A 59-year old man, Joseph Nii Quaye Armah, was adjudged the overall best farmer in the Ningo Prampram District at its Farmers’ Day last Friday.

Mr Armah who started farming four years ago has 30 acres of maize farm, 25 acres of water melon, 12.5 acres of rice, 10 acres of cabbage, 10 acres of onions and five acres of lettuce. 

He owns also 70 goats, 120 sheep, 400 rabbits, 10 fish ponds and two fish hatchery.

Mr Armah in an address advised the youth to go into farming because “there is dignity in it and it is profitable.”

Seven other farmers were also honoured at the ceremony.

They were Robert Gblekpo, the District Best Livestock Farmer, Rich Agro Limited won the Best District Crop Farmer award, Noah Kporsu, District Best Youth Farmer and Rose Ametowudufia, as the District Best Physically Challenged Farmer. 

The rest were Patience Ackam, District Best Female Farmer, Gloria Asamoah, District Best Extension Officer and the first runner up for the best farmer being David Asem. 

They received quantities of pesticides, liquid fertilisers, matchetes, wheelbarrows, wax print, 32 inches television sets, weedicides, table top fridges.

The overall best farmer received a double door refrigerator, bicycle, a 32-inch television set among others.

Speaking on the theme “Enhancing Agribusiness Development under COVID-19 Challenges and Opportunities” the Ningo-Prampram District Chief Executive, Mr Jonathan Teye Doku noted that the Planting for Food and Jobs had been a major intervention crop production programme for the district. 

The Ningo-Prampram District Acting Director of Agriculture, Mr Prince Ofori-Boateng, noted that agriculture transformation remained the underpinning factor for Ghana’s economic development and must be given the needed attention to build a solid economy.

He was hopeful that the processes being implemented by government to transform agriculture into business would create more jobs, raise farmers’ incomes and further reduce malnutrition.

From Godfred Blay Gibbah, Tsopoli