Obuasi East District Assembly Marks Its Maiden National Farmers’ Day.

Obuasi East District Assembly on Friday, 7^th December, 2018 organized a ceremony to mark its maiden National Farmers Day at Nyamesomede near Kwabenakwa in the Obuasi East District.

The day is celebrated every first Friday of December to acknowledge and honor farmers and fishermen in the country for their essential contribution to Socio-economic development. This year marked the 34^th edition of National Farmers day under the theme: “Agriculture, Moving Ghana beyond Aid”.

Huge crowd turned up on the event grounds to grace the occasion which was also attended by` Member of Parliament for Obuasi East constituency, Honourable Patrick Boakye-Yiadom, DCE for the District Honourable Faustina Amissah, NPP Chairman for Obuasi East Constituency, Mr. Moses Adu, AGA Sustainability Manager, Nana Ampofo Bekoe, former MCE of Obuasi Municipal Assembly, Mr. Richard Ofori-Agyemang Boadi as well as Chiefs and elders of the surrounding communities.

Many farmers within the District presented different kinds of farm crops, livestock and many agricultural products for exhibition to demonstrate development in the district’s Agriculture sector.

Addressing the enthusiastic audience, the MP for Obuasi East Constituency, Hon. Patrick Boakye-Yiadom posited that Government has taken bold steps towards positioning agriculture as the engine of growth for the Ghanaian economy by introducing ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ policy which seeks to improve production.

He said the Agric sector is set to roll out another policy known as ‘Rearing for Food and Jobs’ to meet the high demand for the consumption of meat locally, since majority of meat consumed in the country is imported from Europe and other neighboring countries.

Dr. Boakye-Yiadom opined that these policies are in the right direction to support and make available at affordable prices to farmers, quality seeds, fertilizers, and other extention services to make farming more attractive and change the perception that agriculture is meant for less privileged in our society.

He then urged farmers not to hesitate to consult experts in the office of the District Agric Department for assistance on some vital information on when to plant, how to plant, when to apply which type of fertilizer, how to control insects and pests among others in order to be efficient in the utilization of resources.

In a key note address by the District Chief Executive, Hon. Faustina Amissah, She showed gratitude to all farmers who made it to the occasion, Nyamesomede Community, where the event was held, Chiefs and elders as well as the Agric department for making it possible for the first National Farmers Day to be held successfully in the District.

She emphasized on the fact that Obuasi East District Assembly stands as the only district among the newly created districts to have celebrated this year’s Farmers day on its own without merging with the mother Municipal or District. She said this is a clear indication of how prepared and committed the Assembly is to support farmers within the area to embark on more mechanized Agricultural approach to increase farmer’s productivity.

The Agric department awarded 20 farmers in the various fields such as poultry farming, livestock, exotic vegetable, aqua-culture and best youth farmer among other categories, with items ranging from seeds, agro chemicals, field boots, praying machines, machetes and many more.

The overall District best Farmer award went to a 66 year old Mr. Mustapha Zakari of Diawuoso who took home a brand new Apsonic Motor cycle and many other farm inputs. Honourable Justice Anokye, Assembly member of Kwabenakwa was awarded with a deep freezer fridge and some farming inputs for emerging as the 1^st runner up while Mr. Kwame Agyei, 51 years also from Kwabenakwa took home a double decker fridge as the 2^nd runner up.

When the sword of honor was handed over to the District best farmer Mr. Mustapha Zakari, he could not hide his excitement for winning the award and urged his collogue farmers to come together and support each other to work towards a common goal.

He also stressed that previous winners of the award should collaborate with the current winners to network with experts and leaders of the Agric sector to ensure that in subsequent years, a farmer from the District could emerge as winner at the National level.

He then urged farmers to take advantage of Government’s Agricultural policies which seek to support farmers to boost productivity and be able to contribute massively to the local economy.

Signed

(FELICIA MANU)

DISTRICT INFORMATION OFFICER

THE REGIONAL INFORMATION OFFICER

INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT

KUMASI

Cc: The Ag. Director

Information Services Department

Accra

The District Chief Executive

Obuasi East District Assembly

Tutuka