MONITORING REPORT FOR THIRD QUARTER – 2023

1. INTRODUCTION

Monitoring is a key component in Agricultural Extension delivery. It is a process of ensuring that planned activity implementation is carried out specification to meet target.

The Director of Agric. (MDA) and his team set out to monitor the activities being implemented by all Agric. Extension Agents (AEAs) and Municipal Agric Officers (MAOs) in the Modernizing Agriculture in Ghana (MAG) work plan.

The quarter under review is from July to August 2023, and the monitoring is 10 days to cover all Operational Areas within the Municipality.

1. DETAILS OF THE MONITORING
2. WHO COMPLETED THE MONITORING

1. WHEN AND WHERE WAS THE MONITORING COMPLETED

• WHAT WAS MONITORED
• Oil palm and coconut seedlings distribution from minerals commission
• PERD field establishment
• Interaction with various FBOs within the municipality
• Field demonstrations established
• Fall Army Worm situation
• Monitoring of crops and animals performance

1. OUTCOME OF MONITORING

1. Positive findings of monitoring

• The erratic nature of the rainfall this year has forced the farmers to take the concept of climate smart agriculture.
• Farmers who took delivery of the seedlings from Minerals Commission have planted.
• All beneficiaries of the oil palm seedlings from the PERD project have intercropped their field with one commodity or the other.
• Most farmers are now fully aware of the existence of the Fall Army Worm.

2. Negative findings of monitoring

• The problem of some youth stealing the produce of farmers still continues thereby demoralizing victim farmers to expand their works.
• Inadequate knowledge on the part of most farmers renders them ineffective in the area of adoption of new technologies.
• Lack of commitment on the part of some FBO executives make the group dormant.

1. WHAT ISSUES NEED TO BE ADDRESSED

• The robbery of some food items from farmer’s field.
• The problem of FBO formation and sustainability.
• Inadequate release of funds at the time when prices of input continue to escalate.

1. WHAT ARE SOME LESSONS LEARNT

• Farmers tend to be motivated by visitors. Usually, more questions are asked when new faces appear.
• Extension delivery using the demonstration approach is the best.
• Monitoring as an activity that can contribute to achieve results. Farmers get enthusiastic when monitoring team visit them and so tend to do more and better express themselves.
• Central administration involvement in the monitoring afford them the opportunity to understand the workings of the Agric department.

1. WHAT IS THE MONITORING PLAN FOR THE FOLLOWING PERIOD

• Effectively monitor the performance of the PERD fields and seedlings supplied by Minerals commission.
• Focus will mostly be on the suggested corrective measures proposed.

1. CONCLUSION

The department of Agriculture is on course of achieving the ultimate outcome of the MAG programme through the achievement of the intermediate outcomes, in the area of;

• Increased adoption of relevant production enhancing technology by farmers.
• Increased adoption of market-oriented approaches to farm management by farmers.
• Increased private sector investment in sustainable agriculture input supply, production, marketing and processing.