By Benjamin Akoto, GNA
Sekesua (E/R), Dec. 9, GNA - Asafoatse Awisi Tetteh II, the Chief of Sutapong, has been adjudged the Best District Farmer of the Upper Manya Krobo District during the district edition of the 34th National Farmers Day celebration at Sekesua.
The Chief, 56, married with eight children, has been farming for the past 25 years.
His production level includes 42 acres of maize, 25 acres of cassava, 22 acres of oil palm, 12 acres of plantain , eight acres of cocoyam and vegetables, 15 acres yam, 12 acres cowpea, and eight acres of pineapple, banana, coffee, citrus, cocoa and timber species.
He also has 85 sheep, 120 goats, 200 local fowls, two corn mills and one cassava grater, with 12 permanent and 25 casual workers.
For his prize, he received a certificate, a tricycle, knapsack sprayer, two liters of weedicide, two pairs of Wellington boots, five pieces of cutlass, radio set and a full wax print.
The first runner up, 45-year old Joyce Ayitah from Akateng, received a certificate, double deck refrigerator, knapsack sprayer, weedicide, wellington boots, cutlass, radio set and wax print.
The Upper Manya Krobo District Chief Executive, Mr Felix Odjao Nartey, reminded the people that agriculture has enormous benefits such as keeping the cultural identity as Ghanaians, boosting the economy, and employing more than 70 per cent of the workforce in the country, a means of reducing unemployment .
He said under the Planting for Food and Jobs, 2,652 farmers had benefited since its inception in the District made up of 1,693 males and 689 females.
Mr Nartey said the District Agriculture Department received 222 bags of seed maize of which 147 bags had been distributed.
He said the District also received 7,000 bags of compound fertilizer of which 6,320 had been distributed.
Other items received include 6,000 bags of urea of which the Department had distributed 5,216, and 2,000 bags of organic fertilizer.
Mr Nartey said under the Government’s flagship programme of One District, One Factory, a processing factory would be established at Sekesua and that 1,885 cassave farmers had registered as out-growers to feed that factory.
He advised the youth to actively get involved in agri-business to benefit from the processing and packaging opportunities.
Mr Joseph Tetteh, the Member of Parliament for Upper Manya, assured the people that the completion of the 24-kilometer Akatawiah -Bomasi -Sekesua-Sutapong-Sumue Junction road was going to improve the road network in the area.
He said another 21-kilometer road from Kolewa to Abetima-Sawa to Asesewa has also been awarded on contract.
In all 16 institutions and individuals were awarded prizes at the Farmers Day celebration.
GNA
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