14 farmers Honoured by Adentan Assembly @37th Farmers Day

At least 14 farmers of various categories were on Friday, December 3, 2021, received awards by the Adentan Municipal Assembly (AdMA) at the 37^th National Farmers Day, for their hard work and contribution to the Agriculture development of the Municipality.

The Municipal Chief Executive Officer, Hon Daniel Alexander Nii Noi Adumuah, who paid glowing tribute to the farmers for their sacrifices over the last 12 months, assured them of the assembly commitment to contribute to their work.

He however charged the farmers not to give up despite the daunting challenges they faces.

According to the MCE, the assembly remained committed to ensuring that farmers, especially backyard farmers receive support to help boost agriculture activities in the municipality.

***MR MARTIN AFENYO RECEIVING OVERALL BEST AWARD FROM MCE, NII NOI ADUMUAH***

The MCE also tasked the youth and residents interested in farming to take advantage of the government policies like the Planting for Foods and Jobs and the Rearing for Food, thus the Fish for Development Project (FIDEP) and Mushroom farming under the European Projects to start their own farming to improve upon their economic condition.

The Theme for this year National Framers Day was “Planting for Food and Jobs-Consolidating Food System in Ghana.”

This, Hon Nii Noi Adumuah said President Akufo Addo government placed a high premium on agriculture to ensure the food security of the country and would continue to extend opportunities for farmers.

He urged farmers and those interested to visit the Agric Department and the Business Development Centre of the Assembly for experts and technical advice so they could get themselves rolled onto the flagship programmes.

The MCE also bemoaned the level at which landowners are gradually giving out farmlands to estates and other developmental entities at the expense of farming and expressed the fear the situation could affect the agriculture sector in few years to come.

Nonetheless, he entreats residents to cultivate the habit of backyard farming for sustainable food for family needs, a sustained environment and for the food security system in the municipality.

The Municipal Director of Agriculture, Mr Kodwo Fynn said the assembly has over the years collaborated and work closely with farmers in the municipality to improve their yield.

He assured that the department would continue to promote mushroom production, and aquaculture along the value chain to sustain the PROMUSH and FIDEP, the Assembly flagship programme.

“FIDEP has proved that fish farming along the value chain is possible in an urban municipality like Adentan. Catfish and Tilapia are being produced on the Armahia and Animal Research Institute water bodies on a pilot basis and so far, we have harvested over 600kg of catfish and 180kg of Tilapia from the two water bodies.

“Currently we have about 970 pieces of catfish and over 1300 pieces of tilapia in cages on water bodies. We gave out 2616 fingerlings to 48 plastic tank beneficiaries, some of whom have started harvesting their fish,” Mr Fynn said.

The Fish for Development Project (FIDEP) is a 40 months European based organization programme aimed at promoting sustainable local economic growth and development through fish farming in the Adentan Municipality.

***BEST FARMER SWORD HANDED OVER TO MARTIN AFENYO***

The 2021 overall Municipal Best Farmer for Adentan, Mr. Martin Afenyo, thanked the Assembly for recognizing his effort and awarding him as the best farmer for the year.

He said it takes one passion and commitment to be a great farmer and urged his colleague awardees and upcoming young farmers to pay attention to their workers and as well partake in work and ensure rewards for their workers.

As part of his award package, Mr. Afenyo took home a tricycle, one pair of wellington boots, one protective wear, three cutlasses, Agrochemicals, one spade, one radio set, one Knapsack sprayer and a half piece of GTP.

The first and second runner ups were Madam Olivia Mavis Akayuli and Mukaila Tetteh.

The rest of the awardees were best mushroom farmer, best backyard farmer, best female farmer, best poultry farmer, best Agro-processor, best youth farmer, best physically challenge farmer, best fish farmer, best Livestock farmer, best crop farmer, best vegetable farmer and best Agric- extension agent.

Over 18 out of 42 Nation Builders Corps beneficiaries known as NaBCo who have the opportunity to work with the Adentan Municipal assembly in various departments were also recognized for their contributions.