Nana Kwame Oduro of Diawuoso has been adjudged Municipal best farmer for the Obuasi Municipality at the just ended 32nd Farmers’ Day Celebration at Mampamhwe in the Obuasi Municipality. For his prize, the Municipal Best Farmer took home an ‘Aboboyaa’ machine, 5 Cutlasses, a wellington boot, T-shirt and a spraying machine.
The National Farmers’ Day Celebration which was instituted in 1984 is marked annually to recognize the efforts of farmers in the Country.
The Celebration which was Originally stated for Friday 2nd December,2016 was rescheduled to Friday ,4th November, 2016 due to the impending 2016 General elections in December.
In his Key address, The Municipal Chief Executive for Obuasi: Honorable Richard Ofori Agyeman Boadi: felicitated farmers and fisher folks, agro-business men and women and said the theme for this year’s Celebration “Agriculture; A business response to Economic Growth” is appropriate and timely. He said Agriculture has proven over the years that if well managed, if will sustain the nation even in the face of erratic climate changes.
Honorable Ofori Agyeman posited that any Country which takes its Agriculture seriously has the Potential of excelling economically. It is however imperative, he continued, for us to recognize Agriculture as a big time business hence the need for a paradigm shift from agriculture of hoes to mechanical and technological agriculture.
The aspiring Member of Parliament for the Obuasi East Constituency said government in response to boosting Agriculture in its Changing Lives and transforming Ghana agenda has constructed dams and irrigation facilities at various locations in the Country; notable among them is the Afram Plains irrigation project.
The subsidization of fertilizers, the mass cocoa spraying, the supply of improved rice seeds to farmers through the JICA Project, the Construction of fishing harbours Takoradi and Elmina and the Komenda Sugar Factory are among government’s Commitment to improve Agriculture and create employment.
The youth should take advantage of several interventions the government has put in place to make agriculture a business for the youth. Financial institutions, Non-Governmental Organizations and Extention Officers should all assist farmers to be more effective in the Municipality, he ended.
The Acting Municipal Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture ;Mr. Augustine Antwi advised farmers to Consider farming as a business and develop technological and Scientific way of farming which will ensure high yield and reduced Cost.
Mr. Antwi praised the Obuasi Municipal Assembly for renovating the Office of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Obuasi, a gesture he opined demonstrates the Commitment of the Assembly to improve agriculture in the Municipality.
In all about thirty (30) Farmers were honored on the day with Mr. Emmanuel Kwaku Gyasi from Asonkore and Mr. Francis Osei from Dokyiwaa winning the 2nd and 3rd positions respectively.
Heads of Department, members of the Security Services, Chiefs, Sponsors and the Media were all present.
SIGNED
(SAMPSON MANU)
MUNICIPAL INFORMATION OFFICER
