By: Fred Duhoe|Voltaonlinegh.com|
The winner of the District Best farmer awards in the Central Tongu District, Mr Edward Awuku has expressed his satisfaction with the prize package of a tricycle, a knapsack sprayer and a pair of Wellington boot.
The University of Cape Coast graduate, who has 200 acre mango farm, 40 acres each of Maize and Cassava, 30 acre rice farm, 536 cattle, as well as other livestock and poultry products, told voltaonlinegh.com that, “the recognition is enough despite the items given are not worth much.”
The father of five, whose assets include two vehicles, a tractor and two dug outs for irrigation, was honoured together with thirteen others at the district Farmers Day celebration last Friday at Mafi-Dove.
All awardees in exception of the overall best were presented with a phoenix bicycle, two cutlasses, a pair of boot, a knapsack sprayer as well as a certificate.
The Mafi Anfoe Junior High school, also received two wheelbarrows, two knapsack sprayers and 10 cutlasses in recognition of their school farming project.
Officials
In his address, the District Director of Agriculture, Mr Francis Nutakor said the district has exceeded its enrollment target under the government’s flagship “Planting for Food and Jobs” programme by six per cent.
He encouraged the youth to take keen interest in agriculture as a source of income and occupation. “We would soon rollout raring for food and jobs in 2019 and we expect everyone to be a part of this program. Everyone must benefit from every program instituted by government, by so doing, this nation will be food sufficient”.
The District Chief Executive, Mr. Thormas Zonyra Moore bemoaned the poor patronage of the Adidome farm institute by the indigenes even though courses are ran at no cost to beneficiaries.
“It’s really sad when our own people fail to take advantage and interest in the institution in the district (Adidome Farm Institute) that trains and equip farmers seasonally. People come from other regions to partake in programs yet the youth in the district sits aloof”.
He charged the people to approach him frequently as his door is opened to all.
Farm products were on exhibition from tubers to cereals and cash crops. Animals such as goats and sheep were not left out. All exhibitors had a cutlass after which they traded their crops and animals after the Durbar.
Dove-Land of No Animal
The choice of Mafi-Dove for the event was an interesting one, as the raring of animals and slaughtering of same remain a taboo in the community.
Mr Vincent Ayim, a native of the community and chairman for the occasion explained that, “We do not rear animals in Dove community but adjoining communities do. It’s simply a taboo which we have kept for ages and that have brought cohesion among us as a people. Animals’ droppings are one thing that makes environment look messy”.
“We don’t kill or spill blood on this land that’s why giving birth is also prohibited but in all this, we have not recorded any form of maternal mortality this is because we’ve obeyed our forefathers and the customs they left behind” he stated and added that, “we permit animals to be brought here for exhibition purposes hence the venue for this years’ farmers day celebration is in place”.
Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com