The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) in the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region has presented awards to some deserving famers as it marked 2015 Farmers’ Day at Sumbrubgu.
The farmers were reorganized for their efforts in producing enough for the municipality and region at large. Held on November 27, the programme preceded 2015 National Farmers commemoration scheduled for Friday December 4, 2015 in Bolgatanga.
Speaking at the programme, Bolgatanga Municipal Director of Agriculture, Dr. Patrick Abakeh, said the theme for the 2015 farmers’ day celebration “TRANSPROM GHANA, INVEST IN AGRICULTURE” has been carefully chosen to reflect the impact of the trend of Ghana’s agricultural production has on the economy.
He said despite the sector employing close to 70% of the labour force, agricultural production is not enough to feed the nation because Ghana’s agriculture is still largely at the subsistence level coupled with some factors such as, lack of market for agricultural produce, poor road infrastructure, low acceptance of improved farming techniques by farmers and unwillingness of the youth to go into agriculture.
To him, despite all these challenges, staff of his outfit still support farmers in all communities in various ways to implement all the government programmes like, Livestock Development Project Sustainability, Rice Sector Support Project, Northern Rural Growth Project, Cowpea Up-scaling Project and Fertilizer Input Subsidy Programme being implemented in the municipality and described the these programmes and projects as achievements for the year 2015.
Robert Akelinyirae Awure, emerged the municipal overall best farmer for 2015. Other 16 farmers, 11 male and 5 female, were awarded with varied prizes such as bicycles, cutlasses, radio sets, fertilizers, GTP wax prints and certificates for their hard work and determination.
For his prize, Mr. Awure received a Tri cycle, 21 inch colour television, 2 cutlasses, 1 knapsack Sprayer, 1 pair of Wallington boot, Full piece of GTP wax prints, 3 bags of key soap, 2 bags of fertilizer and 1 certificate.
After receiving his award, the Municipal Best Farmer said; “I do not know that people are monitoring me all these days to reward my good efforts as a farmer”.
He advised young unemployed youth looking for what he described as white colour jobs to divert their interests in farming because to him, that is only way the can easily create jobs for themselves to reduce huge number of employment that has bedeviled nation.
Mr. Daniel Syme, Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, who graced the ceremony, commended the awardees and encouraged them and others who did not benefit from the awards to work harder in order that their efforts will be rewarded in subsequent years. He recognized their efforts in food production in the municipality and entreated them to continue with the good work.
By: Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen | A1RADIOONLINE.com | GHANA
