Twenty-eight farmers nominated for awards in the Volta Region

A total of 28 farmers, including two women, have been nominated for the Volta Regional Farmers' Dayawards to be held in Ho on Friday, November 02. The oldest of the awardees is 86 years and youngest, 34 years old.

The event, on the theme: “Grow More Food: Strengthening Farmer Based Organisations for Market Place Bargaining Power,” would attract heads of decentralized institutions, farmers and chiefs.

Two schools and a farming group at Akrofu, near Ho, would also be honoured for their contributions to agriculture in the region. The group would be given special award for introducing rice cultivation to Akrofu, a community known for growing okra.

Mr. John Tsrakasu, Volta Regional Director of Agriculture, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that all was set for the event. He said the region, which had the highest number of commercial farms, was “doing fairly well” in agriculture.

“Currently, the region is the destination for investors in agriculture. They say our people are good workers and sincere,” Mr Tsrakasu said.

He said the region could boast of having the most modern irrigation facility in the country, located at Torgorme in the South Dayi District, irrigating about 4,000 hectares of land for vegetable and cereal farming.

Mr. Tsrakasu said Vegepro, the company working at Torgorme, would soon begin exporting pepper and other vegetables.

He said the Afife Rice was also doing well with no problem with marketing. Mr. Tsrakasu commended farmers in the region for their hard work and encouraged young people to turn to agriculture to enhance their lot.