A 72-year-old retired educationist, Nana Appiah Brenya Asare, has been adjudged the best farmer in the Asante-Mampong Municipality.

He has cropped eight acres of mango, 10 acres each of cocoa, citrus and vegetables in addition to owning more than 1,200 birds.

For his prize, he received a motorbike, full piece of wax print, knapsack sprayer, a sounds system, a quantity of herbicides, pair of wellington boots and three cutlasses, at a Farmers’ Day celebration held at Kyekyewere near Apaa in the Ashanti Region.

Nineteen (19) other farmers were also rewarded for their outstanding contribution to the growth of agriculture in the area.

They carried home knapsack sprayers, pieces of wax print, sounds systems, cutlasses and wellington boots.

Mr. Daniel Appau-Ohyeamang, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), underlined the government’s determination to continue with interventions, including subsidy on agricultural inputs and the block farming programme and assured farmers of optimal returns.

He identified the absence of guaranteed prices and exploitation of farmers by middlemen as major disincentives that needed to be tackled through vibrant farmer-based organizations.

It was on account of this that the theme for this year’s celebration: “Grow More Food, Strengthening Farmer-based Organizations for Market Growth Bargaining Power,” was most appropriate and refreshing, he said. Mr. Francis Addai Nimoh, Member of Parliament for the area, encouraged the youth to take up farming to help improve their economic situation.