NATIONAL BEST FARMER ANGRY -Over delayed prize delivery

THE 2011 National Best Farmer, Mr. Ignatius Agbo has criticized the government for reneging on its promise to reward farmers' commitment in ensuring food security.

He has bemoaned the delay in honouring his prize for emerging the best national farmer almost a year ago.

Mr. Ignatius Agbo was named the National Best Farmer for 2011 on December 2, 2011 for which he was to enjoy a three-bedroom house at a location of his choice, a life insurance cover, a generator set, a laptop and a fully loaded modem and a trip to India as his prize.

Speaking exclusively in an interview with The Al-Hajj at Dunkwa-on-Offin, the 57-year-old farmer from the Upper Denkyira East District of the Central region said to date; none of the stated prizes has been delivered to him. He is also yet to receive his certificate to show that he is really the best farmer for 2011.

He disclosed that, for his prize house to be built for him he had to open an account with the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) and yet, nothing has been heard from the authorities to date.

The 2011 National Best Farmer said further that he was promised a tour of India but he is yet to even board a plane.

Following this experience, Mr. Agbo has unequivocally stated that, Farmers day, as it is, is just mere formality because there is no commitment on the part of the government to make farming attractive.

“The government does not value farming as it has always been widely publicized”, he fumed. He said, by this conduct agriculture which is the backbone of the country's economy, is being buried.

Mr. Agbo noted that instead of encouraging the youth to go into farming, authorities are playing politics with the Farmer's Day celebrations.

The national best farmer also lamented that he is not given any audience anytime he visits government institutions.

When this paper contacted the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Hon Nii Amassah Namoale, he confirmed the prizes have not been given to Mr. Ignatius Agbo yet, but assured that he will receive them immediately after this year's Farmers day celebration, and that this has been the practice, and that Mr. Agbo knows that.

Mr. Agbo, who claims to have built a 3-classroom block, a teachers' quarters and a 9-Unit block to be used as a clinic at his village, is still encouraging the youth to embrace farming despite its frustrations.

From Alhaji Bashiru Zakari, Dunkwa