48-year old named Best Farmer [photos]

A 48-year old, Ibrahim Musa has been named the National Best Farmer.

For his prize, Mr. Musah from the Dormaa Municipality in the Brong Ahafo Region, received a cash amount of GH¢3,000, a laptop, a car and a three-bedroom apartment among others.

This year’s National Farmers day took place at the Bolgatanga Girls Senior High School Park in the Upper East Region.

It was under the theme “Transform Ghana: Invest in Agriculture.”

Meanwhile Vice President Kwesi Amissah Arthur, who was the guest of honour, could not make it to the programme because of bad weather.

He however joined the Greater Accra Regional Farmers Day celebration at Kpone.

In all, 84 farmers were awarded with various farm machinery, freezers, tricycles, assorted items among others.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Fiifi Kwetey  said government in demonstrating its commitment to improving the sector has invested GHc120 million to boost the production of rice, shea, cashew and agro-proccessing.

He hinted that, government in the first half of 2016 expects to take delivery of 500 additional tractors and implements through a Public Private Participation for onward distribution to farmers.

“We have increased the number of Agricultural Mechanisation Services centres from 57 in 2009 to 89 in 2014 which increased in a total area of farms serviced by 56% between 2009 and 2014. We have undertaken new irrigation projects which have contributed to an increase in a total irrigation land by 6% between 2010 and 2014. Government have also completed the construction of modern cold stores at Prampram, Nyanyano, Shama, Sekondi-Takoradi, Half Assini and Kormantse  and the construction of a fish processing plant at Elima whose by-product will be use for production of fish feed to boost aquaculture production,” he added.

The Minister added that government is also facilitating the acquisition and distribution of 3,000 outboard motors for fishermen.

“These interventions have increase food crop production by 34% between 2008 and 2014. Government will over the next five years invest GHC3 billion in the construction of roads in cocoa growing areas which is geared towards facilitating easy access of farm produce to markets and reduce post harvest losses,” Mr. Kwetey stated.

Speaking to Citi News some farmers from the Upper East Region bemoaned the three defunct factories namely Pwalugu tomato factory, Zuarungu Meat factory and the Bolgatanga rice mill and appealed to government to revamp them.

The National best Cocoa farmer Mr. Kwaku Adu took home a Toyota Hilux with registration number GN-5249-15.

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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana