Sokoban (Ash), Dec. 03, GNA – Mr. Andrews Amankwaah, a 62-year-old mixed farmer, has been adjudged the 2021 Overall Best Farmer for Kumasi, at the 37th National Farmers’ Day Celebration, held at Sokoban.
The winner, who has been engaged in farming for over 40 years, received as his prize, a tricycle, wax print, Latex foam mattress, Knapsack sprayer, 10 cutlasses, certificate, and five boxes of key soap.
This is to support him in his agricultural endeavours.
The other award winners included Mr. Kwame Anane, Best Extension Agent, Opana Farms, Best Poultry Farmer, Mr. Ibrahim Illiasu, Best Physically-Challenged Farmer, Mr. Kweku Ofosu, Best Rice Farmer, Ivan Boat Enterprise, Best Agro Input Dealer, and the Plantain Sellers Association, Best Marketing Group.
Mr Samuel Pyne, Mayor of Kumasi, lauded the award winners for their meritorious contribution to enhancing food security in the country.
He assured that the government was committed to ensuring that Ghanaians got the best out of the agricultural sector and the totality of the food system.
This was why the authorities had undertaken several programmes to engender the vision of the nation, he stated, citing the Fertilizer Subsidy Programme, Planting for Food and Jobs, One District, One Warehouse, as well as the Planting for Export and Rural Development initiatives.
The Mayor hinted that a total of 1,869 farmers had benefitted from various training undertaken by the Metropolitan Agricultural Department to build their capacity for effective farming practices.
Among these are the introduction and promotion of new technologies through field demonstrations and seminars.
On the assistance to farmers, Mr Pyne said a total of 523 crop farmers were aided to access about 10 tonnes of seed maize, 250 tonnes of various formulations of fertilizer, and 170 tonnes of Urea.
Mr Stephen Amoah, Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, advised the farmers to embrace mechanized agriculture to improve their yield.
Mr Amoh Korang, the Metropolitan Director of Agriculture, urged farmers to put into practice what they had been learning at the training programmes offered by the extension officers of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to bring improvement in their work.
This year’s ceremony was held on the theme: “Planting for Food and Jobs – Consolidating Food Systems in Ghana”.
Source: Ghana News Agency