Youths urged to go into farming

Mpasatia (Ashanti Region), 4 Jan. '99,

Mr Thomas Fosuhene Asare, the 1998 overall "National Best Farmer", has called on the youth to enter into agriculture, describing it as ''a living profession''. He regretted that agriculture, which he described as the most respected and recognised business in the developed world, is shunned in the developing countries. Mr Asare who was speaking at a durbar organised by the chiefs and people of Mpasatia in the Atwima District, to honour him for his selection as the national best farmer, emphasised that the government as well as the financial institutions have incentive packages for those who go into serious and intensive farming. The National Best Farmer, expressed his appreciation to the government and the Mpasatia community for the honour done him, and said he saw his award as ''a challenge to the youth''. He therefore called on the people in the area to take up farming since "gone are the days when this was considered a dirty profession". Mr Charles Yeboah, Assemblyman for Mpasatia, gave the educational background of Mr Asare, saying the national best farmer holds a Diploma in Agriculture from the London University and was formerly a Technical Assistant at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi. Mr Asare owns a 108.4-acre farm and is credited with cultivating all food crops as well as raising poultry and livestock. Nana Oti Boateng, Nifahene of Toase, who deputised for the Toasehene, called on Mr Asare to share his rich knowledge and experience with farmers to improve agricultural production in the area.