Ghana honours 70 distinguished farmers/fishermen

Accra, Dec. 3, GNA - Government is to honour about 76 distinguished farmers, fishermen and extension officers in the agriculture sector at the 26th edition of the annual National Farmers Day celebration at Somanya on Friday.

The event which has as its theme: "Grow More Foods," would be addressed by President John Evans Atta Mills, and attended by Ministers of State, farmers and fishermen, the diplomatic community, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders in the sector.

There would be simultaneous regional and district celebrations of the day across the country.

The National Farmers Day instituted in 1985, was first celebrated at Osino in the Eastern region.

Some of the past National Best Farmers are: Mr Thomas Ahima from Ashanti region 1987; Mr Yaw Odame Awuah, Ashanti region, 1988; Mr Daniel Safo from Eastern region 1989; Mr Maham Moli, Northern region 1990 and Mr Lawrence Twerefour from the Eastern region 1991.

Data available to the Ghana News Agency indicates that other award winners included Mallam Seidu Abdulai from Upper West 1992; Nana Aforo Kwan II from Western region 1993; Nana Agyemang Nkwantabisa III, from Ashanti region 1994; Nana Kofi Gyedu from Greater Accra region 1995; Mr. George Stanley Alokodongo, Upper East Region 1996; Mr. Abdulai Gbandi, Northern Region, 1997; Mr. T. F. Asare from Ashanti Region 1998 and Mr. John Kwame Mensah from Central Region 1999.

The rest were: Mr. Baba Kumasi, from Upper East 2000; Nana Mathew Kwasi Bonsu, Western region 2001; Mr. Baba Abudu Takora, from Central region, 2002; Mr. Kow Kotu from Central region 2003; Madam Efua Frimpomaa, from Central region 2004; and Mr. Edward Osei Nsenkyire from Ashanti region 2005. Mr. Mohammed Tetteh Akpa from Greater Accra was adjudged the Best National Farmer in 2006; Alhaji Abdul Salam Akate from Ashanti region 2007; Dr. Simon Saku, from Brong Ahafo region 2008; and Mr. David Korboe from Eastern region 2009.

Agricultural Production, Hallmark of the 31st December Revolution," for 1991; "Agricultural and the Ghanaian Economic- Eleven Years in Retrospect" for 1992; and "An Efficient Marketing System - A Booster to Sustained Agricultural and Industrial Growth," for 1993.

Other themes were: "Food Preservation for Price Stability", 1994; "Scientific Farming for High Productivity," in 1995; "The Human Resource- A Crucial Factor in Agricultural Development," for 1996; "Sustain Food Security - A Challenge to the Youth," for 1997; "Empowering the Youth for Accelerated Agricultural Growth," for 1998; and "Effective Marketing Promotes Agricultural Production," for 1999.

In 2000 "Processing of Agricultural Produce - the Way Forward," was the general theme; "Let Us Grow What Eat, Eat What We Grow and Can what We Cannot," was for 2001; "Modernizing Agriculture to Enhance Rural Development," for 2002; and "Enhancing Agricultural Productivity and Food Security through Improved Agri-business," for 2003.

"Food safety and Improved Nutrition for a Healthy and Active nation," for 2004; "Agriculture Production and Productivity - The key to Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction," for 2005; and "The Youth Employment Programme - An Avenue For Sustaining Agricultural Development," for 2006. The theme for the Golden Jubilee of Ghana was "Ghana@50: Progress and Challenges of Sustainable Agricultural Development," for 2007; "Globalisation: Its Effect on Agricultural Production in Ghana," for 2008; and "Accelerated Agricultural Modernisation for Food Security and Economic transformation," for last year.