Mr Kofitsey Martin Nyahe, the Municipal Chief Executive for Akatsi South, has said the government would continue to play key roles in ensuring the growth of the agricultural sector.
The theme for this year’s celebration, ‘Delivering Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience’ according to him, played a double role of government, primarily to ensure growth in the agriculture sector.
Mr Nyahe made the remarks at Akatsi during the 39th Farmers’ Day Celebration, which was marked across the country.
He stated that the move would enhance the sensitisation of Ghanaians on the need to use any sustainable and environmentally safe means possible to produce more than they could consume ‘even in the face of adversities.’
He said the Planting for Food and Jobs programme ensured food security to Ghanaians by offering input subsidies to farmers, providing good quality extension services, linking farmers to ready markets, and providing farmers with free organic and inorganic pesticides to control insec
t pests in their farms.
Mr Nyahe further stated that there were no recorded cases of total maize farm destruction by Fall Army Worms due to the interventions by government.
‘The pesticides distributed covered 1, 080 acres of maize farms, and a total of 195 farmers benefited from this intervention.’
He revealed that rice, maize, sweet potatoes, vegetables, and other commodity farmers were engaged through training and extension services delivery.
Mr Nyahe also indicated that the Municipality benefited from the Rearing for Food and Jobs (RFJ) Flagship Programme where the Agric Department took delivery of 50 piglets as credit in kind.
‘These piglets, distributed to 10 farmers in 2021 have so far multiplied and as it stands today, a total of 117 piglets have been recovered and redistributed to 32 farmers,’ he added.
Mr Charles Grunitzky, the Akatsi South Municipal Director of the Department of Agriculture, on his part, said the Department would continue to offer Smart Solutions that required the use of moder
n technology to increase the quality and quantity of commodities.
A total of nine award categories have been formed for the various winners for each category.
These include Best Crop Farmer, Best Livestock Farmer, Best Physically Challenged Farmer, Best Rice Farmer, Best Poultry Farmer, Best Youth Farmer, and Best Schools in School Gardening.
Simon Kpogo, a 59-year-old farmer and carpenter from Klokpe, was adjudged the overall Municipal Best Farmer during the event.
Items such as Tricycle, cloths, fertilizers, cutlasses, Wellington boots, hoes, spraying machines, wheelbarrows, agro-chemicals, and others were presented to the awardees.
Several dignitaries witnessed the event, which was held at the Duawodome Basic School park.
Source: Ghana News Agency