The Afigya Kwabre South District held its 40th Farmers’ Day celebration on Friday, 8th November 2024, at Atrama under the theme: “Building Climate Resilient Agriculture for Sustainable Food Security“. The occasion brought together dignitaries and various community members to honour farmers’ hard work and flexibility within the newly elevated municipality.
Present at the event were the District Chief Executive [DCE], Hon. Christian Adu Poku, the District Coordinating Director, Md. Yvonne Naboo, the NPP Parliamentary Candidates for the constituency, Md. Damata Amma Apianimaa Salam, the District Finance Officer, Mr. Peter Nana Poku, the District Education Director, Mr. David Akomea Asokwa, Heads of Departments, Assembly members, Staff of the Assembly, the Security, Chiefs and elders of Atrama, and a cross-section of the public.
In his keynote address, Hon. Christian Adu-Poku highlighted the vital role of agriculture in the country in ensuring food security and resilience in the face of unfavourable climate change. He acknowledged the farmers’ efforts in sustaining food production and emphasized the importance of adopting climate-smart agricultural practices to mitigate the adverse effects of weather changes on crop yields.
In his submission, the Director of Agriculture, Mr Patrick Anim, discussed various agricultural interventions the district is implementing to support farmers. He urged farmers to always liaise with Agricultural Extension Officers for advice and guidance for higher productivity as well as qualifying them for selection during Farmers’ Day events.
The Atramahene, Nana Boakye Yiadom Karikari who is also Otumfuor Nkofehene, stressed the importance of farming as a major sector towards the socio-economic development of any nation describing it as the backbone of Ghana’s economy. He expressed Otumfour’s appreciation, commitment and support for farmers in the area.
Awards presented to outstanding farmers included deep freezers, refrigerators, cutlasses, Wellington boots, spraying machines, fertilizers, weedicides and motorbike tricycles [Aboboyaa], among others.
The District Best Farmer award went to Mr Gordon Owusu Ampomah who was presented with an Aboboyaa among other goodies. Mr Richmond Appiah emerged as the Best Agriculture Staff also went home with a double-deck freezer and other farming inputs.
The occasion also witnessed the presentation of a citation in honour of Mr. Paul Kofi Barnie, affectionately called PKB, an indigene of Afigya Kwabre South District to appreciate his immense generosity and selfless contribution to the renovation of some basic schools in the area to improve the educational infrastructure for conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning.
