A 38-year-old farmer from Wiaga Community in the Builsa North municipality of the Upper East region, Amondem Isaac, was adjudged the overall best farmer in the Upper East region. Mr. Amondem was crowned the winner at the 39th Farmers’ Day celebration in the Upper East on December 8, 2023, after the region postponed its Farmers Day celebration, which was originally celebrated on December 1, 2023, across the country.
The farmer, Mr. Amondem, as the regional best farmer, took home 1 tricycle, 1 blower, 2 pairs of Wellington boots, 1 knapsack, 2 pieces of machete, and a certificate. Speaking to the media after receiving the award, he urged the youth to see farming as a business and to engage in agriculture, describing it as a good sector for everyone. He also called on the government to help reduce the prices of farm inputs.
“I am very happy for today, and I want to call on all my fellow youth to try and start to engage in agriculture businesses because it’s one of the good sectors and businesses that help a lot. We also have challenges with fertilizer; the time we need the fertilizer, it will not be available, and prices too are very high, so if they can do something about it.”
On her part, Madam Vida Akantagriwen Anaab, the municipal chief executive for Builsa North, expressed some level of excitement following the win by Amondem Isaac, who comes from a community within her municipality. She noted her outfit is always ready to support farmers and make agriculture attractive for them, especially the youth.
The Upper East Regional Director of the Department of Food and Agriculture, Alhaji Zakaria Fuseini, in his speech, bemoaned the recent high cost of farm inputs, linking it to the Russia-Ukraine War. But Alhaji Zakaria said one of the ways of addressing the issue is the utilization of digitalization, among other strategies, by farmers.
This year’s Farmers Day celebration, themed “Delivering Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience,” saw the Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, call on investors to collaborate with MOFA and various MMDAs to improve agriculture activities in the region.
Source: A1Radioonline.Com | 101.1MHZ | David Azure | Bolgatanga |
