AGRICULTURE

64-year old chief is Overall Best Farmer of Okere District
Sixty-four-year old Chief Azagba Thompson has been adjudged the 2019 Overall Best District Farmer of Okere, among 19 others recognized for their hard work at the 35th National Farmers Day at Asenema, near Adukrom in the Eastern Region.

Date Created : 12/7/2019 12:00:00 AM : Story Author : Bertha Badu-Agyei/Vincentia Kumahor/Ghanadistricts.com

Chief Thompson, a father of 15, has five acres of maize, 30 acres of cassava, 15 acres of citrus, 30 acres of oil palm, 105 sheep, 86 goats and 560 local birds.

He took home a gas cylinder, a commercial knapsack sprayer, a tricycle, popularly known as Aboboy, a certificate and some other items whiles Madam Mansah Mnuworatsi, 48, was adjudged the Best Woman Farmer of the District.

Mr Emmanuel Obuobi, 52, won the Best Physically Challenged Farmer, and Mr Kwame Boadu, 35, a Teacher, Best Youth Farmer.
Others won in the various categories such as cassava, maize, cocoa, pineapple, and vegetables.

Mr Dan Kwaku Botwe, the Member of Parliament for Okere, said Government was looking at ways to improve access roads to and from farming and market centres to transport the produce to ensure the farmers had value for their money.

He urged the youth to take advantage of the Planting for Food and Jobs and the Planting for Export and Rural Development to create employment for themselves and others.

Mr Daniel Kenneth, the Okere District Chief Executive, indicated that the Assembly had acquired a grader to reshape all the feeder roads to give access to the farmers to transport their produce to the market centres.

He said the Assembly was transforming the Asenema market, the only market in the District, into a modern one and establishing a gari factory to boost gari production in the area.

Nana Otutu Kono, the Chief of Akuapem-Adukrom, who chaired the maiden Okere Farmers Day celebration, said farming was as important as any other profession and not for the academic weak or poor.