The Municipal Best Farmer for Ketu South in 2021, Mawuawoe Xesumali, is appealing for government intervention to enable farmers in the country to increase crop production and ensure food security at all times.
Xesumali made the appeal in an exclusive interview with GhanaNewsOnline.com.gh during a visit to his 15 acre watermelon farm located at Atsiakorblor, a predominantly farming community near Agbozume in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta region.
According to Xesumali, the ever rising cost of farm inputs as well as fertilizers, agro chemicals, insecticides, among others was hampering crop production hence the need for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and relevant bodies to help farmers boost their cultivation to prevent any shortage of food in the country. He bemoaned the situation where farm produce are left to rot on farms due to the unavailability of motorable and access roads to convey such produce from the farms to the market centers.
Xesumali who cultivates several acres of crops ranging from cassava, maize, chili pepper, ground nuts, melon, okro, beans, tomatoes and rice observed that most farmers across the country rely mainly on rainfall to do their work but irregular rainfall patterns is also a factor adversely affecting their work.
To this end he called for support to enable farmers “engage in irrigation farming to ensure the availability of food crops all year round.”
The best farmer who also ventures into animal Rearing – cattle, sheep, goat, rabbit, grass-cutter advised the youth to venture into farming and agri-business as it was a viable alternative to non existing white collar jobs.
Mawuawoe Xesumali, who is also the Managing Director of Amenuveve Farms Ltd, was adjudged the Ketu South Municipal Best Farmer for 2021 after having been nominated for his hard work and commitment to farming and Agri Business which he runs both in the Ketu-South Municipality and the Greater Accra region. He cultivates several acres of farmland with livestock and employs over 30 permanent farmhands (workers) and about 108 casual workers in turn creating jobs for several youths within his catchment area.
Xesumali aspires to become the Volta Regional Best Farmer for 2022 and National Best Farmer in the near future.
Ms Irene Sitsofe Agbekorvi, an Agric Extension Officer of MoFA in the Ketu South Municipality who supervises Amenuveve Farm’s activities was full of praise for the farmer who she described as hardworking and someone who loves his work. She recommended Mawuawoe for further recognition and was hopeful that “her farmer” would emerge the Best Farmer in the Volta Region in 2022.
Madam Beauty Eloh, a trader who deals in water melons which she buys mostly from Amenuveve Farms, also praised the 2021 Ketu Best aFrmer saying he should be considered for the award of best farmer for Volta in 2022. A teacher and vegetable farmer Wisdom Sexornu also added his voice to calls by the best farmer for government to come to their aid in the provision of subsidized farm inputs to enable “us to continue to supply the country with adequate food”.
By Nelson Ayivor & Hebrews Pouyeli Kumako || ghananewsonline.com.gh