How E/Region marked Farmers' Day

A 43-year-old physically challenged person, Samuel Teye, of Effiduase, a suburb of Koforidua in the New Juaben Municipality, has been crowned the Regional Physically Challenged Best Farmer at this year's Farmers' Day celebration, which was under the theme 'Grow More Food.'

Teye, who is into cocoa and cassava cultivation, took home five cutlasses, wellington boots, a half piece of cloth, bicycle, spraying machine, and certificate for his hard work.

Even though the intention to award Teye was to whip up the interest of the physically challenged in society to go into, not only agriculture, but other ventures to bring the begging syndrome to a halt, the Eastern File finds the items awarded inadequate.

Come to think of how Teye, (with the highest respect to him), who could hardly walk, could make good use of items such as wellington boots and a bicycle, especially, in his line of work.

In as much as the file would agree with the organisers of the programme that most of the items were from corporate institutions, it would be prudent if the award winners are also taken into consideration before making the items to them in order to make the items useful.

But for Teye, who could not hide his joy, and like a dream come true, called on his colleagues who think they could only make a living through begging, to reverse their notes, since they had what it takes to make a meaningful life, if they take their destiny into their hands.

Meanwhile, Mr. Michael Partey and George Dordoe were adjudged Regional and District Best farmers respectively.

They took home items including double deck refrigerators, motorbikes, bicycles, television, cassette player, cutlasses and spraying machines among others.

Addressing the occasion, the Eastern Regional Minister, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, promised Teye, the physically challenged Best Farmer, a new wheelchair and other items relevant to enhance his work as a farmer.

Touching on government developments, he stressed that the government had earmarked the construction of about a total of 300 kilometres of engineered and non-engineered road constructions under the feeder roads improvement projects valued at GH¢700,000, to open up access roads to enhance food production.

The project, which would be funded by the European Union, according to the Minister, would not only enhance food production, but also offer travelers the opportunity to travel freely without the use of the services of pontoons.

Buttressing the government's determination to make the road networks in the Kwahu South District accessible to motorists, Mr. Ampofo disclosed that the road network from Kwame Pong junction, through Maamekrobo, Moosi Panin to Dome and Agogo was on-going.

He also mentioned the construction of 10 bridges in the region, which are estimated at a cost of GH¢6,599,781.93, and supported by the Spanish government, to facilitate the transportation of agricultural produce.

At Fanteakwa, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of the area, Abass fuseini Sbaab, on behalf of the government, thanked the World Vision Fanteakwa Area Development Programme (ADP) in food production in the District.

According to him, ADP had developed informal irrigation infrastructure, by way of supplying irrigation equipment to farmers, especially, those living around permanent water bodies, for all year cropping activities.

In addition, it has also provided the beneficiary farmers with inputs such as fertilisers, knapsack sprayers, cowpea seeds, and hermetic bags for the storage of cereals and legumes.

The Fanteakwa DCE continued that in the government's vision to increase food production, the Assembly, in collaboration with the District Directorate of Agriculture, had instituted an Agro-Input Credit Scheme, where farmers are given farming inputs on hire purchase basis.

He stated that the Assembly had further procured three motor-tricycles with buckets, which would be given to some inaccessible communities to facilitate the carting of farm produce.

Meanwhile, 43-year-old Abdul Alhassan was declared the Fanteakwa District Best Farmer.

The celebration, which was observed at Ekye Amanfrom in the Kwahu South District, was supposed to have taken place two weeks ago, but was postponed, due to the fact that the national celebration being was held in the Region.

The regional and district celebrations were however, held concurrently across the region, and were characterised with rich cultural displays and fun, last Friday.