NEWS ON THE 29TH FARMERS DAY CELEBRATION IN GHANA

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) with the support of other institutions marked the 29^th farmer’s day celebrations in Sogakope in the Volta Region of Ghana under the theme: Reducing post harvest losses for sustainable food security and nutrition.

The 29^th farmer’s day had as the guest of honour H.E. Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur the vice president of Ghana. In attendance were other government officials and Agricultural development professionals.

The 2013 National Best Farmer went to Alhaji Awudu Karim, a sixty-year old commercial farmer from the Kassena-Nankana West District of the Upper East Region.

For his prize, Alhaji Karim received a  three-bedroom fully furnished house to be built at a place of his choice, a 5kv generator set, one jumbo polytank, a one year life and property insurance and a fully paid trip abroad among others.

Alhaji Awudu Karim (Middle) 2013 National Best Farmer,
flanked on his left by H.E Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur,
Vice President of Ghana and on the right by Hon.
Clement Kofi Humado, Minister for Food and
Agriculture.

Abdulai Antiku Seidu of Nadowli District in the Upper West Region and Edward Maxwell Aninkorah from the Kumasi Metropolis of the Ashanti region came as 2^nd and 3^rd National Best Farmers for 2013 and received a tractor and its matching implements and a double cabin pick-up respectively as their prize.

Kwame Gyan from Apam in the Central Region won the National Best Fisherman and received a double cabin pick-up and fishing gear as his prize. Egya Kwesi from Ahanta West district of the Western Region and Christopher Letsa, of Biakoye District in the Volta Region came 2^nd and 3^rd National Best fishermen respectively.

For their prizes, they both received an outboard motor, double deck freezers, fishing gears, products from Guinness Brewery Ghana Limited among others.

Other National award winners include Alhaji Yakubu Jagaji from the Sisala West District of the Upper West Region who was adjudged the National Best Livestock Farmer and received a tractor and trailer as his prize.

As the Savannah Young Farmers Network (SavaNet) continues to roll out innovative youth in Agriculture development initiatives, SavaNet is optimistic that many more young farmers will become award winners during upcoming farmer’s day celebrations in Ghana to motivate other youth to become actively engaged in Agriculture.

The Savannah Young Farmers Network (SavaNet) therefore recommends the institution of an award category aimed at recognizing and awarding the best young farmer of the year with award packages of Agricultural machinery and other production inputs as well as the needed capacity development to ensure their engagement in Agriculture as a sustainable livelihood for increased Agricultural production.

The Savannah Young Farmers Network (SavaNet) will like to congratulate all award winners of the 29^th farmer’s day celebration for their commitment in working towards ensuring the food security of Ghana over the years. You are our heroes.