Effutu Municipality Crowns Jonathan Addo As Best farmer

The Effutu Municipality in the Central region has crowned Mr Johnathan Addo, 42-year-old farmer, as the 2018 overall best farmer.

This was at the just ended 34th Farmers Day Celebrations held at Effutu Ateitu.

Mr Addo, a SSS leaver, owns 20 acres green pepper farm, 10.5 cabbage farm, 8 acre okro farm, one and half acre tomato farm, 0.04 exotic guava farm, 0,5 acres dragon fruits farm, 20 trees coconut farm and a number of local fowls and goats.

As part of his investment, he has employed 20 permanent and casual workers to aid his farming and vegetable seed shop.

He took home a certificate, APSONIC Tricycle popularly call Abooboyaa, KNAPSACK Sprayer, wellington boots and a cutlass as his award.

The first runner up best farmer went to Madam Gladys Appoe from Effutu Gyahadze while the second runner up went to Mr Philip Aryeetey Armah, who also resides at Effutu Sankro.

Both received certificates and other prices including deep freezer and a refrigerator.

The awards presented at the event include best crop farmer, livestock farmer, physically challenged farmer, youth farmer, fish processor, fisherman, most outstanding Agric Extension worker and most cooperating farmer.

They were given certificates and other items including wellington boots cutlass, 32 horsepower Led TV sets, ice chests, cutlass, spraying machines, mattresses and certificates.

Neenyi Obooso II, chief of Effutu Ateitu, and the Apagyahene of Effutu Traditional Area, was also presented with an award.

Mr John B. Ninson Effutu, Municipal Chief Executive, said celebrating the efforts of the gallant's farmers and fisher folks for their continued efforts is a worthy cause.

He said the current thrust of government policy is to transform Ghana beyond Aid and this requires a deliberate quantitative and qualitative effort to attain the goal.

Its expression requires structural changes in the country's economy, especially within the agriculture sector, the micro and macroeconomic stability, improved infrastructure development, digitization and a value addition based economy, he said.

The theme for this years' celebration was: 'Agriculture: Moving Ghana beyond Aid'.

Mr Ninson said various interventions of the government are being rolled out, including the construction of 570 dams in the three northern regions and the investment of about one billion U.S Dollars in road infrastructure development under the Sino-hydro intervention.

He said under the Planning for Export and Rural Development, Effutu selected cashew and coconut, saying they anticipate to cultivate 121.1 cashew and 313 hectares of the coconut plantations.

He said the assembly have so far supplied over 3,000 coconut seedling to farmers who have registered under the programme adding that in 2019 more cashew seedling would also be distributed to the farmer.

Neenyi Oboosu II, who chaired the function, commended all the award winners for their hard work and dedication to move Ghana beyond Aid added that agriculture, is an engine of the growth of every country.

---GNA