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AGRICULTURE

A 73- year-old farmer adjudged Municipal best farmer in Offinso

A 73-year-old farmer, Nana Amoako-Poku, a native of the Obuasi community in Offinso has been declared the Municipal Best Farmer in the just ended 36th National Farmer's Day celebration.

Date Created : 11/6/2020 12:00:00 AM : Story Author : Stephen Nti/Ghanadistricts.com

Nana Poku is a traditional ruler of the Manhyia palace as Otumfour Kekatuosohene and a royal of the Offinso paramount stool. He has engaged in active farming for about 20 years and owns 56 acres of cashew plantation, 47 acres of cocoa, 30 acres of Teak, 11 acres of citrus, 5 acres of oil palm, 13 acres of cocoyam, 6 acres of plantain, and other livestock.

The Municipal Best Farmer, over the past few years, has received several awards to his credit, notable ones being the District Best Swine Farmer, and Municipal Most Promising Farmer in 2005 and 2018 respectively.

He took home a tricycle, knapsack spraying machine, radio set, cutlass, Wellington boot, etc.

Expressing his appreciation at a ceremony held at Ayensua School Park on 6th November 2020, Nana Poku thanked the MCE and the Agric Directorate for their continued support. He also encouraged the youth to pursue agriculture and make it a business.

The MCE, Solomon Kesseh, in his keynote address, underscored the government's innovative flagship programmes that seek to transform the agricultural sector such as Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ), Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD), Rearing for Food and Jobs, among others.

Under PERD, Kesseh disclosed that the Assembly has nursed about 30,000 oil palm seedlings this year which are yet to be distributed to farmers. He added that 100 poultry farmers within the Offinso Municipality were supplied with chicks to boost the production of poultry meat.

According to him, this initiative is in line with government's ambition to stop the importation of poultry products into the country. Hon Kesseh finally urged all to strictly adhere to the Covid-19 safety protocols and act peacefully as the country inches towards the 2020 December polls.

Mr. Yaw Owusu Donkor, the Municipal Agric Director, also called on farmers to form associations to enable them liaise well with extension officers and other financial institutions.

The 36th edition of the National Farmer's Day was held on the theme: 'Ensuring Agribusiness Development under Covid-19- Opportunities and Challenges'.