The Ministry of Food and Agricultural has celebrated and awarded farmers for their effort in providing food and other agricultural products for the nation on Friday 3rd December 2021. The theme for this year’s farmer day is PLANTING FOR FOOD AND JOBS; CONSOLIDATING FOOD SYSTEMS IN GHANA. The Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipal Assembly celebrated theirs at Asawinso ‘A’
The Municipal Director for Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Mr. Augustine Amaning Kwarteng in addressing the people, congratulated farmers especially the award winners and talking on this year’s theme for the celebration made known the need for adapting to climate spark agriculture to build resilient in productivity rise so as to indeed consolidate food systems in Ghana.
MCE for the municipality, Hon. Alfred Amoah in his speech acknowledged the president of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo and his government for introducing Planting for Food and Jobs to help the youth in the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai municipality jobs and financial stability. The program has made us know that there is a lot of income in farming, changes in the life of farmers who took part in the Planting for Food and Jobs.
He further advised farmers who have not taken part in the Planting for Food and Jobs and other government’s agricultural policies should do so to enable them get healthy seeds and productive training in their farming activities to generate more income. The municipal assembly has made arrangement to help fight fall armyworm attacks in some farms.
Hon. Amoah said, there is a lot government agricultural programs that is strengthening our farming systems in the municipality and Ghana as a whole, some of such programs are; Rearing for Food and Jobs, Controlling of Fall Armyworm, Planting for Export and Rural Development (FERD).
Rapping up on his speech, Hon Alfred Amoah, said the Assembly has involve itself very well in the growth and wellbeing of farmer, so farmers should get closer to their extension officers in their various community to help them benefit from government initiatives on farming and training. The municipality has benefited from government’s one thousand (1000) Capacity Warehouse program at Sefwi Bekwai (Mana) for the Department of Agriculture which will be in use very soon for the storage of farm produce for patronage when needed. The assembly is building a Plantain Processing Factory at Subri-Nkwanta for producing plantain finished goods, he added that poultry farmers whose farms were affected during the outbreak of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) will not be left out, government has made provision for a sum of forty-four million Ghana Cedis (GHC 44,000,000) to be distributed to affected poultry farmers nationwide and our municipality will not be left out.
Hon Alfred Amoah expressed excitement as Madam Marian Ofori Twumasi who comes from Sefwi Nkronua in the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipal being awarded the national best youth farmer. He therefore encouraged the youth to take madam Marian’s effort as an example and pursue farming. Finally, applauded Chirano Gold Mines Company Limited for sponsoring the farmers day celebration and getting a Kia Bongo for the overall best farmer award winner this year, Nananom, MOFA, Sponsors, HODs and everybody for being part of the 2021 farmers day celebration.
Nana Kwabene Gyamfi Akwaben, Adontenhene of Anhwiaso Traditional Area who chaired the program, in accepting the chairmanship express words of gratitude to the government of Ghana, MOFA, and Municipal Assemblies for organizing Farmers Day celebrations in the country to appreciate farmer’s hard work. He also applauded farmers for working hard to feed the country, if they do not go to work even a day the whole country will go hungry.
He then encourages the youth take advantage of government agricultural programs and trainings to enter farming to help them get income and employment.
LIST OF AWARDEES
| NO. | NAMES OF AWARDED
FARMERS |
POSITIONS |
| 1. | GABRIEL ANYIMADU | OVERALL MUNICIPAL BEST FARMER |
| 2 | ALHAJI ALHASSAN HALIDU | 1ST RUNNER-UP |
| 3 | JOHN BISMARK MENSAH | 2ND RUNNER-UP |
| 4 | RICHARD HAVILA ISRAEL | MUNICIPAL BEST AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AGENT |
| 5 | VIDA BAIDOO | MUNICIPAL BEST WOMAN FARMER |
| 6 | GILBERT ARPONG | BEST COCOA FARMER |
| 7 | GILBERT GYAMPRAH | BEST COCOA FARMER |
| 8 | HALINA MALIK | BEST YOUTH FARMER |
| 9 | KINGSLEY ANYIMAH | BEST PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED |
| 10 | OPHELIA TWUM BERIMA | BEST AQUACULTURE |
| 11 | DANIEL GYENING | BEST PIG FARMER |
| 12 | BENSON AMPOFO | BEST PALM OIL FARMER |
| 13 | BUHARI ADAMU | BEST RICE FARMER |
| 14 | WISDOM GYAMFI | BEST PLANTAIN FARMER |
| 15 | AUGUSTINE NAPOGBONG | BEST DIVERSIFICATION/CROPS |
| 16 | BOADU ADUABAA KWABENA | BEST AGRO-FORESTRY |
| 17 | KARIM ALHASSAN | BEST VEGETABLE FARMER |
| 18 | CECILIA BOATENG | BEST CASAVA FARMER |
| 19 | MARY DADZIE | BEST MAIZE FARMER |
| 20 | ARMAH BISMARK | BEST RUBBER FARMER |
| 21 | PAULINA CUDJOE | BEST NON-TRADITIONAL |
| 22 | AWUDU SALIFU | BEST CATTLE FARMER |
| 23 | FRANK NELSON ACKAH | BEST COCONUT FARMER |
| 24 | JEAN PAUL GYABENG | BEST LIVESTOCK FARMER |
| 25 | JAY PEE FARMS | BEST POULTRY FARMER |
| 26 | WENCHI M/A JHS | BEST SCHOOL |
The overall best farmer award winner for Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipal, Mr. Gabriel Anyimadu who hail from Sefwi Kumkumso was overwhelmed with joy and happiness when his name was mentioned as the winner this year. In an interview with the media these were his word, “I thank the Almighty God for this is will for my life, I will also laud the MCE, MOFA and CODAPEC for their support, its been a three years journey since they started coaching, training and giving me material needed for my farming work till now, there was nothing I was denied. Iwant to also applaud the government of Ghana and the president of Ghana H. E Nana Akufo Addo for the wonderful agricultural programs and training such as Planting for Food and Jobs, FERD, etc. It is through all this that I have been able to achieve this year’s best farmer award. I plead with the government not to end it here, it should be extended to farmers who have not benefited.
I want to use this opportunity to advise my fellow farmers who are not yet in the large-scale farming systems should never be discourage and they should always heed to coaching and training from agricultural department and CODAPEC. I am finally applauding Chirano Gold Mines Company Limited for sponsoring this car to be given the municipal best farmer. God bless them, where ever the gold is God should show them to mine it so they can always help with more present in the farmers day celebrations.
Thank you all, to all farmers I say AYEKOO, MO NE ADWUMA PA…”
The celebration was graced by officers and HODs from all departments in the municipal Assembly, all security services, Forestry commission, Ambulance service, Nananom Ghana Cocoa Board and many more.
On the whole the participation was massive.