Nineteen Farmers, Institutions awarded in Kwaebibirem

Bamenase, (E/R) Dec. 8, GNA - Mr Nicholas Mensah, of Okumaning, was adjudged the overall best farmer in the Kwaebibirem District at the 25th Farmers' Day celebration, held at Bamenase. He took home a 21-inch television set, a bicycle, radio - cassette recorder, spraying machine, full piece of wax print, a pair of Wellington boots, two machetes and a certificate. The best female farmer award went to Madam Ama Boahemaa of Boadua who received a sewing machine, half piece of wax print, spraying machine, a pair of Wellington boots and a certificate. Thirteen other farmers were awarded in various categories of crop cultivation and animal husbandry. They all received a spraying machine, half piece of wax print, pair of Wellington boots, two machetes and a certificate each. However, Mr Ali Baba of Nkwantanang who won the prize in oil palm cultivation received 120 seedlings donated by the Oil Palm Research Institute. Barima Sarpong Kumankuma, Chief of Adankrono, was adjudged the best processor of oil palm. Topreman Salvation Primary School received the prize for being the best first cycle institution with the second best cycle institution going to the National Youth Training Centre at Takrowase. Mr John Eshun of the Okumaning operational area had the award for the best agricultural extension agent and he received one multi TV decoder and a certificate. The District Chief Executive, Mr George Agyemang Duah, said the government was committed to ensuring food security and creating employment opportunities.

He said government would promote large-scale public-private commercial farming, provide agricultural machinery and equipment and enhance their distribution and rehabilitate a number of irrigation schemes. Poultry farmers would also be assisted to acquire equipment, chicken feed, chemicals and other inputs to enable them to undertake large-scale chicken production. The District Director of Food and Agriculture, Mr Edward Kofi Ametepe, stressed the importance of farmers acquiring and using new skills and technologies. He advised farmers to change their attitudes towards farming since that was the only way agriculture could be modernized and help transform the economy and make food available on the tables of every Ghanaian. Mr Ametepe observed that most advanced countries have been successful in their socio-economic growth because they laid a solid agricultural base for the economy. 08 Dec. 09