The
Tano South version of the 29th 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.
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.
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.
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