By Mercy Arthur
Mobole (Near Tema), Dec. 05, GNA – Mr John Kwesi Mankyabi, a 53-year-old farmer of Tsopoli, has emerged as the overall best farmer in the Ningo-Prampram District during the 41st National Farmers Day celebration at Mobole.
Mr Manyabi received an electronic tricycle, wheelbarrow, cutlasses, Wellington boots, knapsack sprayer, and television, among other items.
He has 22 years’ experience in farming and owns 75 acres of watermelon, 10 acres of chilli pepper, 27 acres of maize, 47 acres of tomato, 10 acres of habanero pepper, and three acres of cassava.
He also has four acres of cowpea, two acres of yellow melon, 258 cattle, 20 fowls, 52 goats, 201 sheep and five turkeys.
In his acceptance speech, he attributed his success to hard work and investment into the farming profession and encouraged the youth to go into farming.
Mr Raphael Uriel Nartey, the Ningo-Prampram District Chief Executive, in a keynote address stated that the theme: “Feed Ghana, Eat Ghana, Secure the Future,” was inspiring, adding that it was a shared responsibility to promote local food production and consumption and build a resilient and sustainable food system capable of supporting generations yet unborn.
He noted that under the Feed Ghana programme, the government was paying attention to all the production areas within the agriculture value chain, which included the improvement in the area of marketing of produce and further creating more jobs in the areas of storage, processing and value addition.
He called on stakeholders to partner with the assembly to create opportunities for agricultural growth and food security, adding that to secure the future meant planning deliberately for the next generation.
He congratulated the farmers, processors, award winners, and fisher folk for their tireless effort for food supplied in markets, feeding families, supporting industries, and creating employment.
Mr Prince Ofori Boateng, the Ningo-Prampram District Director of Agriculture, noted that the district, over the years, had improved crop productivity and production.
Mr Boateng reiterated that there had been a positive impact on agriculture in the district, with the total land cultivated for major crops moving from 5,837.60 hectares in 2024 to an estimated 5,901.21 hectares in 2025.
He said the major crops included coconut, onion, pepper, tomato, and watermelon, saying the favourable weather conditions contributed to crop productivity and production performance this year, especially in vegetable production than the previous year.
The agricultural director added that the district has a total population of 38,679 poultry birds, 19,775 cattle, 12,632 goats, 5,936 sheep, and 8,552 pigs.
He said the district, over the years, faced some challenges, including losing agricultural lands to estate developers, illegal sand winning, and the collapse of Dawa Dam, among others, which the assembly was working on.
Mr Samuel Nartey George, the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, mentioned that he would support the assembly to work effortlessly to help curb the challenges facing the district.
He congratulated the 12 award-winning farmers for their good effort towards the growth of the agricultural sector.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Sawer/ Christabel Addo