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AGRICULTURE

Assin South awards 16 best farmers

Sixteen farmers including two young females in the Assin South District have been awarded for the contribution they are making to the growth of agriculture in the area.

Date Created : 12/7/2019 12:00:00 AM : Story Author : By Isaac Arkoh

They were presented with tricycles, also known as "Aboboyaa," bicycles, refrigerators, wheelbarrows, wire-mesh, mattresses, knapsack spraying machines, wellington boots, ice chest, cutlasses and certificates.

Mr Samuel Jayne, 38, of Assin-Dominase, was adjudged the overall best farmer and he received a tricycle, bags of fertilizer, cutlasses among other things.

This was at the 35th District Farmers' Day celebration held at Assin-Darmang on the theme: "Enhancing small scale Agriculture towards agribusiness development".

Mr John Tawiah Aidoo, the District Director of Agriculture, urged all farmers to adopt technologies being introduced to them by the Department of Agriculture to increase productivity and promote sustainable agriculture development.

They should also engage the services of fire volunteers when preparing for the new farming season as a measure to check the outbreak of bushfires that could spread to destroy other farms and property as the harmattan approaches.

Mr Aidoo hailed government's commitment to strengthening and boosting the agriculture sector through the numerous interventions such as the Planting for Food and Jobs, One District One Warehouse, Rearing for Food and Jobs, and One District One Factory.

Mr Derrick Owusu Ambrose, the District Chief Executive (DCE), saluted farmers for their hard work that had kept the economy going and encouraged them to adopt improved farming practices to substantially raise crop yield and returns.

He spoke of the determination to put in more investment to enhance the performance of the agriculture sector to transform the lives of the people.

The DCE expressed discomfort with the land tenure system and said land acquisition processes needed to be streamlined.

He said government's massive investment to change the face of the nation's agriculture was to woo more young people into the sector with carefully targeted interventions to promote youth development through agriculture.

There was no doubt that the massive interventions and policies would significantly help to improve the lives of the farmers, adding that the Government would continue to pursue programmes and policies to better the lot of the people.

Mr Jayne, the Overall Best Farmer, urged the youth to take advantage of government's flagship programmes and the vast arable land in the District to enhance their lots through agriculture.

"I wish to encourage the youths in the District to take advantage of the opportunities under the Government's flagship programmes such as access to improved seed and subsidised fertilizers to venture into agriculture to enhance and sustain their livelihoods," he said.