A 42-year-old farmer, Mr Robert Crentsil, from the Ejumako-Enyan-Essiam District in the Central Region yesterday emerged the National Best Farmer for 2016.
Eighty-two others were also honoured for their contributions to agricultural production at this year’s National Farmers Day event which was held at Kintampo in the Brong Ahafo Region.
For his prize, Mr Crenstil was presented with a dummy key to a three-bedroom house to be constructed by the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) at a cost of $100,000.
The versatile farmer posted 120 acres of cocoa farm, 80 acres of rubber farm and 1,000 snail farm, among other agricultural projects, to beat other contestants to win the most prestigious national award for this year.
Sporting an all-white apparel, the proud national best farmer walked to the frontage of the rostrum, accompanied by his wife, to be recognised by President John Mahama to receive his prizes.
Receiving the award, Mr Crenstil said “ l thank God Almighty for this happy moment. This is how far the Lord has brought me.”
He advised the youth to take interest in agriculture and appealed to the government to provide start-up capital and other logistics to young men and women to encourage them to venture into the agricultural sector.
The Second National Best Farmer award was won by 39-year-old Martin Ariku Akurugu from the Upper East Region, while the second runner-up award went to Captain James Koranteng from the Tarkwa-Nsuaem District in the Western Region.
Other award winners
Other award winners are Madam Hasiatu Halidu, Best Sheanut picker; Mr Francis Sam, citrus; Mr Mustapha Yussuf, Most Promising Young Cocoa Farmer; Mr Prosper Komla Motey, agro-forestry; Malik Abane, millet; Chief Issah Bukari, onion; Mr Isaac Prince Boateng, tomato; Madam Grace Tanihi, pepper; Mr Ebenezer Ahorto, garden eggs; Mr Samuel Totimeh, carrot; Mr Samuel Tandoh, watermelon; Nana Kwaku Poku, cocoyam; Mr Akwasi Poku, cassava; Mr Francis Azimita, rice; Mr Sulemana Amoro, cashew; and Mr Kofi Vinyo, maize.
Others are Mr Dewor Konta Yiyele, yam; Mr Kingsford Essah, rubber; Mr Daniel Aboagye, plantain; Mr Andrew Takyi-Badu, coconut; Mr Solomon Wiafe Ntow,pineapple; Mr Stephen Kwaku Damtsey, okro; Mr Francis Agbogli, cowpea; Mr Lennox Kwasmigah; shallots, Dr Emmanuel Alleeye-Cudjoe, butterfly squash fruit; Alhaji Saawa Nazori, groundnuts; Mr Yuorido Kakariba, sorghum; Issifu Alidu Ambra, cotton and Memuna Mahama, soyabean.
Mr Kobina Naazie was adjudged the National Best Seed Grower, while the Begoro Export Pepper Farmers Association won the Best Farmer-based Association award.
In the area of animal production, Mr Sarfo of Kyekyebiase in the Ashanti Region won the Best grasscutter award, Ms Janet Serwaa, poultry; Mr Isaac Enos Kui Agyare, small ruminants; Ms Yaa Agyemang Prempeh, piggery; Edward Ta-Ang Yenli, guinea fowl; Mr Abasitemi Amagnyoro, cattle; James Adongo, beekeeping; Gistave Annor Owiredu, snail, Mr Banaabie Zakari, animal traction, and Ho Slaughter House, Butcher and Slaughter House.
In the category of fisheries, Mr Awudu Abdulai won the Marine Inshore fisher award; Mr Francis Agbeko Abotsi, Inland Canoe; Nyamitse Akaho, Inland Canoe Fisher; Mr Benjamin Forson Blackie, cage fisher farmer; Madam Beauty Akakpo Deku, fish processor; Mr Francis Adjei, fisheries worker for the Northern Sector, Mr Michael Mensah Kodie, best worker for the Southern Sector, Mr Godfred Alimo, fingerling producer.
The rest are the Wenchi Farm Institute, Best Agricultural Institute, Mrs Janet Gyimah-Kessie, best small-scale agro-processor, Mr Noah Lotsu, best irrigation rice farmer, Dr Francis Kusi, best agricultural researcher, and Mr Francis Asiedu Boafo, best physically challenged farmer.
Minister of Food and Agriculture
In his address, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna, said the choice of this year’s theme for the occasion: “Agriculture: A business response to economic growth,” was based on the fact that not only was agriculture lucrative but a key catalyst for Ghana’s economic transformation.
He stated that for the numerous investments in the agricultural sector to positively affect economic growth, they must be efficiently run on sound business principles.
He said to support agribusiness, a number of interventions were being made to reduce transactional costs and increase profitability in order to contribute to economic growth.
Those measures, he stated, included the new agri-business de-risking instrument, Ghana Incentive Risking Scheme for Agricultural Lending (GIRSAL) being developed jointly by the ministry and the Bank of Ghana.
Mr Limuna said since 2009, the country had been experiencing positive growth in agriculture and steps were being taken to increase land under irrigation through both public and private funding.
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