Fifty-five-year-old Thomas Mankire from Badukrom emerged the best farmer for the Kintampo Municipality for 2017 district best farmer awards held at Badukrom in the Kintampo Municipality in the Brong Ahafo Region.

Thomas Mankire is married with five children.

In crops, he cultivates 48 acres of cashew, 20 acres of maize, 18 acres of yam, 4 acres of cowpea, 12 acres of cassava, 3 acres of groundnuts and okro.

In livestock, he keeps 30 goats, 31 sheep, 3 cattle, 1 cat and 2 dogs.

Also, in poultry farming, he keeps 86 local fowls, 36 guinea fowls and 5 ducks.

As the municipal best farmer, he took away a tricycle, a pair of wellington boots, 2 machetes, 1 knapsack sprayer, 1 radio set, fertilizer and a packet of roofing sheets for his prize.

Mr. Michael Sarkodie Baffoe, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Kintampo Municipal in his welcome address commended gallant farmers in the municipality for contributing to food security in the country.

He said government will continue to support farmers not only to make farming attractive but also a business.

Commenting on the theme of this year's farmers day, "Farming for Food and Jobs" the MCE said it was an impetus to President Akufo-Addo's resolve to transform Ghana's agriculture into a modern one.

Touching on the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) policy, the MCE said it involves the provision of improved seeds, supply of fertilizer, provision of dedicated extension services, marketing strategy and the use if e-agriculture.

He noted that to ensure fertilizer was readily available to the farmers at affordable prices; government has reduced the prices by 50%. He observed that the PFJ policy will undoubtedly attract more people into agriculture sector thereby providing them with jobs alongside feeding the nation.

The MCE reiterated that because the NPP government has placed premium on farming and was transforming the Agriculture sector from resource-based to technology-based industry, alongside providing them with subsidies and inputs to make the sector more attractive.

Touching on Planting for Food and Jobs subsidies on inputs, the MCE said a total of 32, 742 bags of fertilizer were received in 2017 of which 14, 048 bags were allocated to 2,076 deserving farmers, comprising 1877 males and 183 females.

The inputs he noted cost GHC718, 270.00 and so far, GHC472,378.75 have recovered representing 66% debt recovery rate.

On Fall Army Worms invasion, the MCE said 5, 625 hectares were affected, and with government timely intervention, 2,076 litres and 1,740 sachets of chemicals were supplied to farmers free of charge which helped salvaged 5,324 hectares of farmland.

He once again congratulated all farmers in the Municipality for their hard work.

Mr. M.K Ahiadu, the Municipal Director for Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) in his address congratulated the hardworking farmers and praised them for striving hard to gain recognition.