MY NEXT TARGET IS REG AND NATIONAL – ALHAJI KANGO KINGONG BEST FARMER-BUNKPURUGU / YUNYOO DISTRICT

This year's farmers Day Celebration in Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo District took place at Nanyir a farming community of about 2km away from Bunkpurugu the district capital. The occasion chaired by Mozio-rana Naa Alhaji J. N. Wuni saw the presence of Deputy Northern Regional Minister and the Acting District Chief Executive for Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo District Hon. A. B. Fusheini, the outgoing District Chief Executive,Hon Philip N. Laari , the Presiding Member, Hon Dr Benson Konaln Bionkon .The Coordinating Director Mr James T. Moari ,The district, District Director of Agric, Mr. Zakaria Fusieni, Members of Security Council, the Media, Chiefs led by the Paramount Chief Naa Alhaji Abuba Nasinmong Lemin , Assembly persons, and the Awardees.

The celebration was on the Theme-Eat What You Grow. The District Director in his welcome address commended the government's effort to extend feeder roads to cover rural farmers. He also lamented that, the district agric office was facing numerous challenges among which include inadequate staff, luck of offices for the few workers and absence of modern facilities such as computers for research work. He therefore appealed to the government to give agric office a face lift since the sector was a reliable source of employment for the youth.

On the part of Deputy Minister, he stated government intention to assist farmers who attempt to add value to their raw produces. He entreated farmers along Gbingbanni area to make rice cultivation a priority and that government intended to give necessary attention to the area to ensure high rice production for economic growth and development on that part of the district. He again acknowledged the vital position farmers occupy in the nation's socio-economic development and their untiring efforts at feeding our growing population, providing raw materials to the nation's industries and contributing substantially to the nation's foreign exchange earnings. In the area of peace, the Deputy Minister appealed to the people of Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo and the entire northern region to collaborate with the government to maintain peace for national unity and development. He added that no society can thrive in violence and that the era of violence should fade out to make way for a new beginning which is engaging in dialogue and the use of due process to address differences as at when they come. He vehemently criticized the reckless bush burning in the area. According to him, the act was seriously destructive to farm lands and must be curtailed. Touching on the theme of the celebration, Eat What You Grow, he said this must be embraced with the mind of Grow What You Eat to ensure sustainability and self-reliance. He took the occasion to commend District officers and the district assembly for a successful celebration of National Farmers Day in the district. In all, twenty one (21) deserving farmers were awarded in various categories. Each award winner was presented a bicycle, a bag of fertilizer, cutlasses, insecticides, welting boot and cloths. The overall Districts Best Farmer, 45 year old teacher and Assemblyman for Pagnatik Electoral Area Hon. Alhassan Bidobi Gingong was presented a threshing machine, a bag of fertilizer, insecticides, welting boot, cutlasses and cloths. In an interview with Lom Community Radio, he stated that, he was never surprised for his honour as the District Best Farmer for 2014 because it was always his dream to get there after working hard every year and it finally came as he expected. Also that his next level was to win Regional Best Farmer Award in the coming years with that regard, hard work continuous till that dream is realized. To him producing enough food as a farmer to feed the nation and becoming the National Best Farmer was the limit of his farming career and thus he aspires to achieving that.

Chairman of the occasion Naa Alhaji J. N. Wuni used the platform and thanked all government, civil societies and the award winners for their support toward a successful celebration. The event witnessed the cultural display organized by Dajerim Foundation, a local NGO base in Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo District.

HON DEPUTY REG MINISTER