The Managing Director of the Irrigation Company of Upper Region (ICOUR), Dr. Dominic Anarigide, has called on Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs) in the Upper East Region to allocate portions of government-provided farm inputs to support ICOUR farmers.
He made the appeal while speaking to the media during the three-day Upper East Regional 10-year Development and Investment Framework activities, known as Prosperity through Enterprise, Agriculture, Resilience and Livelihoods (PEARL), held in Bolgatanga.
Dr. Anarigide said ICOUR farmers reside within the various districts and municipalities and should not be excluded from government input support programmes.
“Don’t forget that our farmers are also part of the district. So whatever that comes to the district for farmers, we hope that the district also makes them available to our farmers because there are farmers within the district and not just ICOUR,” he said.
He noted that ICOUR operates in four local assemblies: the Bolgatanga Municipality, Bongo District, Builsa North Municipality, and Kassena-Nankana Municipality.
“So, I’m making the case that if all these four districts and municipalities decide to give us something small like fertilizer and other farm inputs, I mean at the end of the day, we’ll have enough to meet the needs of our farmers,” he added.
The ICOUR Managing Director explained that because the company supports farmers to cultivate two seasons in a year, their input requirements are higher than those of rain-fed farmers.
“Because we do two seasons in a year, we will need more inputs. If a farmer is taking two bags from the upstream, we are supposed to take four. Because we farm twice, that farmer is farming once. That’s always been my argument that we need more support,” he said.
He disclosed that he has personally lobbied for certified inputs for ICOUR farmers.
“So I’ve personally asked the organization what they are actually going to go and lobby and get. They will certify our farmers. So, I’m calling on the District Chief Executives and the Municipal Chief Executives and through the media to help us also give us some portion,” Dr. Anarigide stated.
He added that ICOUR farmers received limited support last year and expressed hope that this year would be different.
“Last year they didn’t do as well. We’re hoping that this year they’ll give us some so that we’ll also share with our farmers.”
Dr. Anarigide stressed the importance of ICOUR’s contribution to agriculture in the Upper East Region.
“Because look, ICOUR’s contribution to agriculture in the region is so huge. So, if they are referred to what we do as a company, at the end of the day, Upper East will be among the best agriculture-producing regions,” he said.
He appealed to the media to help amplify the call for support.
“So please the media, help us propagate our message. See how the powers that be can also support us. So that together we see how we can contribute a quota to national development.”
The PEARL Framework is the Upper East Region’s 10-year development and investment plan aimed at boosting enterprise, agriculture, resilience, and livelihoods.
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