In the early 1970s the Government of Ghana contracted a loan from the World Bank to promote agriculture in the then Upper Region. Government then established the Upper Region Agricultural Development programmes (URADEP) to undertake the project. Management of URADEP realized that if the Region was to make a head way in Agriculture, the rural peasant farmer must be properly educated to improve and adopt new methods of farming. They realized that the best way to educate the farmers was to establish an FM Radio station which would broadcast agricultural messages to the farmers –hence the establishment of URA Radio. The station was officially inaugurated in November, 1986 and on first January, 1987 the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation took over the station from URADEP. So, if one may ask, has URA Radio lived up to its mandate since its establishment 24 years ago? The story about the blind man in the Gospel of John chapter 9 will help us better answer the question. The Lord Jesus in one of his rounds found a man who was born blind begging. The Lord healed him. The Jewish leaders did not take kindly to the healing. They pulled the man to his parents and asked, ’’Is this your son whom you claim was born blind. How come that he is now seeing?’’. The parent replied,’’ yes, he is our son and was indeed born blind. But how he got his sight we d not know. He is of age and can answer for himself so ask him.’’ So, it is the people of the region who have been living with the station for the past 24years who can best tell the impact the station has made on them. The Director of the Manga Agric Research Centre of Bawku, Dr. Roger Kanton in an interview with URA Radio said research depends on publicity and that any research centre or institute that does not publish its findings and activities in good for nothing. Dr. Kanton said the centre develops drought restart and early maturing crops to meet the climate conditions of the region. Demonstration and field days are also organised to educate farmers. He said URA Radio has played a pivoted role in disseminating the finding of the centre and the message that are given at the field days. Dr. Kanton disclosed that when the centre introduced maize farming in 1992 farmers in the region vehemently resisted. But that through consistent education by URA Radio maize cultivation has now out tripped the early millet-naara and sorghum. According to him, almost half of the land in the region is put under maize cultivation in the wet season .Dr. Kanton added that the Bawku municipality and the Bawku West District are now net producers of maize who even export some to Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali. Dr. Kanton attributed the success story to the contribution of URA Radio. On his part, an animal husbandary officer from the region, Samuel Apiiga lauded URA Radio for contributing a lot to the promotion of animal husbandary in the region. He said as an expert in animal husbandary who has featured a lot on URA Radio has realized that most animal farmers in the region are practicing what they have been taught. He mentioned in particular message on improved housing, feeding, watering, vaccination and sanitation. Mr. Apiiga said one land mark of URA Radio is hoe the station has educated cattle owners to adopt animal traction .According to him, animal traction has reduced greatly the drudgery of the farmers associated with using the hoe. Mr. Apiiga who is also a consultant on guinea- fowl production said URA Radio has done a lot to improve guinea fowl production in the region. He said hundreds of farmers who use to rear a few guinea fowls have now formed associations and are rearing guinea fowls in the thousands. The 1996 National Best Farmer, George Stanley Alokodongo said he owes his awards to URA Radio. According to him, he took URA Radio messages on agriculture seriously and with hard work earned the award. Mr. Alokodongo who is also a serious tomato farmer said tomato farmers in the region will always be grateful to URA Radio. According to him whenever there is a glut, it is URA Radio that echoes their concern and fine market for them. The old book says ‘’ Man shall not live by bread alone…’’ And so apart from agriculture there are other factors that URA Radio promotes to make life holistic. Forinstances, URA Radio also broadcasts programmes on education, health and culture .Politicians such as regional minister, municipal and district chief executives also use URA Radio a lot to disseminate government policies to the people. URA Radio has educated the people of the region on a lot of things. Government should resource the station to continue with its good work.
GBC END EAD/IA
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