Seventy-four farmers are to be honoured at this year�s National Farmers Day scheduled to take place at Abokobi in Accra tomorrow, November 2, 2012.
The awardees include 50 mono-crop farmers, 10 extension officers, three best national farmers and their extension attaches, three best fisher categories and their extension attaches, one overall best extension officer and winners of the �What do you know� quiz on agriculture.
This year�s National Farmers Day awards will be held on the theme: �Grow More Food: Strengthening farmer-based organisations for marketplace bargaining power�.
The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, who held a press conference in Accra yesterday to throw light on preparations for the event, gave an assurance that the ministry would make every effort to ensure the successful organisation of the awards day.
According to him, the total budget for the event was GH₡3,826,446, including both materials and cash.
The Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) is sponsoring the first prize of a three-bedroom, fully furnished house on a litigation-free land for the eventual National Best Farmer at a place of his/her choice.
The Export Development and Agricultural Investment Fund (EDAIF) has provided the second prize of a tractor and its matching implements, while the third prize of a double cabin pick-up being sponsored by the the Stanbic Bank Ghana Ltd will go to the third best farmer.
For the best fisherman and best livestock farmer, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) is providing a double cabin truck each, while the best cocoa farmer also takes away a double cabin pick-up from COCOBOD.
The National Farmers Day was instituted in 1985 to honour farmers and fishermen for their hard work and subsequent high output in 1984 after the 1982 and 1983 bad agricultural years.
The first edition was held at Osino in the Eastern Region in December 1986, with the first best farmer receiving two machetes, a pair of Wellington boots and a preset radio.
The only woman to have won the national best farmer award is Madam Afua Frimpongmaa from the Central Region in 2004.
Since the institution of the awards scheme 1,500 farmers have been rewarded.
Tomorrow, November 2, 2012, the day for this year�s National Farmers Day, will not be a public holiday.
Source: Graphic.com.gh
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