Mr. Opoku BoakyeYiadom, the Berekum Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), has urged district farmers to step up their operations for them to win higher national laurels in future.

He said enhanced performance of awardees could move them from the district to regional and ultimately to national best farmers, and this would greatly motivate up and coming farmers.

Mr. Boakye Yiadom gave the advice when he addressed the 31st National Farmers Day celebration on the theme: “Transform Ghana: Invest in Agriculture” at the district level at Tewbabi, near Berekum in the Brong-Ahafo Region.

He said when the youth saw their peers becoming successful in the agricultural sector that would encourage them, especially those in the Berekum area, to go into farming and take the place of the aged, and sustain the sector to feed the nation on a more sustainable basis.

The MCE pledged the commitment of his administration to make agriculture and farming more attractive for the youth in the area to engage in.

Mr. Kyei-Baffour Owusu-Achaw, the Berekum Municipal Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) in his welcom address, commended the government for instituting the fertilizer subsidy for Ghanaian farmers, though quite limited in supply.

He also praised the national service scheme authorities for introducing the youth in agriculture project.

The Director, however, urged incumbent and successive governments not to play with these laudable agricultural interventions, in order to achieve positive impact in the sector, as well as the socio-economic development of the nation.

“It appears that over the years, governments introduce these types of programmes just to score political points rather than really solving our agricultural problems permanently.

“Sometimes one is tempted to believe that either our leaders do not believe the problem can be solved or they are protecting some business interests,” he noted.

In all, 27 farmers were awarded, with the District Best Farmer Award going to 37-year old Mr. Manu Mershark from Jinijini-Abansere, and compatriot Mr. Dwaase Kofi Solomon, taking the first runner-up, with Mr. Ernest Stephen Amankonah from Namasua, wining the second runner-up award.

They received motor-kia (tricycles), and motor-bikes respectively.

Nana Akosua Kyeremaa Duodu Buokro, Queenmother of Tewbabi, who chaired the function, urged farmers in the area to forge closer collaboration with MOFA extension officers, in order not only to improve their practices, but to also increase yield and income.