Kwahu West Celebrates The 2019 National Farmers’ Day In Grands Style
December 6, 2019: The Kwahu West Municipal Assembly has held a grand ceremony in Nsuta Aweregya to commemorate the 35th edition of the National Farmers’ Day Celebration and awarded gallant farmers who distinguished themselves in the agricultural sector in the year, 2019. Speaking on the theme,”Enhancing small scales Agriculture Towards Agribusiness Development”, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Kwahu West Municipal Assembly, Hon. Yaw Owusu Addo, called on small scale farmers to pursue a path to prosperity by focusing on market oriented activities such as value addition to produce to ensure increased income and improved livelihoods.
According to him, a transformed agricultural sector will open up the potential to increase incomes, create jobs, and provide raw materials for industry with a strong focus on creating an enabling environment for private sector operators and other actors within the various commodity value chains.
Also, the MCE encouraged business men and women especially Kwahus, both home and abroad to partner with the Kwahu West Municipal Assembly to invest in agricultural production, processing and marketing in order to help create more employment and reduce poverty.
On governtment interventions,the MCE said for three years running,the Kwahu West Municipal Assembly through the Department of Agriculture has embraced Government’s programmes in the Agricultural sector; Planting for Food and Jobs, Rearing for Food and Jobs, Planting for Export and Rural Development,Modernization of Agriculture (MAG) and that the Assembly is implementing them in earnest for the benefit of all farmers in the Municipality.
Ending his remarks, he pleaded with chiefs and farmers especially cocoa farmers not to give out their farmlands to illegal miners, as such practice will lead to poverty and land degredation in the future. He reiterated the need for farmers to invest in the education of their wards.
Touching on the significance of the celebration,the Municipal Agric. Director, Mr. Francis Dogbese, said it has become necessary to add value to farm produce to ensure increased return on investment and also ensure food security in the Municipality.
Also, he urged all farmers to join farmer groups in line with the commodity they produce to give them increased bargaining power because there is power in numbers.
He further appealed to sons and daughters of the land to support the work of the Department of Agriculture by investing in agriculture and consume locally grown rice produced in our Municipality to ensure our farmers stay in business.
Mr. Dogbese finally took the opportunity to acknowledge some distinguised individuals, businesses and institutions who supported the successful celebration of the event.
Mr. Alhassan Atanga was adjudged the Municipal Best Farmer for the year 2019. He took home a motor tricycle, 1 Knapsack, 1 wheel barrow, 4 cutlasses, 3 wellington boots, a silver basin, 2 spades, a shovel and 4 bars of keysoap.
Mr. Atanga who is well known for supporting developmental activities in his community cultivates crops and rears animals. He has 52 acres of cocoa,15 acres of oil palm , 14 acres of rice,5 acres of maize among others. What’s more, he has 20 cattles,50 goats,100 sheep, 25 ducks, 15 rabbits,100 guinea fowls and 150 local birds. Mr. Omare Leo was the first runner-up, whereas this year’s Agric Extension Agent (AEA) awards went to Mr Samuel Asuako.
A total of 24 farmers drawn from various communities in the Municipality were honoured.
The event was highly patronised by the Municipal Chief Executive, the Municipal Coordinating Director, Head of Departments, the immediate past PM and Assembly members, traditional leaders, Religious Leaders, distinguished personalities, security institutions, the press, illustrious farmers and other identifiable groups.
