Twenty farmers received various awards to mark this year's farmers day with Nana Awiafum II, Gyantoahene of Axim, being crowned as the best farmer in the Nzema-East Municipality.
For the best farmer award, the 63-year old farmer, took home a bicycle, a DVD home theatre system, a pair of wellington boots, two bars of key soap, two machetes, a spraying machine and a piece of cloth.
All other 20 recognised farmers received similar awards and more than 100 farmers also received a bar of key soap each in recognition for their role in the municipality.
Speaking on the theme:"Transform Ghana: Invest in Agriculture,” Mr James Atta Kakra Baidoe, the Municipal Chief Executive(MCE) for Nzema--East, said the municipality recorded surpluses in food and cash crops.
He said 200 farmers in the area have been screened to receive training in the areas of cassava production and processing, poultry and pig processing, and urged the farmers to form co-operatives to gain access to credit facilities.
The MCE said the Assembly has also cultivated 10 acres of high yielding rice varieties in 10 locations across the area and pledged to support farmers to increase rice production.
He said 87,500 cocoa seedlings would be supplied free of charge to interested farmers and urged the farmers to liaise with the cocoa extension unit for field measurement.
Mr. Ofori Teiko, the Municipal Director of Agriculture, said the department will provide storage facilities to farmers to deal with post-harvest losses and appealed to chiefs, assembly members and opinion leaders to give more attention to pest control measures.
Mr Teiko said government will continue to create an enabling environment to support farmers to increase food production and ensure food security in the area.
Nana Awiafum, the Municipal best farmer, who is a driver by profession and a traditional ruler, said he devoted his time for agriculture hence his recognition.
He urged the youth to venture into Agriculture to earn a decent living.