A-46 year-old man has been adjudged the overall best farmer in the Okaikwei North Municipality in the Greater Accra Region.
Simon Hatsi, beat six others to emerge winner after twenty-three (23) years of farming.
He walked away with a tricycle, half piece of cloth, wheelbarrow, wellington boots weedicides, pesticides and other farming equipment.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Boye Laryea in a message read on behalf said it is certain that without the hard work of farmers, the country could not achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2; zero hunger which requires that we strive for viable and sustainable solution to hunger in all its forms by 2030 by achieving food security and also improving nutrition.
Francis Asiedu, the Municipal Coordinator, who read the address on the theme: “Planting For Food And Jobs-Coordinating the Food System in Ghana” stated that the availability and use of quality seeds and breeding stock is an essential part of farming and as such requires much attention for high yields and productivity.
He stated that to adequately sustain the food system in the Municipality, there is the need to intensify the adoption of technology for food security, by adding more value such as processing, packaging and distribution of food within the municipality.
Mr. Asiedu indicated “we are what we eat, therefore let us consolidate the food systems to ensure food security in our municipality and the whole nation by putting more efforts in adding value to fresh farm produce and make them more attractive and available all year round.”
The Municipal Coordinator said the Assembly in an attempt to change food systems in the municipality has among other things worked with and improved the statuses of 128 livestock/poultry farmers, trained forty people including physically challenged on yoghurt and weanimix making and trained farmers in biosecurity measures to reduce mortality rate on the farms.
Nii Odai Abdullai, the Presiding Member of the Assembly and Guest of Honour urged farmers to continue the good work and contribution towards food security in Ghana.
He said the government is ready to support all farmers adding that “I urge you all to enter into farming in order to increase food production in the country”.
Chairman for the occasion, Revd. Philip Nii Annan noted that God who is the first farmer provided for man, but man’s own activities have degraded the environment bringing starvation.
He indicated that the President’s Planting For food and Jobs initiative is a constant reminder to all Ghanaians to continue farming in order to ensure food security.
Beatrix Quarshie-Brown, the Municipal Director of Agric bemoaned the lack of large acreage of farms in the municipality due to the none-availability of lands.
The other award winners who received various prizes ranging from Television sets to farms inputs were: Felicia Kyei, Best Woman Farmer; Audbrey Odametey, Best Youth Farmer; Yusif Amir, Best Livestock Farmer; Chief Inspector Yao Dzotsi, Best Crop Farmer and Frendo Farmers, First Runner Up.
Kankam Samuel Asamoah emerged the Best Agric Extension Agent for the year.
Source: By Kofi Yirenkyi