By Philip Tengzu, GNA
Bussie (UW/R), Dec. 6, GNA – Thirteen individuals and institutions in the Upper West Region have been recognised at the 2025 edition of the National Farmers Day (NFD) for their contributions to sustaining the agricultural sector, food security and the local economy.
Mr Mohammed Dab and Madam Damata Issifu, both from the Sissala East Municipality, were adjudged the Overall Regional Best Farmer and Best Female Farmer, respectively.
Also, Mr Daniel Forkah was named the Regional Best Youth Farmer, while Mr Anthony Blandy received the Regional Best Fish Farmer award.
The Tumu Senior High School, Yibile Junior High School and Konpieni Primary School were awarded as the Best SHS, JHS and Primary School, respectively, in agriculture, while the Sissala West District was honoured as the Regional Best District in Agriculture.
Instituted 41 years ago, the NFD seeks to celebrate Ghanaian farmers and fishers for their continuous contribution to national food security and the rural economy.
The 2025 celebration was held on the theme: “Feed Ghana, Eat Ghana, Secure the Future”, with the regional event observed at Bussie in the Daffiama-Bussie-Issa (DBI) District.
Addressing the ceremony, Charles Lwanga Puozuing (Esq.), the Upper West Regional Minister, called for a concerted effort among stakeholders to strengthen the agricultural value chain through reducing post-harvest losses and improving packaging.
He noted that the government’s “Feed Ghana Programme” was intended to revitalise the agricultural sector and position it as a business-oriented industry driven by modernisation and technology.
Mr Puozuing urged community-level actors, including traditional leaders and District Assemblies, to enact and enforce bye-laws to curb bush burning, illegal mining and land degradation, which he described as threats to sustainable agriculture in the region.
Mr Huudu Abu, the Upper West Regional Director of Agriculture, stated that irrigation facilities in the region continued to expand, with about 80 small dams and dugouts supporting dry-season vegetable production.
He, however, appealed for increased investment to expand the irrigable land and improve the canal systems in the region to ensure all-year-round food production.
Mr James Wor, the DBI District Chief Executive, announced that the Kojokperi community had been selected to benefit from a Farmer Service Centre and that the community’s chief had provided a 15-acre parcel of land for the project.
“As a district, we remain fully committed to complementing government efforts by advancing programmes and interventions that empower our farmers, from climate-smart agriculture to agro-processing and improved market linkages”, he explained.
Mr Mohammed Dab, the Regional Best Farmer, appealed to the government to improve the road network in the region, particularly the Sissala area, to ease the challenges farmers face in transporting produce.
He also called on the government to regulate prices of agricultural commodities, especially maize, to ensure farmers earn fair returns under its agricultural modernisation and commercialisation agenda.
In the DBI District, 13 farmers were also recognised, with Mr Jonas Dorsaah from Bussie emerging as the District Best Farmer and Mr John Kafule Yendor-Naa named the District Best Youth Farmer.
Awardees received prizes including tricycles, motorbikes, refrigerators, knapsack sprayers, farm implements and inputs, among others.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Christian Akorlie