Tema-Ghana, Dec. 6, MNN – Mr Osman Musa was decorated as the 2022 Overall Best Farmer in the Tema West Municipality for his achievements and efforts in feeding the growing population.
Mr Osman who was decorated at the Municipal observation of the 38th National Farmers Day celebration at the Mexico Basic School in Tema Community 2; owns 16 acres of maize, four acres of okro, four acres of green pepper, and two acres each of tomatoes, cucumber, and ayoyo.
He expressed gratitude to the government and the Municipal Assembly for the award stressing that “it has been God from the beginning, and hard work yields results”.
Mr Osman encouraged the youth to engage in farming and not only a white colour job but take interest in farming as an additional skill or a business to venture in.
Mr Osman Musa received a brand new tricycle in addition to the other items and said the award would serve as a motivation to work harder in adding value to agricultural development.
He urged the government to continue intervening in the land, fertilizers, and seed issues to benefit farmers.
Madam Jacki Ninbi-Yobo, a banker by profession and a member of the Tema Community 3 Livestock Association was awarded the Best Woman Farmer in Tema West.
She encouraged women to move into farming and work hard to be rewarded for their outcomes, adding that “every farmer faces challenges but we still kept pushing”.
Items for awardees included chest freezers, television, sintex tanks, organic compost, wellington boots, pumping machines, cutlasses, basins, sprays, and chocolate powder amongst others.
Ms Anna Naa Adukwei Addo, Municipal Chief Executive for Tema West encouraged farmers to be more innovative and adopt modern technologies to make farming a more lucrative and profit-oriented business.
Ms Adukwei Addo reiterated that agriculture is the backbone of the country’s economy hence farmers should embrace change and be innovative to see an increase in agricultural productivity.
She emphasized that the theme “Accelerating Agricultural Development through Value Addition,” situates the importance the government places on agriculture in enhancing a productive nation and economy, as a developmental agenda as a nation cannot be achieved without a conscious attempt to improve the agricultural sector.
Ms Adukwei Addo encouraged backyard gardening adding that the Assembly looks forward to adopting programmes to enhance home consumption and excess harvest to serve as means of income.
The Tema West MCE said the Assembly is encouraged by the number of young people, including women, who are getting involved in agriculture, stressing that through proactive programmes by the government more persons have been realising that agriculture can be a very lucrative career.
“With our various linkages, including the tourism sector, our farmers are seeing that the sector is viable and can provide a pathway for success,” she said.
