By Saddath Asiamah:
The Yilo Krobo municipality yesterday joined the rest of the country to mark the 31st edition of the National Farmers’ Day celebrations at the Nkurakan Presbyterian School under the theme, Transforming Ghana, Investing In Agriculture. This year’s event was regarded as extraordinary because the awards presented to the farmers were more encouraging which can encourage farmers to improve upon their farming activities.
The event saw farmers carrying home a set of wheel barrow, spraying machine, cutlass, raincoat, rake, aluminum barrow, hand sprayers and many more compared to last year’s event which saw winners take home such prizes as toilet rolls and alcoholic beverages among others.
Dignitaries including, the chief of the community, Francis Nii Klotey , the Chief Imam, Alhaji Salifu Adamu, Police Commander, Superintended Richardson Kumako, the Municipal Chief Executive, Andrews Soda, assembly members, among others.
The MCE, hon. Andrew Soda in his speech said there was an ongoing irrigational project at Oterkpolu and the aim of the project is to help the fish farmers and the crop farmers to improve on their farms. He also mentioned that rehabilitation of existing roads and construction of news ones were underway in the municipality. According to him, the projects when completed will greatly help farmers in the conveyance of their farm products from the farm to the market centers.
He mentioned some of the roads under construction as the Nsutapong , Agogo, Apkamu roads among others. Honourable Soda entreated those who did not receive any awards to work harder to equally stand a chance of winning the award next year while congratulating congratulating the award winners for their good work done.
He also expressed joy in the awards presented this year, adding that this was an indication of the commitment of the municipal directorate and the Yilo Krobo assembly that they have the interest of the farmers at heart, adding that they shall do more by collaborating with the agricultural directorate to improve upon the awards for deserving farmers.
Eighteen awards in all were presented to winning farms and farmers in various categories such as best small ruminant farmer, grasscuter, basic institution in agriculture, secondary institution in agriculture, poultry, farmer based organization (FBO), Okro, processing farmer, best garden egg farmer, cocoyam farmer, maize, yam, best pepper farmer, best collaborator, mango, plantain, cassava and the overall municipal best farmer which was grabbed by Mr. Kofi Owusu.
For his prize, he took home a corn mill machine, rain coat, a pair of field boots, weedicides, cutlasses, aluminum barrow, hand sprayer and a spraying machine.
Mr. Owusu expressed his happiness at the award, saying that at long last his toil has not been in vain but has been recognized. He added that this was the first time he was receiving such an award.
Source: ritefmonline.org
