{"id":654942,"date":"2019-07-12T06:56:19","date_gmt":"2019-07-12T06:56:19","guid":{"rendered":"
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\n
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On this week\u2019s episode of MTN Heroes of Change 2019, the MTN Foundation highlights the works of Rev. Fr. Akologo Dominic Azumah, a Catholic Priest and farmer, who has introduced technology into farming and improving the lives of the youth and their families in Binduri, Bawku in the Upper East Region.<\/p>\n

The
\n uniqueness of Rev. Fr. Akologo Dominic Azumah is not just the fact that
\n he is a revered man of God who is helping the people in his
\ncommunities. What makes him truly stand out is the introduction of
\ntechnology to farming in very conservative communities which is
\nimproving the lives of the people.<\/p>\n

Through his self-funded project, dubbed \u2018Father Farms\u2019, which is located in Binduri, Bawku in the Upper East Region, he offers farmers new ways of farming and certified seeds that vastly improve harvest and incomes. Father Dominic Azumah, a Catholic priest, has so far impacted more than 300 farmers and plans to reach a 1,000 at least.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cThis community has generally been neglected. The unemployment rate is too high. The youth keep travelling to the south for greener pastures. This is delaying the development of this community. Kwame Nkrumah did his part for Ghana, my question was, \u2018what can I do also for the people and youth of Binduri and Bawku?\u2019,\u201d this he says is his motivation to start \u2018Father Farms\u2019.<\/p>\n

As
\n a farmer himself, he does know what farming, coupled with the right
\ntechnology can do for society. So he first started with organising a
\nmentorship programme and brought all the interested youth together.
\nThrough that, he took them through the benefits of farming as
\nindividuals and the society. <\/p>\n

\u201cI then teach them the new ways of livestock and crop farming. After the mentorship, those who want to pursue any of the two branches, either livestock or crop farming, I lead them into acquiring lands for farming. I then provide for these young men their first seedlings which I produce myself (onion, cabbage, garden eggs, yam). <\/p>\n

\u201cThose
\n who want to go into livestock too I help them. I monitor their work
\nperiodically till their first harvest and even subsequent planting
\nseasons,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n

When he found a new type of rice, which is also doing well, he introduced all of them to it. \u201cI produced seedlings, tried it and it was a marvellous harvest. The project is to empower these young men to be able to provide for themselves and their families,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n

Through
\n his income as a priest and sales he makes from the harvests, he has
\nbeen able to train over 300 young men (famers) in Binduri and other
\nthree communities around Binduri. Unsurprisingly, the women are also not
\n left out because he believes that communal benefit far outweighs the
\nindividual benefit.<\/p>\n

\"Rev.<\/figure>\n

Impact of \u2018Father Farms\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

With the training of over 300 young men who are now working and are able to support themselves and their families adequately, the rate at which the youth used to migrate to the south has reduced and poverty has significantly reduced as well. \u201cThey are now happy farmers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Challenges<\/strong><\/p>\n

Despite
\n the good works, Father Dominic believes that the provision of water
\npumps will go a great length to allow the farmers till the land all year
\n round instead of waiting on the rains, which have become unpredictable
\nthese days due to climatic changes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese
\n farmers can farm all year round if they can get water pumps to help
\nthem irrigate their farms in the dry season, but they don\u2019t have it,\u201d he
\n says adding that more funds to help train more of the youth who are
\nwilling to learn will be awesome. Also, a car to make him more mobile
\nwill do more good than one can imagine.<\/p>\n

Future plans<\/strong><\/p>\n

Filled
\n with satisfaction when he sees how these men are happy, which motivates
\n him to do more, he plans to train the youth beyond Binduri which
\ninclude the whole Bawku area and six other districts. <\/p>\n

To
\n allow him to do more, he wants to build a training centre, where seed
\nwould be produced and training will be held periodically to let them
\nknow the new trends of farming.<\/p>\n

Nominator <\/strong><\/p>\n

Rev.
\n Fr. Dominic Azumah was nominated by Agurie Moses, a 37-year-old teacher
\n who heard of one of the training sessions and joined. \u201cI was amazed at
\nthe new ways of farming that he was teaching when he introduced the rice
\n seedlings, we all to did not believe it will work till we saw his
\nharvest,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Since
\n then, he has developed the love for farming, especially when he got to
\nknow a bag of onion can be bought GH\u00a21,000. To Moses, Rev. Fr. Dominic
\nAzumah has really changed the face of farming and has really help the
\nyouth of this community and beyond.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe
\n is helping to solve the unemployment rate in Bawku. He has changed the
\nlife of so many families. He is helping to eliminate poverty in Binduri
\nthrough farming. His passion to help develop Binduri motivates me so
\nmuch. I am also into farming because of him,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n

Heroes of Change background<\/strong><\/p>\n

Commenting
\n on Rev. Fr. Dominic Azumah project, the Corporate Services Executive of
\n MTN Ghana, Samuel Koranteng said: \u201cwe initiated the MTN Heroes of
\nChange to identify and reward projects such as \u2018Father Farms\u2019.\u201d <\/p>\n

The
\n other nine nominees are Diana Adjei, David Hagan, Louisa Enyonam Ansah,
\n Daniel Owusu Asiamah, Justin Yelevielbayire, Mawusi Awity, Charles
\nOfori Antipem, Frank Abeku Adams and Benjamin Akinkang. Their projects
\nwhich range from health, education and economic empowerment have
\nbenefited members of their communities over the years.<\/p>\n

MTN
\n Heroes of Change Season 5 was launched in November 2018 and submission
\nof entries ended on 25th January 2019.\u00a0 Since the inception of MTN
\nHeroes of Change in July 2013, a total of 40 people have been identified
\n and recognized on MTN Heroes of Change platform for committing their
\npersonal resources to improve their communities and brightening lives. <\/p>\n

Four
\n out of the total number emerged the ultimate winners. They are Dr.
\nAbrokwa-Yenkyera, a plastic surgeon and founder of Grafts Foundation;
\nMadam Paulina Opei, founder of Save our Lives Orphanage; Genevieve
\nBasigha founder of Research Utilization School for the Deaf; and Naomi
\nEsi Amoah of Blessed Home Orphanage.<\/p>\n

Heroes of Change Season 5 is airing on: <\/p>\n

TV3<\/p>\n

Friday:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6:00 pm<\/p>\n

Saturday:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5:50 pm<\/p>\n

Sunday:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5:50 pm<\/p>\n

GH ONE<\/p>\n

Friday:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 9:20pm<\/p>\n

Saturday:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 8:20pm<\/p>\n

Sunday:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 8:20pm<\/p>\n

UTV<\/p>\n

Thursday:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 7:40pm<\/p>\n

Saturday:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 4:50 pm<\/p>\n

Sunday:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 3:45pm<\/p>\n

ADOM TV<\/p>\n

Friday:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 8:50pm<\/p>\n

Saturday:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5:50pm<\/p>\n

Sunday:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6:20pm<\/p>\n

ANGEL TV<\/p>\n

Friday:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 7:20pm<\/p>\n

Saturday:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 7:20pm<\/p>\n

Sunday: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 7:20pm<\/p>\n

GTV<\/p>\n

Wednesday:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 8:00pm<\/p>\n

Thursday:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 8:00pm<\/p>\n

Saturday:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6:00pm<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n