Adentan Municipal Assembly awards distinguished farmers

As Ghana marks its 37th National Farmers Day, Adentan Municipal Assembly (AdMA) has also taken the initiative to award some Seventeen (17) outstanding and distinguished farmers for their tremendous performance in small-scale and backyard farming within the municipality.

The farmers were presented with various items like fridges, bicycles, shovels, spraying guns, insecticides, wheel-barrows, motorised tricycles, motorbike among others.

Mr. Martin Afenyo, who won the Overall Best Farmer for the Municipality was presented with a motorised tricycle , farm equipment and accessories whiles the 2nd and 1st runner-ups were present with fridges, water tanks, bicycles, shovel among others and the only youthful farmer was also presented with a motorbike to energize and motivate them to work harder in their farming activities.

The Overall Best farmer, in his address, urged other farmers to work assiduously and be serious with their farming activities in order to reach the highest level in life.

He touted his achievements mostly on hardworking, perseverance, consistency, faithfulness and humility and advised the youth interested in farming and other participants to emulate and inculcate such characteristics while practicing small-scale or backyard farming.

Speaking on the theme “Planting for Food and Jobs- Consolidating food systems in Ghana”, the Chief Executive of AdMA, Daniel Alexander Nii Noi Adumuah expressed optimism in government’s flagship projects like the “Planting for Food and Jobs, Rearing for Food and Jobs, Planting for Export and Rural Development” among others as the best practice that can increase growth in the Agricultural sector for economic development of a country.

According to the Chief Executive, the Assembly has incorporated these flagship projects into their farming and local economic development activities.

He further said though development and businesses have claimed some portions of lands for farming purposes, individuals interested in farming can practice household backyard or urban farming as a way to tackle the farming deficit in the municipality.

“Though some lands are being lost due to business or development purposes, individuals who are interested in farming can practice household backyard farming or urban or small-scale farming which is the best way forward”, he said.

Nii Noi Adumuah again encouraged the youth in the municipality to take advantage of the YouthStart programme announced by Finance Minister in the 2022 budget to establish themselves in the agricultural sector and become entrepreneurs to enable them acquire a better life in the future.

He announced that about 485 farmers have benefitted from fertilizer subsidies under the “Planting for Food and Jobs” from the Assembly, adding that, through the activities and training programmes organized by the Assembly, many residents within the municipality have entered into some kind of farming such as crop, mushroom, snail, catfish, livestock farming and many more.

“Surprisingly, we now have catfish sausage and khebab and the backs of some of the catfish are also used for bags, slippers and so on which are innovative for economic development”, he added.

He therefore urged the farmers and upcoming farmers not to give up on their dreams but work hard to achieve something good for their own benefit and the family.

The Municipal Agric Director, Kwodwo Fynn also outlined some development programmes that the Assembly is undertaking which would inure to the benefit of residents in farming within the municipality.

He entreated other fish farmers to register with the Assembly for future benefits since some have already benefitted from the support and training offered them by the Assembly through government’s flagship project.

“We have supported some fish farmers with 2660 fingerlings to 48 beneficiaries and since then some of them have started harvesting their produce and also expecting an estimate of about 1.5 tonnes of fish from the beneficiaries”, he said.

The Special Guest Speaker, Ofori Obeng Nketiah, who is also a full-time backyard farmer, advised the youth to see farming as a profitable venture and urged them to leverage on the numerous interventions that the Chief Executive and his counterparts are championing in Agriculture and Aqua-culture ecosystem.

“These interventions would support the farmers to access decent work, sustain consumers while improving our living conditions”, he added.

The Assembly further presented a citation to Center for Local Government Advocacy, a Civil Society Organization that support the municipality on Advocacy programmes.

Certificates were also presented to the NaBCO Personnel for their hard work, loyalty and dedicated services to the Municipal Assembly.

Source: africaneditirs.com/Eric Nii Sackey