The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Nuertey Ayertey, has commended the Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Assembly for supporting women farmers in the Municipality with farming inputs.

He said this would encourage more women to go into farming and take it up as a serious business.

Mr Ayertey was speaking at the 35th Annual Municipal Farmers Day celebration at Kpong in the Eastern Region.

Mr Simon Kweku Tetteh, the Municipal Chief Executive, said more than 2,622 farmers made up of 928 women and 1,694 men were supported by the Assembly under the Government flagship programmes.

He said under the Planting for Food and Jobs, a total of 7,233 bags of NPK fertilizer, 2,787 Urea, 1,600 litres of organic liquid fertilizers, and 2,880 kilogrammes seed maize were distributed to them at subsidised prices.

The MCE called on Ghanaians to eat locally produced foods adding; "The greatest contribution we can make is not only to celebrate farmers on occasions like this but to eat and utilize what farmers grow to increase their ability to cater for their family and expand the local and national economy."

He said under the special rice production initiative, 133 bags of improved rice seeds and 568 bags of NPK fertilizers were distributed to 11 female and 60 male farmers.

Mr George Tetteh, 43, from Oborpah, was adjudged the Overall Best Farmer for the Municipality with Ms Veronica Kaney of Obele Manya and Mr Emmanuel Obampor taking the second and third positions, respectively.

About 17 other farmers received prizes for being best farmers in the various crops.

Among the award winners include a 22-year old Japhet Amanor from Abobeng, who won the Best Youth Farmer for the Municipality.

Mr Godswill Komla Glante, the Municipal Agriculture Director, urged farmers to work closely with the agricultural extension agents and collect coupons to enable them to acquire farm inputs at subsidised rates.

He said the Women in Agriculture Development, in collaboration with the University of Ghana Nutrition Department's Linking-Up Project, has trained women farmers to be self-sufficient in poultry agribusiness at Ayermesu.

Mr Glante said 25 of the trained women were to be given 50 layers each as start-up package.

He said under the Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD), 32,130 mango seedlings were distributed to farmers free of charge.

A Farmer Field School was organized at Akuse to build the knowledge of farmers in budgeting whiles MTN Ghana, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, had trained 55 women in mobile banking in the Municipality.