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Asutifi North District Assembly holds 35th Farmers’ Day celebration

The Asutifi North District Assembly holds the 35th farmers’ day celebration at Goamu-Asaman on the theme, “Enhancing Small Scale Agriculture towards Agribusiness Development”.

Date Created : 12/9/2019 1:56:56 AM : Story Author : Mavis Ofosuah Asante/Ghanadistricts.com

Nana Baafi Amoah, Chief of Goamu-Asaman chaired the occasion and was supported by Nana Osei Kwabena Kentia, Kontihene of Kenyasi No.1, and a lot of Traditional rulers and Queen mothers in the district with their colourful and beautiful kente and African clothes to grace the occasion.

The program was started with prayers from both the Traditional and Christian leaders from the community.

Mr. Paul Boakye, the District Director of Agriculture of Asutifi North said that the theme seeks to focus on small scale farmers to see agriculture as a business, to add value to their produce by embracing the value chain concept.

The farmers’ day celebration serves as an Agricultural Extension Tool that helps in the adoption of good agricultural practices, draws farmers to the Agricultural Extension Agents, encourage farmers to strive to the top and above all gives recognition to our hard-working farmers, thereby increasing food production in the country, he added. Mr. Boakye's challenges are that the youth are not interested in agriculture as about 70% of farmers are over 45years and this will threaten food security in the future. Land is also expensive in the districts which drive prospective farmers away.

Madam Charlotte, Social Responsibility & Environment Manager at Newmont Goldcorp Gh. said Agricultural remains an important sector in Ghana’s economy and Newmont Goldcorp acknowledges the hardworking farmers in the district and also acknowledge the importance of agriculture in the economy. They are also working with their stakeholders to revamp the Asutifi processing centre to help process farm goods. They will continue to collaborate with stakeholders to ensure that the processing centre provides valid goods. They also gave GHC100, 000 to support the farmers’ day celebration.

Madam Juliet Amankwa Mensah, the District Public Health Nurse also said that we should always do well to go to any health facility to check for HIV/AIDS status. Stigmatizing those with HIV/AIDS is very bad but rather bring them close to us.

The member of parliament (MP) for Asutifi North Hon. Joseph Dahah addressed the occasion by congratulating the President, Nana Akuffo Addo for supporting farmers especially Cocoa farmers. He entreated the youth to engage themselves in farming because it is a very lucrative business.

Hon Anthony Adjei Mensah, the DCE for Asutifi North said that the theme is indeed in line with the policy direction of the Government, which seeks to focus on scale farmers to see agriculture as a business and to add value to their produce by embracing the value chain concept.

"It is time to engineer a sustainable agricultural development path that would assure food security, improved rural livelihood and make Ghana’s Agriculture competitive and more profitable venture on the part of rural folks in the world market."

Fifteen (15) awards were given in these categories:

District Best NABCO Trainee
District Best Livestock farmer
District Best Woman in Agric
District Best Physically Challenge farmer
District Best Agric Extension Agent
District Best Farmer Based Organization
District Best PERD Farmer (Cashew)
District Best Planting for Food & Job farmer
District Best Plantain farmer
District Best Poultry farmer
District Best Vegetable farmer

Madam Christiana Kwarteng was the District Best Cocoa Farmer.

Mr. Robert Owusu Ansah from Agyapongkrom was the third (3rd) district best farmer. He went home with a motor bicycle, NASCO TV set, Radio set, Cutlass, Key soap, T-shirt, cloth, Wallington boots and a spraying machine.

Mr. Peter Issahaku from Amomaso who emerged the second (2nd) district best farmer was also given the prize; a motor bicycle, NASCO TV set, Radio set, Cutlass, Key soap, T-shirt, cloth, Wallington boots and a spraying machine.

A 41year old Emmanuel Kusi from Donkorkrom was adjudged the overall District Best Farmer. He was also honored with a Tricycle in addition to NASCO TV set, Radio set, Cutlass, Key soap, T-shirt, cloth, Wallington boots and a spraying machine.

He thanked the organizers for making this possible and also advised the youth to engage themselves in farming, although it is not easy but will definitely make it.

The occasion was ended successfully with a prayer from the Chief Imam of Goamu-Asaman.