Awutu-Senya East honours farmers

GNA – Eleven farmers including a fish processor and an Agriculture Extension Agent were honored at the 32nd National Farmers’ and Fishers Day celebration in Awutu-Senya East Municipality.

Mr John Kwame Wonuakor a 63-year old farmer based at Gada, a community in the Municipality, was adjudged the Municipal Best Farmer for 2016.

He has 9.5 acres of farm land and on it has five acres cassava, 1.5 acres of maize, 0.5 acre groundnut, 1.5 acres of okro, 0.5 acre beans, 0.5 sweet potatoes, sheep, goat and 20 poultry.

Mr Wonuakor took home, a certificate, an irrigation pump, fridge, bicycle, a pair of Wellington boots, three cutlasses, hand gloves, respirator, wall clock, radio set and solar lamp as his award.

Mr Gorge Aryeetey was also adjudged the Best Municipal Agric Extension Agent for the year under review and was given a Certificate and other items including, 32” Led NASCO Flat Screen Television.

The rest of the award winners made up of non-traditional, poultry, small ruminant, pig, cattle, maize, cassava, and vegetable farmers took home various items ranging from cutlasses, knapsack sprayers, respirator, insecticide and wheel barrows amongst others.

Dr Adams Nuhu, Awutu Senya East Municipal Chief Executive, addressing a durbar, said the theme for the celebration, “Agriculture; A Business to Economic Growth”, places emphasis on the need for farmers and other stakeholders to consider agriculture as a business venture that is critical to the nation’s economic growth.

He said agriculture plays multiple roles in development: it serves as an engine of economic growth in developing country including Ghana; it helps to alleviate rural and urban poverty, ensures food security and sustainable use of natural resources, and contributes to social cohesion.

“In keeping with the Better Ghana Agenda of the NDC government led President John Mahama, the Food and Agriculture Sector Development Policy (FASDEP) II and its implementation documents; the Medium Term Agriculture Investment Plan was developed to serve as a policy guide and investment plan and many laudable programmes, projects and initiatives respectively are to ensure that moderation of the agriculture sector which is expected to propel economic growth is achieved”.

He said there is the need for the private sector including the commercial and non-commercial farmers as well as youth groups in the municipality to take the opportunity of the enabling environment to invest in the sector.

Mr A. K. B. Beyang, Awutu Senya East Agriculture Director, said growth in the agriculture sector is necessary to guarantee food security.

He also urged investors in the private sector to give a careful consideration to the agricultural sector as they could rake in significant returns.

GNA