure that the outcome is supported by all parties at community level.
Chief/elected farmers of each community under the operational area were further convened at one community to aggregate identified challenges. Facilitation was provided by the agricultural extension agent with technical backing from his/her supervisor. Each community representative prioritized their challenges with first issue multiplied with a weight of five (5) and second issue multiplied with a weight of four (4) and so on.
DISTRICT LEVEL PLANNING SESSION PROCESS
One (1) day workshop was organized by department of Agriculture at Bosome Freho district Assembly Hall-Asiwa. Participant were made up of Thirty-Six (36) people comprising Five (5) District Assembly staff, Two (2) Opinion Leaders, Sixteen (16) farmers and Eleven (11) MOFA staff.
ACHIEVEMENT
The planning Session was organized to improve the local Agricultural practices/systems, largely helped participants to identify basic needs and challenges being confronted by local farming for redress
