A 46-year old man, Mr. Kwadwo Frimpong from Odoyefe in the Juaben Municipality of the Ashanti Region has been adjudged the Municipal Best Farmer at the 39th farmers day held at Duampompo.
Mr. Kwadwo Frimpong owns 23 acres of cocoa farm, 50 acres of oil palm , 19 acres of plantain, 7 acres of maize, 2 acres of tomatoes, 7 acres of pawpaw and 3 acres of garden eggs.
He can also boost of 6 cattles, 6 donkeys, 1,000 cat fishes, 1,000 tilapia, 36 pigs, 120 goats, 11 grass cutters, 20 rabbits, 67 ducks and 42 guinea fowls.
He was honoured with one Tricycle popularly known as (Aboboyaa), three cutlasses, half piece of cloth, two pairs of wellington boots, a certificate among others.
The other 11 farmers awardees at the colourful event also took home refrigerator, wheel barrows, radio set, cloths, cutlasses, knapsack spraying machines and certificates each.
The 39th Farmers’ Day durbar which was under the theme: “Delivering Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience”, was witnessed by traditional leaders, political party leaders, clergy, heads of departments, farmers, agrochemicals dealers, and philanthropists in the Municipality
In his keynote address, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Juaben Municipal Assembly, Mr. Omane Aboagye underscored the government’s numerous effort in fulfilling it’s obligation of creating the necessary environment through policy interventions.
He mentioned supply of improved seeds, fertilizer subsidy, pesticides, as well as group loans offered to farmers to enhance productivity, build their resilience.
He appealed to farmers to employ technology and use their resources judicious to increase their yieds and attain competitive advantage over other farmers.
He further stated that, under the Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD), oil palm seedings had been supplied to farmers in the Juaben Municipality through support of Ghana Landscape Restoration and Small Scale Mining Project (GLRSSMP) supported by the World Bank, Ghana Government and the Minerals Commission.
Thus far, total of 65,220 oil palm seedlings had been supplied to 348 beneficiaries. About 48 farmers had also benefited from 6,660 coconut seedlings whiles 85 farmers had been supplied with about 55,278 cocoa seedlings.
This intervention, he said, was aimed to improve and provide alternative livelihood for people and supply raw materials to agro-based industries locally and internationally.
On the impending district level election, Mr. Omane Aboagye appealed to eligible voters to fully partake in elections in order to elect their representatives to the Assembly.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Juaben Constituency who doubles as Deputy Minister for Communication and Digitalization, Mrs. Ama Pomaa Boateng donated a refrigerator and a cash prize to the best female farmer, and best youth farmers, to motivate women and youth in the area to contribute meaningful in agriculture.
Mr. Adu Gyamfi, the Municipal Director of Agric advised the youth to take advantage of the government interventions of Planting for Export and Rural Development initiative to engage themselves in farming activities to learn a living since farming is a major business.
The chief of Duampompo Nana Adjei Biene who chaired the occasion commended the New Patriotic Party (NPP) led administration for their various agric interventions aimed to improve agriculture and the lives of farmers.
He thanked the MCE for the supply of free oil palm, coconut, and cocoa seedlings to farmers in the Municipality.
By: Daniel Akwasi Nuako
