Twenty-one farmers honoured in AOB district

Breman Baako (C/R), Dec. 4, GNA - Twenty-one farmers and fishermen were honoured at the District Farmers' Day celebration at Breman Baako on Friday.

Mr Francis Kojo Menu, a-32-year old farmer from Breman Jamra, was adjudged the District Best Farmer and was presented with a table top fridge, two pairs of Wellington boots, 6 pieces of cutlasses, a full piece of wax print, a bicycle, a wall clock, a lantern, a "T" shirt and a Tape recorder.

The other award winners received a pair of Wellington boot, three cutlasses a piece of wax print, a tape recorder, a wall clock and a lantern.

In an address read for him the District Chief Executive for the Area, Mr. Emmanuel Adjei Doomson, commended the farmers and urged them to work harder to produce more to feed the nation. He said the Youth Employment Task Force and the district assembly have developed a module for agriculture. As at now about 953 youth have been registered and grouped into 61 co-operative societies.

The DCE said 15 groups are already working in the district assembly's chilli farms at Asikuma, Brakwa and Odoben, 10 groups have also been engaged to produce maize on a 100-acre land at Bosomase and Benin. Mr Doomson said the main objective of the exercise was to produce vegetables such as pepper, okra, garden eggs and cereal for export. He said 500 of the registered youth farmers would be outgrowers who would be supported with credit facilities in the form of farm inputs and cash.

The remaining farmers would be supported to grow maize, rice plantain and cocoyam as well as rearing livestock. The major part of the produce of the groups would be purchased to support the National School Feeding Programme in the district. The Odikro of Breman Baako, Nana Adu Twiam II who chaired the function, appealed to the government to employ the youth in the forest areas to supplement the efforts of forestry officers.