Adam Musah adjudged overall Best Farmer for Atebubu-Amantin

Adam Musah, a 38-year-old farmer from New Kokrompe, has been awarded the title of Atebubu-Amantin Municipal Overall Best Farmer for 2024.

This honor was bestowed at the 40th annual Farmer’s Day awards ceremony, held in Atebubu, the municipal capital, last Friday.

Musah, who holds a Higher National Diploma in Human Resource Management and has 15 years of farming experience, manages approximately 400 acres of farmland. His diverse agricultural portfolio includes 120 acres of maize, 67 acres of cowpeas, 50 acres of rice, 30 acres of watermelons, 25 acres of neri, 20 acres of mangoes, and smaller acreages for cassava, yams, garden eggs, pepper, cashews, and coconuts. In addition, he raises 45 cattle, 60 sheep, 35 goats, 200 local fowls, 125 guinea fowls, 120 exotic layer birds, and 50 ducks.

For his achievements, Musah received a prize package that included a tricycle, a certificate, a half piece of wax print, three pairs of Wellington boots, three knapsack sprayers, a radio set, four cutlasses, three bars of soap, and various agro-inputs.

In his welcome address, Mr. Bright Atta Boateng, the Atebubu-Amantin Municipal Director of the Department of Agriculture, highlighted the theme of this year’s celebration, “Building Climate-Resilient Agriculture for Sustainable Food Security.” He stressed the urgency of implementing innovative solutions to combat the effects of climate change on agriculture, which include rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, droughts, flooding, pest infestations, and frequent extreme weather events that threaten crop yields, livestock productivity, and food availability.

Mr. Boateng emphasized the importance of adopting climate-smart agricultural practices such as crop rotation, early-maturing and drought-tolerant crop varieties, and investing in irrigation systems and water harvesting. He also advocated for the promotion of organic farming and agroforestry, developing climate-resilient crop varieties, and improving farmers’ access to weather information and insurance.

Mr. Joseph K.B. Tang, the Atebubu-Amantin Municipal Coordinating Director, delivered a speech on behalf of Bono East Regional Minister Hon. Kwasi Adu-Gyan, who also serves as Acting Municipal Chief Executive for Atebubu-Amantin. Tang echoed the theme's emphasis on the impact of climate change on agriculture and food security. He noted that food insecurity has been a longstanding issue in Africa, now exacerbated by intertwined social, economic, technological, political, and environmental factors that intensify the effects of climate change.

According to Mr. Tang, food security exists when all people have consistent physical and economic access to safe, nutritious food. He mentioned that the government’s Climate-Smart Agricultural Investment Plan aims to implement interventions that will enable the agricultural sector to better adapt to climate change.

Other awards were presented to Faustina Amoakoa as Best Crop Farmer and Dauda Muniru as Best Livestock Farmer, each of whom received a double-door fridge, a television, and various farming supplies. Mr. Phillip Deku, recognized as the Best Agriculture Extension Agent, received a brand-new laptop and additional items.

The event, chaired by Nana Kwabena Kyere III, Adontenhene of the Atebubu traditional area, was attended by a delegation of chiefs from the Amantin traditional area, reflecting the strong community support for agricultural excellence in the region.