The 39th Farmer’s Day Celebration of Afigya Kwabre South District Assembly was held at Aduman on Friday, 1st of December, 2023 under the theme, Delivering Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience.
In attendance at the ceremony were Nana Kwadwo Effah III, the chief of Aduman and his Elders, Hon. Christian Adu Poku, the DCE for Afigya Kwabre South District Assembly, the District Coordinating Director, Madam Yvonne Naboo, heads of department of the District Assembly, some Assembly members, a section of the staff of the Assembly, representatives from media houses and people from the various towns in the district.
In his opening remarks, Nana Kwadwo Effah III, the chairman for the ceremony expressed gratitude to the Assembly for bringing the occasion to Aduman. He commended all farmers for their hardworking and their continuing dedication in bringing food to the markets to feed the people. He further encouraged the farmers to keep up with the hardwork and never give up because their work was deeply appreciated.
The Director for Agriculture department, Mr. Patrick Anim also expressed his appreciation to the Chief and elders of Aduman for hosting the celebration. He congratulated all farmers for their selfless service in bringing food to the markets in the district. He went on to educate farmers to switch to the use of organic fertilizers which was very effective, less expensive and also good for our lands. He urged farmers not to hesitate to come to the office should they need any advice and help from extension officers.
Mrs. Christina Asubonteng, the District Health Director in her remarks also applauded all farmers for their hard work. She further sensitized the gathering on HIV/AIDS. She cautioned the people that HIV/AIDS still exist so everyone should protect themselves to avoid being infected.
She also stated that HIV/AIDS is not a death sentence, there were drugs that when taken as prescribed, would help the infected person live a normal life. She further encouraged that people to get tested to know their status. Knowing your status helps one to take safety measures and also start treatment early. She said the wealth of every nation is the health of its people so every citizen should take their health matters serious.
The DCE, Hon. Christian Adu Poku in his address to the occasion applauded the farmers for their significant role played in ensuring food security in the district. He stated that the current government was committed to making agriculture attractive and more lucrative. He continued that the government aims at expanding export hence farmers should take advantage and not limit themselves to the local markets but also aim at export.
He urged farmers that the era where farmers produced mainly for consumption was past, agriculture was now a business and should be seen as such.
He then congratulated all the awardees for their outstanding performance in the current farming season. He charged all other farmers to put in much work every other season in order to reap more. He expressed heartfelt appreciation to the sponsors of the awards.
The awards given to the farmers ranged from chest freezers, fridges, television sets, knapsack sprayers, cutlasses and weedicides.
Mr. Samuel Oduro from Aduman was adjudged the overall best farmer in the District, he received a chest freezer, a thirty-two inch television set, a knapsack sprayer, 4 cutlasses and some weedicides.
Madam Mary Pomaa received a fridge, a thirty-two inch television set, a knapsack sprayer, 4 cutlasses and some weedicides as the best female farmer.
The best youth farmer was awarded to Mr. Andrews Opoku and his prizes were a fridge, a thirty-two inch television set, a knapsack sprayer, 4 cutlasses, and some weedicides.
Other awards were best rice farmer; Baba Wusa, best cassava farmer; Mr. Kwame Boakye, best pawpaw farmer; Mr. Joseph Asamoah, best maize farmer; Mr. Samuel Adu Gyamfi, best poultry farmer; Mr. Owusu Baffour, best pig farmer; Mr. Kennedy Asare, best vegetable farmer; Mr. Kofi Samuel, best plantain farmer; Mr. Fobi Dankwa, best agriculture extension officer; Miss Joyce Boamah, best aquaculture; Mr. Daniel Amo.
