Tamale, Dce.4, GNA-Mr. Davis Naa Korbor, a farmer from the Eastern Region on Friday won the best national farmer award at the silver jubilee anniversary of the event hosted in Tamale, the Northern regional capital. The 40 year old farmer owns a 60 hectare mango plantation and also cultivates large hectares of cashew and soyabean. For his price, a three bedroom house is to be built for him at a place of his choice by the Agriculture Development Bank (ADB). Madam Eva Amatepe Agbovir, 62, a vegetable cultivator from the Volta Region was the first runner-up and for her award she took away a double cabin pick-up.

Reverend David Gbande 64, from Kpandi in the Northern Region was the second runner-up. He cultivates large hectares of cashew, maize and rice and rears cattle and poultry.

For his price, he received a tractor and accessories. The theme for this year's farmers' day was: "Accelerated agriculture modernisation for food security and economic transformation". President John Evans Atta Mills, who was the special guest of honour at the colourful ceremony, commended Ghanaian farmers for their hardwork and ensuring food security for the country. He said that despite the scanty rainfall and global warming which had resulted in severe drought in some countries, Ghana did not experience hunger because of the hard work of the country's farmers. The President said as a result of the hard work of the farmers this year, the country realised a production of 11 million tons of cassava, 5 million tons of yam, 1.7 million tons of cocoyam and 3.3 million tons of plantain.

He said cocoa farmers also raked in an additional income of over 1.5 million US dollars in export earnings in 2008. President Mills re-affirmed government's determination to use agriculture to achieve the country's accelerated growth and the reduction of poverty.

He said for this reason, in spite of the increasing cost of agricultural inputs such as fertilizer, seeds and machinery among others, the government would continue to strive to provide farmers with a cushioning support regime.

Mr. Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister of Food and Agriculture, announced that government would next year source an additional 300 units of tractors from Japan, Brazil and India among other countries to increase the fleet already in the system.

He said in addition, all forms of machinery and equipment needed for land clearing and crop establishment such as planters, weed control and irrigation facilities among others were being secured. He said the establishment of Agricultural Land Development and Mechanisation Centres (ALDMEC) was also being pursued with almost 85 of such centres already established.

Mr. Ahwoi said this was in addition to the 150,000 hectares proposed under the Accra plains irrigation project adding, government would strive to secure funding for the implementation of the flagship scheme. 04/12/2009