For his prize he took home a tricycle, two knapsack spraying machines, machetes, wellington boots, agro chemicals and a certificate, among others.
Togbe Amegashie, who is the Chief of Adaklu Seva, has 120 acres of maize, 39 acres of cassava, seven acres of coconut, 11 acres of oil palm, 19 acres of rice and 13 acres of groundnut.
He also has 36 acres of woodlot, 17 acres of cowpea, one acre each of yam, okro and sorghum, 1007 cattles, 210 local fowls and 71 guinea fowls.
Togbe Amegashie prior to this year’s award won the Volta Regional best livestock farmer at the 2011 farmers day celebration.
The day was on the theme: “Feed Ghana, Eat Ghana, Secure the Future.”
Mr. Jerry Yao Ameko, Adaklu District Chief Executive speaking at the ceremony stated that agriculture remained the mainstay and pride of the people of Adaklu.
He called on traditional leaders as custodians of the land to collaborate with the Assembly to bring investors from both within and outside the country to ensure that the potentials in the agricultural sector are fully maximised for the benefit of the people.
Mr Ameko who is also the Dean of Volta region MDCEs, noted that agriculture had for many years been operated with a subsistence mindset, making it unattractive to the youth.
He called for its transformation from subsistence to a new technological and business approach to make agribusiness attractive and beneficial to farmers, especially the youth.
The DCE enumerated several policies and programmes being introduced by Mr John Dramani Mahama who led the government in the agricultural sector.
He named some of them as the tree for life initiative under the Green Ghana Revolution, Nkoko Nkinkiti policy under the Poultry revitalisation programme and the Feed Ghana Programme.
Mr Ameko said the overarching goals and specific objectives of these programmes were to increase agricultural productivity and production to reduce imports, enhance food security and improve nutritional outcomes, increase raw materials for agro-industry, increase agricultural export, and create jobs and wealth.
He stated that the district abounded in large tracks of arable lands which were underutilised and called on the youth to venture into agriculture.
Mr Ameko noted that the theme for the celebration was conspicuously in line with the government’s resetting agenda and that it was appropriate that “we must produce the greater portion of what we eat as it is the only way to ensure food security for the future.”
Madam Eugenia Nanka-Bruce, Adaklu District Director of the Department of Agriculture in her welcome address said the direct visits of Agricultural Extension Officers to farmers helped them (farmers) to improve farming practices, better ways of controlling pests and management of the soil to increase yields.
Madam Nanka-Bruce disclosed that her department in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research carried out demonstrations on tomatoes, amaranthus and okro.
She said the demonstrations would let farmers see new and improved varieties, learn how to plant them, and understand the best ways to manage those crops.
The Director stated that farmers in the district were registered under the Feed Ghana Programme and captured in the national data base to enable them receive support such as inputs, training, and market opportunities.
Togbe Agbobada IV, Senior Divisional Chief of Adaklu Anfoe, who chaired the function lamented the country’s dependence on imported foodstuffs from countries with less fertile and abundant lands, adding, “these countries are using modern technology to farm.”
He called on the government to as a matter of urgency revisit the “operation feed yourself” programme initiated by the then General Ignatius Acheampong led government in the 70s.
Mr. Sewanuku Attah, the best district livestock farmer from Adaklu Have and the best crop farmer, Togbe Edem, a sub Chief of Adaklu Tsriefe, were each given a motorbike, knapsack spraying machines, wellington boots, machetes and agro chemicals.
Ten others were also awarded in various categories among them, Mr. Winfred Akorli, a Person with disability.
