45 farmers honoured at Ashanti Regional Farmers day

Jacobu, (Ash), Dec 3, GNA - Forty five farmers (45) were on Friday honoured at a joint regional and district farmers' day celebration held at Jacobu in the Amansie Central district of the Ashanti. Mr Isaac Badu, a 49 year old all-round farmer, from Sekyere in the Sekyere East District, emerged the Regional Best farmer. He received a corn mill, quantity of cutlasses, spraying machine, wellington boots and radio cassette recorder among other items. Mr Badu has 47 hectares of citrus farm, 40 hectares of mango, 35 hectares of cocoa, teak plantation, plantain, maize and rice farms, fish pounds and livestock.

He employs 12 permanent and 40 casual labourers a day and he is currently constructing a fruit processing factory on his farm to process some of the farm products.

Mr Archibald Kwame Oppong, from Jacobu, was also awarded the best district farmer prize in the Amansie Central and was presented with a fridge, four cutlasses, spraying machine and a pair of wellington boots. Mr Kofi Opoku Manu, the Regional Minister, advised farmers in the region to make maximum use of the expertise of agricultural extension agents to maximize crop yield.

He pledged the government's resolve to initiate and implement programmes that would help improve the wellbeing of farmers. Mr Opoku Manu commended Ghanaian farmers for their hard work and sacrifices.

Mr Edward Kwasi Gyamfi, Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, appealed to farmers to make education of their children their number one priority. Mr Ben Forkuoh, District Chief Executive for Amansie Central, said the bad nature of the area's road network was hampering food distribution and marketing. Mr William Boakye Acheampong, Ashanti Regional Director of Food and Agriculture, urged farmers to take food safety, environmental protection, HIV/AIDS prevention and family planning seriously.