Upper West Farmers Honoured

Mr Abdulai Dramani Amaliba and Madam Caroline Akoba have been adjudged the best farmers for the Bolgatanga Municipal and Bolgatanga East District respectively. Mr Francis Ayinegebala, 36, received the overall best farmer award for the Talensi District, in the Upper East Region.

For their awards, they received a Motor King Tricycle Cart each, cutlasses, Wellington boots, Knapsack sprayers, GTP Wax prints, radio sets and certificates.

While the Bolgatanga East District joined the Bolgatanga Municipal to celebrate the farmers in Bolgatanga on Friday, the Talensi District held the ceremony at Yinduri.

Addressing the farmers in Bolgatanga, Mr Bernard My-Issah, the Bolgatanga Municipal Director of Agriculture, said agriculture could help develop the country if given the needed support.

This, he noted, is evident by the increase in production after one year of the implementation of the Planting for Food and Jobs Policy (PFJs).

The five pillars of the PFJs are to access seed, fertilizer, extension services, marketing of agriculture produce, and e-agriculture.

Mr My-Issah said the Directorate, this year, received and distributed 60 bundles of NPK and 30 bundles of Urea fertilizer coupons to farmers in the Municipality, of which more than 2,602 male farmers and 818 female farmers benefitted.

He said the fall armyworm affected about 542 hectares of land planted with various crops during the past cropping season and measures taken to mitigate its impact saved only 140 hectares.

Mr Joseph Amiyuure, the Chief Executive for Bolgatanga Municipal, said without adequate development of the agriculture sector, the country's growth would be retarded.

He urged the youth to take farming as a business to benefit from government policies introduced to assist farmers.

At Yinduri, Mr Ayinegebala, who received the Symbol of Authority as the Best Talensi District Farmer, urged the youth to go into farming, irrespective of other skills they may have.

He praised the Planting for Food and Jobs Policy by the Government, saying it had really helped the farmers and appealed for tractors to facilitate their work.

Expressed worry over the spillage of the Bagre Dam, which was a nightmare to all farmers in the area.

Mr Timothy Kurug, the Talensi District Second Best Farmer, received a motor king, a pair of wellington boots, two cutlasses, one knapsack sprayer, half piece of cloth, one radio set and a certificate.

The third best took home a donkey cart, wellington boots, two cutlasses, one knapsack, half piece cloth, wax radio and a certificate.

Cross section of farmers at the ceremony.

Source: GNA