The Bodi District Assembly in the Western North Region on Farmers’ day, November 6, 2020, awarded some hardworking farmers in the district for their meritorious services to the district in particular and Ghana in general.
The awards that fell into 18 categories included the Best Agric Officer for the District and first and second runner-ups to the overall District best farmer.
Whereas Rev. Augustine Opong-Boadi, District Agric Extension Officer emerged the best District Agric Officer, Nana Kwabena Nkuah I, Chief of Krayankro, venue of the function emerged the first runner up to the Overall Best farmer; Anthony Aneni. Nana Nkuah also happened to be chairman for the occasion.
Also Md. Mariana Musah of Ahibenso emerged the second-best runner-up to the District over-all best farmer, Mr. Anthony Aneni of Sefui Afere. For his prize, he received a motor-bike, agro-chemicals, assorted goods, cutlasses, wellington boots and many more.
Other categories of the awards included District Best Cocoa farmer, which went to Mr. Francis Azupeh Nusutor of Dokukrom, most promising best cocoa farmer, which went to Mr. Yaw Kwarteng of Sefwi Afere, Best Exhibiter, which went to Mr. Bismark Anaba of Atiemokrom.
Others were best District Vegetable Farmer, which went to Mr. Kingsley Bieh of Bodi, who also emerged as the overall District Best Farmer last year. Mr. William Fuachie of Amoya emerged Best District livestock farmer with Madam Dahinatu Ibrahim of Afere emerging the Best District Rice Farmer.
District Best Aquaculture went to Augustine Boadu of Datano; Doris Bieh took District Best Cocoyam Farmer with District Best maize farmer going to Agatha Dwiweleh of Bodi.
Mr. Emmanuel Appiah emerged District Best Youth in Agriculture. All awardees received assorted goods, agro-chemicals, cutlasses and many more.
According to District Agric Director, Joseph Otoo. All the items of the awards were borne by the District Assembly, its financial encumbrances notwithstanding. He indicated that ideally, the Assembly awards a tricycle/aboboyaa for the overall best farmer. However, due to the pandemic COVID-19 and financial constraints, the Assembly could not afford the tricycle this year.
He was hopeful that in the coming years, the Assembly will be able to live up to expectations. Mr. Otoo stated that it was his intention to produce a woman as the Overall Best Farmer. All the same, though it did not materialize this year, it will come to pass in subsequent years.
The Agric Director pointed out that the Bodi District initially was not part of the poorest districts in the country. However, due to the mass death of cocoa trees in the area, and also the effects of COVID-19, it had been classified among the 80 poorest Districts in the country.
He indicated that with determination, hard work and support from all, the District will surely attain its past glories.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Hon. Ignatius Akwasi Amankwaa, who also doubles as NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Bodi stated that this was the 9th edition of the farmers’ day celebration in the District, in its 36th mile stone.
While expressing happiness at the ceremony, he congratulated all farmers, especially the award winners, wishing them all the best in their endeavors in subsequent years.
Bringing them good tidings from the President, and his Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Amankwaa indicated that agric policies implemented by the NPP administration had yielded much progress in the sector.
These policies, he said included planting for food and jobs, planting for export and rural development, cocoa pollination and rehabilitation of dead coca farms, animal husbandry, aquaculture, and many more.
He pointed out that because of the mass death of cocoa trees in the area, the Assembly had introduced farmers to diversity in Agric, which included rice farming which, he noted that farmers had embraced seriously, as it is doing very well.
Besides the success story, these policies had also generated employment for the people, especially the youth. Wishing farmers “Ayekoo”, on behalf of the President and Government of the NPP, Hon. Amankwaa wished them well in their endeavors and for the sustenance of farming in the district.
From S. O. Ankamah, Juaboso, WNR