Rev. Fr. Dominic Azumah
Rev. Fr. Dominic Azumah ? a farmer with new technologies to improve lives in Upper East ? is this week’s hero of MTN Heroes of Change 2019.
The Catholic priest has introduced technology into farming and improving the lives of the youth and their families in Binduri, Bawku in the Upper East Region, where his farming project is.
Through his self-funded project dubbed ‘Father Farms’, he offers farmers new ways of farming and certified seeds that vastly improve harvest and incomes. He has so far impacted more than 300 farmers and plans to reach a 1,000 at least.
“This 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, ‘what can I do also for the people and youth of Binduri and Bawku?” he indicated was his motivation to start ‘Father Farms’.
As a farmer himself, he does know what farming, coupled with the right technology, can do for the society. So, he first started with organising a mentorship programme and brought all the interested youth together. Through that, he took them through the benefits of farming as individuals and the society.
“I 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 and others).
Those who want to go into livestock too, I help them. I monitor their work periodically till their first harvest and even subsequent planting seasons,” he revealed.
Commenting on Rev. Azumah’s project, the Corporate Services Executive of MTN Ghana, Samuel Koranteng, said, “We initiated the MTN Heroes of Change to identify and reward projects such as ‘Father Farms’.”
The other nine nominees are Diana Adjei, David Hagan, Louisa Enyonam Ansah, Daniel Owusu Asiamah, Justin Yelevielbayire, Mawusi Awity, Charles Ofori Antipem, Frank Abeku Adams and Benjamin Akinkang.
Their projects which range from health, education and economic empowerment have benefited members of their communities over the years.