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AGRICULTURE

Asutifi North District Assemly holds 36th Farmers Day celebration

Asutifi North District Assembly has its 36th farmers’ day celebration at Dokyikrom, a community in the area.

Date Created : 11/10/2020 12:00:00 AM : Story Author : Mavis Ofosuah Asante/Ghanadistricts.com

51-year old Samuel Owusu Ansah from Wamahinso was adjudged the overall District Best Farmer, and was also honored with a Tricycle in addition to Television Set, Radio Set, Cutlass, Key Soap, Sack, Piece of Cloth, Knapsack, Wallington Boots, and a Certificate.

This year’s event was on the theme, “Ensuring Agribusiness Development under COVID-19: Opportunities and Challenges”.

Nana Boadu Aye-boafo, Keyansi No.2 Akuemuhene chaired the occasion and was supported by Traditional Rulers and Queen Mothers in the district gracing the occasion with their colourful and beautiful kente and African clothes with accessories.

District Director of Agriculture of Asutifi North Mr. Paul Boakye, with his speech said, the theme reflect the important role of the Agriculture Sector to the economic development of the country and also re-emphasis its contribution to all the other sectors of the economy. Agriculture plays a critical role in economic growth, enhancing for security, poverty reduction and rural development, agriculture is the main source of income for around 2.5 billion people in the developing world.

The government through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has since 2017 taken steps to address the food security challenges through the Planting for Food and Jobs campaign, he added.

Mr. Boakye challenges are that, the youth are not interested in agriculture as about 70% of farmers are over 45years and this will threaten food security in future. Land is also expensive in the districts which drives prospective farmers away.

Mr. Daniel Egya-Mensah Ag. General Manager at Newmont Goldcorp Ghana giving his speech said Agriculture remains an important sector in Ghana’s economy and Newmont Goldcorp acknowledge the hardworking farmers in the district and also acknowledge the importance of agriculture in the economy.

He said it is for this reason that the company has established the Agricultural Improvement and Land Access Programme (AILAP) to help increase agricultural productivity improve crop diversity and market access and ultimately food security in host communities.

He added that the company is working with our stakeholders to revamp the Asutifi Processing Centre to help process farm goods such as chili pepper and ginger. “We will continue to collaborate with stakeholders to ensure that the processing centre provides valid goods he added. They also gave GHs 40, 000 to the District to support the farmers’ day celebration”, he added.

On his part, Mr Anthony Adjei Mensah, the DCE for Asutifi North said, the Government’s objective is to modernize and diversify agriculture in the country and to see Ghana become self-sufficient in food production and even export the surplus for foreign exchange, it is in this respect that the theme was chosen. He also reiterated that, the Government is making efforts to invest in agriculture to transform the economy during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Among them is the Planting for Food and Jobs, One District One Factory, Planting for Export and Rural Development and One Village One Dam.

Hon. Patrick Barnor, Parliamentary Candidate for New Patriotic Party supported some of the awardees with Wallington Boots, Sprayers, Cutlasses and Sewing Machines.