By: Ewoenam Kpodo | Voltaonlinegh.com |
The North Dayi District Assembly in the Volta Region has rewarded some dedicated farmers at the e2018 Farmers’ Day celebration held at Wusuta.
The durbar on Friday to mark the 34th Farmers’ Day celebration under the chairmanship of President of Wusuta Traditional Council, Togbega Osei Tutu Obrempong III, was attended by the Member of Parliament for the area, the district director of agriculture, security officers, traditional leaders, and health practitioners who mounted stands for eye, tuberculosis and HIV testing services.
The Day saw a 51-year old Mary Adjei adjudged the Overall Best District Farmer. Madam Adjei who comes from Awate became the first to walk away with a solar-powered television in addition to the regular package which included 1 tricycle, 2 wellington boots, 2 cutlasses, 2 knapsack sprayers, and a solar lantern.
She has been farming for the past 5 years and has about 15 employees working on her 32 acres of farmland which includes 8 acres of maize, 10 acres of okro, 2 acres each of onion and cabbage, 10 acres of mango in addition to 70 fowls and cattle, 20.
The first runner-up, David Ahorlu from Wusuta, owns about 35 acres of farmland, 17 acres each of plantain and cocoa, and 1 acre of cassava.
The second runner-up, Godwin Agbedanu who is from Aneta cultivates several crops of farmland. Maize, 63 acres, garden egg, 10 acres, cowpea, 20 acres, rice, potatoes and cassava, 7.5 acres each.
Aside the aforementioned winners and other individual distinguished farmers who were awarded on the Day, Vakpo Senior High Technical School was awarded in recognition of its efforts towards agriculture development in the district.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Edmund Kudjoh Atta thanked the hardworking farmers and fisherfolks and congratulated the awardees for their efforts in providing food for the citizenry.
He called on them to ready themselves for the “task ahead in feeding the nation, industry and above all, contributing significantly to the creation of employment.”
The DCE said in line with the national theme for the celebration, “Agriculture: Moving Ghana beyond Aid”, the Assembly would focus on three areas, “the human resource base, creating an enabling environment for the investor world and active participation in the market so created” in order for North Dayi to achieve self-sufficiency.
He touted the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government’s initiatives in the agricultural sector which he described “unprecedented” and assured that the Assembly was going to replicate that to position the district among the food baskets of the country.
The Dean of Municipal and District Chief Executives however, expressed his dissatisfaction at this year’s patronage at Wusuta (where he comes from) and chastised people for coming to such an important programme to honour farmers and fisherfolks, late.
The District Best Farmer, Mary Adjei in an interview with Voltaonlinegh.com, expressed gratitude for the recognition and promised to work harder.
She however identified finance and market for their farm products as the major challenges they encounter almost every year and called on government to intervene by committing some funds to be accessed by farmers at no interest.
Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com