AGRICULTURE

“Let’s stop the destruction of land and water bodies to achieve Agricultural Acceleration”- DCE
The community of Antwiagyeikrom came to a standstill as farmers from the length and breadth of Atwima Mponua gathered to celebrate their hard work.

Date Created : 12/4/2022 12:00:00 AM : Story Author : Jephthah Sarfo/ ghanadistricts.com

The colorful and enthralling ceremony also saw in attendance, traditional authorities, political parties, industrialists, educationists, the clergy and other identifiable groups who graced the event to cheer on the gallant farmers.

Welcoming the people to the ceremony, Mr. Prince Asare, of the Agric Directorate admonished the people to take farming seriously just like any other profession or white collar job. He noted the toils in farming comes with great dividends if farmers yield themselves to modern agricultural practices. He called on stakeholders to invest in rice production by acquiring tractors, threshers and planters to accelerate output.


Isaac Kofi Marfo, the District Chief Executive (DCE) in his speech thanked farmers for being the pillars of Ghana’s economy. He stated that, all the goodies and turnkey projects scattered across Mponua are aimed at servicing the needs and wants of farmers. He added that, most policies of the NPP administration are to ameliorate the toils in farming. He implored the farmers to take  opportunities in policies like 1D1F, PFJ, Cocoa pruning, Rearing for Food and exports, Cocoa mass spraying and others to increase their yields and also make a lot of income.

Mr. Isaac Kwame Asiamah, the Member of Parliament of the constituency, speaking at the eye-popping and scintillating annual ceremony was full of praise to the farmers. Speaking on the theme ‘Accelerating Agricultral Development through Value addition’ he echoed most of the things the earlier speakers had said.


In addition, he quizzed why people are self-centered and are destroying river bodies with the dreaded Changfan mining and why one will not be able to achieve additional value in farming when all lands are destroyed. “I am a son of Tano, a river which feeds thousands in Ghana if not millions; but what is the state of Tano now?” he sighed. He called on all who are hell -bent on wanting to be rich to be circumspect in their nefarious activities and think of the future generation and agriculture.

 The MP also mentioned projects which had his signature written on them in the area of health, energy, education, human development dotted across the district and that received some thunderous applause amidst shouting and chanting of his name from the gathering. The legislator prayed the farmers to do their work and not to hesitate on calling on him for every support they require to boost their trade.


Mr. George Opoku, an 84 year old farmer from Nyamebekyere with over 20 years of farming experience was adjudged the overall best farmer in the district. He has 62 acres of farm which is made up of Cocoa, Cocoyam, Plantain, Cassava, beehives, livestocks and others.

Other awards include, Best Physically Challenged farmer, Best FBO, Outstanding Agric Staff and Best PFJ Farmer. Others were: Best Youth Farmer, Best Rice Farmer, Best Aquaculture, Best Cocoa Farmer and Best Crop and Best Female Farmers.  


Isaac Asiamah presented 4 pieces of 42 flatscreen LED Television set to the Best Youth Farmer, Best Disabled Farmer, Best Female farmer and the overall Best farmer in addition to their prizes.


The chairman of the day, Nana Kofi Darko II of the Nkawie traditional council thanked the farmers for such a great display of their wares. He also thanked the people for turning out in their numbers for the show of love to the farmers.