BY: Daniel Orlando | voltaonlinegh.com |

The Volta Regional edition of the 39th National Farmers’ Day unfolded at Jubilee Park in Ho on Friday, December 1, 2023, dedicated to honouring the nation’s farmers and fisherfolks for their outstanding contributions to the socio-economic development of the country.

Under the theme “Delivering smart solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience,” the event provided a platform to showcase key achievements and challenges within the agricultural sector.

Highlight of the celebration was the crowning of Mr. Mawuwoe Xesunali, a seasoned farmer from Atsiaklorbor in the Ketu South Municipality, as the Overall Best Regional Farmer for 2023. Xesunali’s agricultural expertise spanned 52 acres of maize, 35 acres of rice, 20 acres of sweet potatoes, 36 acres of vegetables, and a diverse assortment of livestock, including rabbits, pigs, grass cutters, cattle, and sheep. His unwavering commitment to sustainable farming practices earned him this prestigious acknowledgment.

Other awardees included:

• • Mr. Joseph Johson Kwame – Best Regional Physically Challenged Farmer
  • Mr. Oxford Kwesi Agboli – Best Regional Youth Farmer
  • Ms. Perfect Peace Bekui – Best Regional Female Farmer
  • Mr. Raphael Tsakpo – Best Regional Agricultural Worker
  • Dzuepe Ngoryiyi Women Processing – Best Regional Processing Group
  • Fish and Feeds Limited – Best Regional Fisher
  • Mr. Zumari Ahmed – Best Regional Livestock Farmer
  • Mr. Joseph Agbowoada – Best Regional Crop Farmer
  • Mr. Elevu George – Best Regional Cocoa Farmer
  • Mr. Solomon Ntumi Amedza – Most Promising Young Cocoa Farmer
  • Mr. Amegadzi Abla – Best Most Promising Female Cocoa Farmer

During the regional ceremony, William Agbenyo, Director of the Fishers Commission, emphasized the fisheries sector’s significant contribution to Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), reaching approximately 45 percent. Mr. Agbenyo also underscored the commission’s commitment to digitalization, providing fishing vessels with Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) and Automatic Information Systems (AIS) to combat illegal fishing and enhance safety at sea.

Addressing the impact of the Akosombo Dam spillage, Mr. William Dzamefe, the Regional Director of Agriculture, reported substantial losses, particularly affecting crops like rice, cassava, maize, tomatoes, onion/shallot, okro, and pepper. He noted that about 6000 farmers were directly impacted by the flooding but assured the implementation of interventions to alleviate the hardships faced by farmers in the affected areas.

Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa, the Regional Minister, emphasized the Volta Region’s pivotal role in national rice production, contributing 23 percent to the local rice supply. He highlighted government interventions such as Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ), Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD), Rearing for Food and Jobs (RFJ), and One-District-One-Warehouse to ensure sustainable food security.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com