ESTABLISHMENT OF AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENTThe Agriculture Department is established at MMDAs as per Second Schedule of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936).
Strategic Overview of Agriculture Department The guiding principles for the functioning of the Agriculture Department are as follows:
Vision:
A modernized, climate responsive and sustainable agriculture and food systems.
Mission:
To facilitate the attainment of a modernized agriculture and food systems through the provision of demand cost effective and efficient extension services that builds capacity of actors along commodity value chains. The Department will promote/disseminate gender responsive technologies/practices that enhance productivity, build resilience and supports environmental sustainability.
General Functions and Responsibilities of the Agriculture Department
The Agriculture Department in the MMDA shall:
(a) participate in provision of extension services in the areas of natural resources management, rural infrastructural and small scale irrigation in the MMDA;
(b) assist in the formulation and implementation of Agricultural Policy for the MMDA within the framework of national policies;
(c) submit report on the implementation of policies and programmes to the MMDA;
(d) advise the MMDA on matters related to Agricultural development in the MMDA;
(e) promote extension services to farmers;
(f) assist and participate in on-farm adaptive research;
(g)lead the collection of data for analysis on cost effective farming enterprises;
(h)participate in the education and enforcement of legislation on fisheries;
(i) promote the formation of viable fishermen associations and assist in fish farming;
(j) promote soil and water conservation measures by the appropriate agricultural technology;
(k) disseminate and adopt improved soil and water conservation methods;
(l) promote agro-forestry development to reduce the incidence of bush fires;
(m) promote an effective and integrated water management;
(n) assist and facilitate sustained pasture and forage production and act as out grower to farmers;
(o) assist development of animal health services infrastructure;
(p) facilitate the development, operation and maintenance of livestock water supplies;
(q) assist in developing forage production, ranges and farmlands; Agriculture Department Operational Manual 11
(r) encourage improvement in livestock breeds;
(s) assist in developing early warning systems on animal diseases;
(t) facilitate and encourage vaccination and immunization of livestock and control of animal diseases;
(u) advise and encourage crop development through nursery propagation;
(v) assist in the development, rehabilitation and maintenance of small scale irrigation schemes;
(w)facilitate the assessment of the economic, financial and environmental viability of providing canals;
(x) assist the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of fish landing sites;
(y) promote agro-processing and storage;
i) facilitate the development of programmes and the establishment of close linkage between the various sub-sectors in the MMDA;
ii) supervise the agricultural extension staff in the field;
iii) co-ordinate the systematic and regular training of frontline staff;
iv) monitor and evaluate projects;
v) promote investment in agriculture by assisting to identify and prepare pre-feasibility reports;
vi) develop proposal writing capacity at the MMDA level;
vii) facilitate capacity building at the district level through training, workshops and other related activities; and
viii) assist to supervise projects planned, designed and implemented centrally