TANO SOUTH CELEBRATES 29TH EDITION OF THE FARMERS’ DAY

The Tano South version of the 29^th edition of the National Farmers’ day celebration was celebrated at Ankaase a farming community in the District with the theme ‘’Reducing post harvest losses for sustainable food security and nutrition’’

The celebration with attracted all manner of people and farmers from all walks of life saw our gallant farmers been awarded with certificates and prizes ranging from Knapsack sprayers, Fridges, TV set, Bicycle and Motorbike  for their selfless and dedicated work to the district and the nation as a whole.

Picture above some of the prizes for the awardees and the dignitaries at the high table

Addressing the gathering, the Tano South District Director of Agriculture, Mr. Dwamena Godfred said farmers were taken through  various technologies to improve and maximised their yields and returns under the WAAPP. He said that the department also provided plant clinic which provided solutions for identified plant problems such as diseases and pest to farmers and encouraged all farmers to embrace the idea of plant Doctor Approach.

Under root and tuber improvement and marking programme (RTIMP), Mr. Dwamena said, the department was able to supply 1,500 bundles of improve cassava planting materials to about 150 farmers in the district and said they also supplied and supported experienced cassava commercial multipliers to establish 5acres field for expansion of cassava production since this year marks the end of free supply of planting materials to farmers.

Mr. Dwamena also announced to the farmers that the marketing problems  have been solved since farmers who produce improved cassava tubers may be linked to the Ghana Guinness Ltd in Kumasi who will purchase the cassava for the production of root beer. Apart from Guinness, a Chines company and other Gari and high quality flour processors are also in high demand for cassava tubers for processing and assured the farmers to go into cassava production since there is ready market and urged the farmers to contact the AEAs in the District/office so that they could be linked to the brewery and other processors.

                         

The Tano South District Director of Agriculture, Mr. Dwamena Godfred addressing the gathering

In ensuring food security, Mr. Dwamena stated that the Assembly should consider establishing maize processing centres since this has become necessary due to the erratic nature of rains with almost total failure in the minor cropping season.  Farmers are advised to take advantage of the major season rains to cultivate most of the grain in order to process them during the major season to reduce the post havest losses and to enhance food security and nutrition. Acquiring power tillers for inland valley rice production site at Mansin, and reconsider the reconstruction of the canal and wier at the inland valley rice Development site at Mansin.

Under livestock, he said a lot of interventions were conducted to prevent disease in animals notably amongst them are rabbies and PPR. About 2,509 animals including Dogs, Cats, Monkeys, Sheep and Goats were vaccinated. He appealed to the District Assembly to enforce by laws on the compulsory vaccination of pets against zoonotic diseases especially rabbies since the incidence of stray dog bite that result in the death of humans have increased  in the past years. And also pleaded with livestock farmers to contact vertinnary officials for their routine disease control and vaccination.

Concluding his address, Mr. Dwamena said that in all  about 14,103 farmers were reached with extension services and encouraged all farmers in the District to always approach the District Agricultural Development unit for good  Agricultural practices to improve yields and maximise returns to better their lives.

In a speech on bush fires, the Tano South District officer in charge of the fire service Miss Martha Solomon retaliated that as we enter the dry season   we are bound to encounter some bush fires and as such fire volunteers would be required to strengthen their activities to meet such challenges and again said a District fire patrol team would be formed to tour all parts of the District to educate the masses on the prevention   of bush fires.

          

       

The Tano South District officer in charge of fire service Miss Martha Solomon addressing the gathering

Miss Solomon appealed to the District Chief Executive to consider getting our roads reshaped so that the fire tender could move swiftly to fire outbreak sites and pleaded with the people to always call the fire office line when there is any fire outbreak in any part of the District.

In a speech at the function the Tano South District Chief Executive Hon. Bukari Zakari Anaba said it is yet another day to celebrate and honour our gallant farmers for their contribution  to the  economic development of this country and said not only those to be awarded but all those who work tirelessly to put food on the table of Ghanaians. He said the theme for the year  ‘’Reducing post harvest losses for sustainable food security and nutrition’’ could not have been chosen at any better time than now when there is increase in production at all levels of productions of the various food commodities.

                                                        

Hon. Anaba reiterated that to achieve the theme, there is existence of on-going programmes such as food and agricultural sector development policy (FASDEP) Root and Tuber improvement and marketing project (RTIMP) West African Agricultural productivity project (WAAPP )and block farm programmes to help farmers to improve on their production in grains, roots and tubers in the district and the country at large. He continued that all those programmes are there and ready to extend agricultural extension services to all farmers in the district in the area of root, tubers, oil palm, fruits and animal production and encouraged farmers to make good use of them.

                              

The Tano South District Chief Executive Hon. Bukari Zakari Anaba reading the keynote address

In conclusion, Hon. Anaba congratulated all those farmers to be awarded for their good work done and enjoined all other farmers to continue to work harder. He wished all farmers well and wished and hoped that farmers in the district would win at both the overall regional and National Best Farmers Awards in future.

The overall best farmer Barima Anaane in a short speech said agriculture contributes about sixty percent (60%) of Ghana’s domestic product and as such the youth of this country who do not have any white collar job to begin in investing in farming and pleaded with the Government to supply peasant farmers with farming imputes to enable them expand their farms.  

Mr. Barima Anaane receiving his prize from Hon. DCE

 Barima Anaane received the following items for his prize as the District best Farmer.  One  motorbike, one television set, one Knapsack sprayer, half  piece wax print, four pairs wellington boot, 2 pieces watering can, 10 cutlasses, 1 box weedicide, 1 box key soap and a certificate.

Nana Amaadie the chief of Ankaase who chaired the function thanked the District Chief Executive and his management team and the Tano South District Directorate of Agriculture for celebrating the day at Ankaase and pleaded with the DCE to as a matter of urgency consider getting the Derma Ankaase road reshaped to enable farmers in the area transport their farm produce to the urban centres.

                                 

The chief of Ankaase Nana Amaadie addressing the gathering

ATANAFO CELEBRATES 2ND ADEKYEM FESTIVAL AT BECHEM

The Chiefs and people of the Bechem Traditional Area (ATANAFO) comprising Bechem Dwomo, Techire and Tanoso in the Brong Ahafo Region have celebrated the 2^nd Adekyem Festival amid pomp and show of culture at Bechem.

The Omanhene and Queenmother of Bechem on arrival at the durbar grounds

The Festival which seeks to inculcate the spirit of sharing, giving and forgiving was attended by people from all walks of life including His Excellency Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah Arthur – Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Ministers of state, Members of Parliament, District Chief Executives and Traditional Rulers. The festival had for its theme “Adekyem Festival as a tool for the socio-economic Development of the Bechem Traditional Area”

    

The vice president exchanging greetings on arrival at the durbar grounds

In a welcome address, Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II Omanhene of the Area used the occasion to welcome all present and said he was grateful to all especially Otumfour Osei Tutu II, Asantehene and all Nananom and citizens and friends of Bechem Traditional Area who contributed to the success of the maiden Adekyem Festival which was celebrated in November, 2011.

                            

Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II reading his welcome address

Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II said, by the theme of the 2^nd   celebration of the festival, he wants to use the festival to rediscover their heritage as a people and to continue to raise funds to support the Atanafo Education Fund and to dialogue with Government to translate policies into viable income- generating projects which will improve the quality of life for the  people.

Nana said, they have identified investment opportunities in the areas of Palm oil production, Soap making, brick and tile manufacturing, Estate Development and are working seriously to start operation to create jobs for the  people  and create wealth for development.

Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II, said Adekyem Festival has come to stay as a tool for the Socio-economic development of  the Bechem Traditional Area and as a result of the festival, the Atanafo Education Fund has been established to provide  scholarships for brilliant but needy students  and mentioned that, the  fund is also to provide remedial classes and free ICT  classes and has also created an awareness among Nananom and people of Bechem Traditional Area about where they came from, the origins of Bechem, in order to empower them to forge ahead in unity for the development of the area and invited investors to partner with them in their efforts at developing the natural resources  of the land and again used the occasion to invite the government to dialogue with them so that together, they can translate government policies into viable projects which will improve the quality of life of the people.

Concluding his address, Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II said, Nanananom are very grateful to the Government for finding “our Member of Parliament worthy to serve the nation as a Deputy Minister of Agric and hoped and trusted that she will give off the best of her ability to justify the confidence reposed in her” and also extended Nananom’s gratitude to the Tano south District Chief Executive for collaborating with Nananom in the celebration of both the maiden and Second Adekyem festivals.

In a short speech, the Vice President H.E. Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur said, the purpose for which the maiden Adekyem Festival was instituted cannot be over emphasised since it created a fund for Education.

                               

The Vice President delivering his address

He said education is significant to the human development and that government would put in place mechanisms to develop the educational sector so that children would have access to education at all levels. The Vice President said the theme for the second edition of the festival which seeks to look for measures to improve the socio-economic development of the Traditional Area is appropriate since government alone cannot meet the needs of the people and donated cash amount of Five thousand Ghana cedis (GH₵5,000.00) towards the sustenance of the education fund and presented assorted drinks to Nananom for the celebration.

The Minister of Culture and Traditional Affairs, Dr. Henry Seidu Daannaa also, in a short speech said the institution of Chieftaincy is an honourable one and must be protected, he said the collapse of the Institution would have an adverse effect on our day to day administration of our traditional set-up which would bring problems to the people and that government would put in the necessary measures to protect the institution.

                           

The Minister of Culture and Traditional Affairs, Dr. Henry Seidu Daannaa addressing the gathering

The Minister said, festivals are occasions which is celebrated to rekindle the Traditional roles of the people and also used as a tool for the re-unification of the Traditional area which also seeks to evaluate the past and present in terms of development of a particular area and called on Nananom to use the occasion to develop the traditional area.

A representative of the Asantehene, the Omanhene of Offinso Traditional Area, Nana Wiafe Akenten III who also chaired the function extended the felicitation of the Otumfuo to the Chiefs and people of the Bechem Traditional Area in the Celebration of the 2^nd   edition of the Adekyem Festival.

                        

A representative of the Asantehene, the Omanhene of Offinso Traditional Area, Nana Wiafe Akenten III sitting in state at the function

Nana said, Otumfuo would have wished to attend the festival personally but other all important traditional assignment have made him not to be able to attend but was with them in spirit.

Nana Wiafe Akenten III elaborated the importance of festivals and commended Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II and Nana Adwoa-po Dwamena Serwaa II for their bold step in instituting the Adekyem Festival of the Chiefs and people of Bechem Traditional Area and called on the people of the area to attach great importance to the celebration of the festival.

Nana said, wars were used in the olden days as a tool to amass the acquisition of Land and wealth but Education has taken over these days so it would not have been appropriate if the celebration of the festival had not been connected with the education of it’s people and therefore called on the people to embrace the celebration of the festival and give the necessary support it deserves.

Goodwill messages were given by the Member of Parliament for Tano south Constituency, Dr Hannah Loiussa Bissiw, Hon. Nii Lantey Vanderpuje - MP and Deputy Minister of Trade and Industries and the Tano south District Chief Executive, Hon. Zakari Bukari Anaba.