A 64-year-old farmer from Abomponiso in the Tarkwa Nsueam Municipality, Opanyin Paul Nisiah, has been adjudged the Municipal Best Farmer for this year.
He went home with a 32 inch plasma television set, packet of roofing sheet, a mist blower, sewing machine, wheelbarrow, four bags of fertilizer, four plastic chairs, four machetes, two pairs of Wellington Boots, two shovels, rossette badge and a full piece of wax print.
Madam Hannah Wilson of Tamso near Tarkwa also won the Best Female Farmer category.
She received a 32 inch plasma television set, orthopedic mattress, one wax print, sewing machine and agrochemicals as her prize.
The best physically challenged and youth farmer awards went to Alhaji Amadu Sofo and Madam Dorcas Cudjoe all of Wassa Agona respectively.
In all, seventeen farmers were presented with awards and various prizes at the function at the Bonsa Municipal Assembly Basic School Park.
The theme for the 30th Farmers’ Day celebration was “Eat What We Grow”.
Speaking at the function, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mrs. Christina Kobinah said that the Farmers’ Day Celebration which falls on the first Friday of every December was held early this year because the national celebration will take place at Sefwi Wiawso in the Western Region.
Mrs. Kobinah said the government has put in place more interventions aimed at encouraging farmers to improve their productivity.
She said these included the revamping of Inland Valley Rice Development project and rice production is currently going on at Simpa in the Municipality.
Mrs. Kobinah called on farmers especially the youth, to take advantage of the programme to improve their lots.
The MCE added that since farmers use pesticides to control the destructive activities of pest on their farms, they should contact personnel of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture on the type and usage of such pesticides to guarantee food safety for Ghanaians.
The Municipal Director of Agriculture, Mr. Daniel Essel, congratulated farmers for working hard to feed Ghanaians.
The overall best farmer, Opayin Nsiah, on behalf of the other award winners, thanked government for instituting this programme.
He urged government to invest in the agricultural sector to make it attractive to the youth.
Source: GhanaWeb
