A 43-year-old farmer, Shaibu Fuseini, emerged as the overall municipal best farmer in the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipality at this year’s municipal version of the 37th National Farmers’ Day Celebration, held at West Africa Senior High School last Friday, December 3, 2021.
There was an unending round of applause for Shaibu Fuseini, a residence of Madina UN, when he stepped forward to receive his award. For achieving this great feat, Fuseini received a corn mill, 2 knapsack sprayers, agrochemicals, a pair of Wellington boots, and 2 cutlasses.
The rest included: 1 poly tank, 10 tins tuna flakes, a pair of gloves, a goggle, 5 blaze, 2 selector, 5 Nova BT, Gardeners fertilizers, 5 sachets of Agrithane,1 sultan, 5 sachets of onion seeds, 5 sachets of cucumber seeds, 5 sachets of pepper seeds, and a certificate.
The father of six, with three wives, who has been in active farming for years owns 1221 rabbits, 142 sheep, 44 cattle, 26 goats, 86 local birds, 421 poultry, 386 Brahma birds, 1100 broiler, and the following crops: okro, lettuce, beetroot, onion and tomato.
Mr. Fuseini expressed his excitement over the award and advised the youth to see farming as a business and not a way of life.
“I therefore appeal to the government to roll out more support programmes to encourage the youth to go into farming,” Fuseini appealed.
The brief, but impressive programme which started around 9:00 a.m. and ended at 11: 25 a.m. saw the display of various foodstuffs including tubers, cereals, grains, fruits of various kinds and livestock.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for La-Nkwantanang Madina Municipal Assembly, Madam Jennifer Dede Adjabeng, in her opening address, urged Ghanaians to patronize farm produce from our local farmers because it is a great step to better health, greater food safety, and a healthier economy.
Madam Adjabeng said over the years, government has put in place several measures which have gone a long way to improving farming activities in the country, and consequently, food security. The MCE mentioned some of the interventions by the government as supplying improved seeds and fertilizers, construction of irrigational dams, improving extension services and promoting research, improving mechanization, and promoting commercial and blocking farming.
“All these are indications that government is concerned with the welfare of farmers and food security in general,” Madam Adjabeng said.
Madam Adjabeng stated that backyard and institutional farming were being promoted in the urban and peri-urban areas in the municipality. She further disclosed that over 2,540 farmers in the municipality had benefited from the subsidized input (improved seeds and fertilizers) as at the end of October 2021.
The Municipal Agriculture Director, Mr. Maxwell Odonkor, also advised farmers to inculcate the attitude of good record keeping, receptiveness to agriculture extension advice as a means of good agricultural practices.
“I urge all farmers to work closely with the municipal Agric Extension Officers to enable them benefit from government agricultural flagship programmes,” Mr. Odonkor advised.
He appealed to farmers to work closely with the Municipal Agriculture Extension Officers to enable them to benefit from Government agricultural flagship programs.
Other award winners included Municipal Best Youth Farmer, Mr. Charles Tsuishitoo Kotei, who is also an Assembly member of Danfa Electoral; Municipal Best Crop
Farmer, Mr. Dogbeda Dakpui; Municipal best Livestock Farmer, Mr Mustapha Mohammed; and Municipal Best Poultry Farmer, Mr. Arnold Kudekor.
The rest are: Municipal Best Physically Challenged Farmer, Mr Isaac Tetteh; Municipal Best Woman Farmer, Madam Vida Obenewaa Tumfor; Municipal Best Agric Extension Officer, Mr. James Mensah; MCE’s Special Award for Backyard Farmer, Madam Beatrice Adjowa Awoye; Madam Jemima Owusua Brenya emerged as the 2nd runner up Municipal Best Farmer; 1st runner up Municipal Best Farmer, was a 53-year-old Alex Yaw Dartey.
In all, eleven farmers were rewarded and presented with various agriculture inputs.
This year’s Farmers’ Day was celebrated under the theme: “Planting for Food and Jobs: Consolidating food systems in Ghana.”
Dignitaries present included the Municipal Chief Executive for the area, Hon. Jennifer Dede Adjabeng, the Municipal Coordinating Director, Abena Kwesiwa Kyei; Traditional Rulers, and heads of departments.
