Farmers urged to devote much time for agri-business

Mr Evans Amoah, this year’s Asene Manso Akroso District Overall Best Farmer has urged farmers to take agriculture as a serious business and should devote a full time for it.

He said agriculture should not be seen as part-time venture, but commercial activitiesthat needed, proper planning combined with knowledge and skills acquired from extension officers to be able to achieve the desired results.

Mr Amoah made the call when he was adjudged the 2019 Overall District Farmer for Asene Manso Akroso at the 35th celebration of the Farmers’ Day on the theme: “Enhancing Small-scale Agriculture Towards Agri-business” at Akim Akroso in the Eastern Region.

Mr Amoah ownes an 18-acre rice farm, 21-acre cocoa, 1050 layers, 1000 cockerels, 130 local birds, among other agricultural ventures.

Mr Prosper Klu, the Asene Manso Akroso District Agriculture Director said the area had 14 million hectares of farm lands and that 7.8 million hectares were under cultivation, while there was adequate water sources for irrigation.

He called on the private sector to partner government to invest in agriculture because it has a huge potential for the economic growth of the country.

Mr Klu said the government in a bid to improve food production and job creation, especially for the youth was implementing Planting for Food and Jobs, Planting for Export and Rural Development, and Rearing for Food and Jobs.

He expressed gratitude to various institutions and well-meaning individuals for their contributions towards the celebration of the Farmers’ Day.

Mr Alex Incoom, the Asene Manso Akroso District Chief Executive asked farmers in the area to get themselves ready for the supply of 36,000 palm seedlings by the Assembly, saying; “It is through this that the district would get its share of the One District One Factory through the processing of oil.”

Other groups such as Small London Presby Basic School and Moral Entrepreneurial Group also received certificates of merit and items at the function.