AGRICULTURE

N JUABEN S: Adam Haadi adjudged overall best farmer
A 35 year old Adam Haadi, from Mile 50, a suburb of Koforidua has been adjudged the overall best Municipal farmer for 2018 National Farmers’ Day.

Date Created : 12/13/2018 3:20:06 AM : Story Author : Akuffo Collins Aikins/Ghanadistricts.com

He took home a brand new branded tricycle, per of wellington boot, one knapsack sprayer, full piece of cloth, water container, cutlasses, a radio-cassette player and a certificate.

The ceremony which was under the theme: “Agriculture, moving Ghana beyond Aid”, sought to showcase the strong commitment by Government to use agriculture as a spring board for a giant leap into industrialization phase of our quest to national development.

This year, eight (14) gallant farmers were awarded within the Municipality in the areas of overall best farmer, the 1st runner up, 2nd runner up, female category and best crop farmer. Others categories include best animal farmer, best agriculture extension officer, best disable farmer and best fish farmer. The rest are best institution poultry farmer, planting for Food and Jobs and best vegetable farmer.

Addressing the audience, the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Isaac Appaw-Gyasi said the National Farmers day was instituted to honour the hardworking and gallant farmers and fishermen who produce to feed the nation, provide raw materials for our industries and also to export to earn the much needed foreign exchange, for the development of the country.

He commended the cherished Ghanaian farmers for their tremendous support towards the development of the country, saying, agriculture has huge potentials to grow the Ghanaian economy and therefore contribute to the “Ghana Beyond Aid” agenda of the government.

The theme equally re-emphasizes the strategic position the agriculture sector has placed itself to reducing dependence on external support. He maintained that agric sector has been the main economic mainstay of the country since independence and still contributes significantly to the nation’s development by way of employment generation and revenue for the country.

The MCE noted that the sector employs close to 44 percent of the nation’s work force. Today the focus is to have a paradigm shift from the traditional farming to a more business oriented sector that responds and propels economic growth of the country and not just agriculture for purpose of farming to feed the household.

Mr. Appaw- Gyasi reiterated the government quest to develop the country through various government interventions with the aim of producing enough food to feed the nation, export the surpluses, reduce excessive food import bill and generate employment for Ghanaians and improve the financial status of the country as a whole.

For his part, the Municipal Agriculture Director Kofi Amoako Tweneboah advised the general public to involve themselves in farming so as to feed the country and also improve their livelihood.

He cautioned farmers not to trade their coupons because they have been duly registered in their names and they would face any consequences if a problem arises from it. He again encouraged farmers to enroll on the planting for export and rural development which would be completed by the end of December.