Farmers honoured in STMA and EKMA

By Joseph Wiyorbie /Bright Asiamah, GNA

Takoradi, Dec 11, GNA - Mr John Eshun, a 52 years old farmer, has emerged the best farmer within the Sekondi/Takoradi and the Effia-Kwesimintsim Assemblies.

He took home a deep freezer, one sewing machine, one spray machine, 15 cutlasses, two  wheelbarrows, 10 Wellington boots, six plastic chairs, a radio set and a piece of wax print.

Mr Anthony K. K. Sam, the Metro Chief Executive for STMA, said agriculture played a very significant role in the development of the country and should be supported to move Ghana beyond aid speedily.

He said the government of Ghana has kept in place credible programmes and initiatives to enable agriculture development in Ghana.

Speaking during the joint Assemblies celebration at Adientirm in EKMA, Mr Sam said the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJs) policy, which passes through the Ministry for Food and Agriculture and the Department of Food and Agriculture in the various metro, municipal and district assemblies was to provide sufficient food and reduce the rate of unemployment among the youths in the country.

Theme for this year's national farmer's day celebration is “Agriculture: moving Ghana beyond aid".

Mr Sam said 1,120 farmers had benefitted from 450kg of maize seed, 6300 grains of pepper, 2,300 bags of NPK fertilizers and 900 Urea fertilizers at subsidized prices, adding that, free pesticides and agrochemicals will soon be given to farmers to spray their farms against Fall Army Worm.

Mr Sam described Fall Army Worm as predators’ disease to crops growth and prevented the crops from yielding good seed and fruit.

Touching on the planting for export and rural development, he said, the government had selected tree crops for farmers, which included cocoa, palm oil, cashew, rubber, coconut and sheabutter, which would facilitate the movement match beyond aid of planting for export and rural development (PERD) programme.

The Western Region, which chose palm oil and coconut would be given 10,000 seedlings for beneficiary in 2019, he reiterated that the initiative would go a long way to enhance one district, one factory policy and to pave way for creating employment and many jobs opportunities in the country

The best extension officers of the year was also given to Mr Joseph Eshun aged 51years and worked for 28 years, was awarded with one spray machine, plastic chair, sewing machine, radio set, Wellington boots, cutlass and a piece of wax print.

Mr Dawuda Acquah, 35 years from new Takoradi with three fishing boats, won the best fisherman of the year. He was awarded with a deep freezer, a sewing machine, four Wellington boots, radio set, four cutlasses, four plastic chairs and one bundle of rope.

Mr Sam urged them to live exemplary lives for up and coming farmers to emulate.

GNA

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