By P. K. Yankey, GNAÂ
Tandan (W/R), Dec. 05, GNA – Mr Sekyim Ampong Junior, a-67-year-old man from Tandan has been adjudged the overall best Farmer of Ellembelle at the 2025 Regional Farmers’ Day Celebration.
He cultivates 60 acres of cocoa farm, 35 acres of rubber plantation and 40 acres of oil palm plantation.
Mr Ampong also nurtures 60 goats, 300 fowls and 200 sheep, combining these with, the farming of about 5,000 catfish, and 2,000 tilapia in different fishponds.
He also cultivated three poles of banana farm, unspecified acres of plantain and cassava farms.
For his award, Mr Ampong received a brand-new tricycle, bars of key soap, matchetes, knapsack sprayers, bags of fertilizer and a piece of cloth.
In all, 31 farmers received awards ranging from home appliances to farming inputs.
This year’s celebration was on the theme, “Eat Ghana, Feed Ghana: Secure the Future.”
Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle, who presented the award to the overall best farmer, congratulated farmers for their hard work to feed the nation.
He charged farmers to add value to local food production for job creation and food security.
Mr Kofi Buah who is the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources and Acting Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, urged Paramount Chiefs and traditional rulers to protect lands and water bodies for the cultivation of wholesome food products for consumption.
“As we celebrate Farmers’ Day, let us pause and reflect on how we have treated our water bodies and lands”.
Mr Kofi Buah told the people that the only way to secure the future was to be guardians of the land and water bodies.
The Lands Minister used the occasion to commend the Chief of Ebi for stamping his authority to safeguard the River Ebi, which had never been polluted by acts of illegal mining.
He said the government would do all in her power to make farming attractive to the youth.
Mr Kofi Buah hinted of government’s intention to establish Agricultural Mechanization Centre in Nzema to enable farmers adopt modern technology in farming.
He said the government of Ghana and the World Bank were set to roll out massive oil palm plantation factory in the Nzema area to produce soap and others and is expected to create about 5,000 jobs.
Mr Kofi Buah said the government was putting major roads as well as feeder roads in Ellembelle in good shape to boost Agricultural productivity.
He told the youth that Agriculture was a serious business hence, his office was ready to support those who were ready to go into farming.
Mr Carol Pius Senker, the District Director of Agriculture said 2, 864 farmers received training and education on improved technologies and technical bud-stocking which led to significant results in productivity.
He said the Department had registered 87 cooperatives and vulnerable organizations under the Feed Ghana Project with farming inputs to increase yield.
Mr Senker identified challenges facing Agriculture as land acquisition and tenure system, lack of motor bikes, inability to vaccinate animals against rabies due to high cost of vaccination.
The Director said with the support of the Department, farmers would produce more food, create more jobs and improve standard of living.
Mr Joseph Agyekum, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Ellembelle called on the people to patronise locally produced food and stem the importation of food.
He said securing the future meant “stop leasing out lands for illegal mining activities popularly called galamsey”.
Mr Agyekum said the government had rolled several interventions to boost agriculture including the distribution of fertilisers and the nkoko nketenkete programme.
Receiving the overall best farmer award, Mr Ampong who started farming in the Enchi area, appealed to the youth to go into agriculture for sustainable livelihoods.
He advised them to stop illegal mining activities and secure their future in agricultural activities.
Mr Ampong also charged traditional rulers to stem the galamsey menace which continued to wreck havoc on Agricultural productivity.
GNA
Edited by Justina Paaga/ Christabel Addo