The Kwabre East Municipal have recognized its industrious farmers for their enormous efforts towards the prosperity of Ghanaians through the provision of food to enrich lives in a threatening coronavirus era.

The Municipal celebrated its 36th National Farmers Day, themed, “Ensuring Agribusiness Development under COVID-19 opportunities and challenges”. The program was also aimed at acknowledging the agriculturalists for patronizing on the government’s agricultural flagship programmes to promote food security and make available selected food crops for the market.

This year’s event was held at Bamang, a suburb of the Municipal on Friday, October 4, 2020.

Mr James Apiiga was adjudged the overall winner of the award. The 38-year-old who hails from Dumanafo possesses 4,000 birds, 22 Turkeys, 450 Guinea fowls, 41 cattle, 15 sheep and 92 local fowls.

He also boasts of eight ponds, six pigs, 135 doves, 9000 catfish, 3,000 tilapia, nine Geese, four-acre land of rice and 20 acres of maize. He was awarded a tricycle, spraying machine, machetes, fertilizers and a certificate.

49-year-old Fuseini Amadu from Ntonso was the first runner up. He exhibits 10 acres of maize, 15 acres of cassava, 2 acres of cowpea. 3 acres of plantain, 1-acre f pepper, 30 local fowls, 16 sheep, 4 goat and 10 cattle. He received spraying machine, machetes, wellington boots, fertilizers and a certificate.

Mrs Juliana Dentah, a 43-year-old won the Best Poultry farmer award and was ranked third on the day. She has 7,450 birds, 2.4 acres of cassava, six goats, 30 fouls, 2.5 acres of maize and 0.25 acres of plantain.

She was given a fridge, poultry feeds, spraying machines and machetes plus a certificate.

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According to the Member of Parliament for the Kwabre East constituency, Hon. Francisca Oteng Mensah, farmers in the Kwabre East deserved to be recognized for their influence and the role played to heal the environment of hunger.

She reflected that government agronomic programmes are thriving because farmers have held to it firmly as a reflection of the country’s future therefore esteeming their commitment is a push for them to do more.

“We saw how tough situations got and we were witnesses to how some countries in Europe struggled for foods at places we thought they had the resources to be safe,” she said.

“The government through his planting for food and jobs, planting for exports and rearing for food and jobs have been able to sustain Ghanaians through a tough covid-19 era where even though we were under lockdown, yet food was made available.

“The farmers supported the course of the president and have helped to put things to work. Ghana is what it is today because of the role they have played and they deserve to be honoured.”

She asserted that coronavirus has defined the need to feed on local foods which are nourishments to boost one’s immune system to withstand diseases; something majority of Ghanaians saw no weight in.

“Local foods were highly patronized to boost one’s immune system to overcome the virus when one contracts it.  That tells us that in fact, we must pay attention to our agricultural sector because ones we invest much into it, it will surely help the nation."

Hon. Francisca assured that the Municipality will do everything possible to make sure that farmers who have “applied to receive a boost in their farming business from the government would be granted”.

She encouraged the stakeholders to patronize in enlightening meetings organized by Agric officers to give them new ideas about the trade.

The Best Farmer in the Kwabre East, Mr James Apiiga encouraged the youth to be involved in the trade to help boost the sector and feed thousands.