The Omanhene of Akyem-Awisa, Nana Kwarteng Karikari III has cautioned all Agric Directors in the country to deepen their periodic monitoring of their extension officers.

This he noted would go a long way to ensure those farmers who are in rural parts of the country to cultivate enough food to feed themselves and sell the surplus for income.

He further stated that the initiative would also support the government’s flagship agriculture programme, “Planting for Food and Jobs” (PFJ) which he believes would boost the use of local raw materials for manufacturing industries and create employment for the timid unemployed youth.

Nana Kwarteng Karikari made this known during the 34th Farmers Day edition of the Birim South District in Akyem-Awisa over the weekend.

In all 18 hardworking and gallants farmers were awarded in various categories. A 41 year old Mr. Emmanuel Baah was adjudged the overall 2018 District Best farmer. For his prize he took home, Nasco table top refrigerator, Nasco 32 inches LCD Television, Epe radio set, a pair of Wallington boost, rain Coat, 2 Condom Knapsack sprayer, two bottles of agro-chemicals, 4 cutlasses, a full piece of cloth and a certificate.

In an address the Birim South District Chief Executive (DCE) Mr. Richmond Kofi Amponsah assured Ghanaians that the agriculture sector which employs about 44 percent of the country’s population will gain stronger foundation than the 2018 performances next year.

According to him government has voted a heavy amount of money to help empower over 500,000 farmers to increase food production and create more jobs for the youth in its flagship programme, (PFJ).

He said under the agricultural transformation programmes, roads linking farms to urban centres would be constructed and refurbished, while storage facilities for farm produce would also be provided to attract private capital for large-scale agribusinesses.

“I am happy to announce to you that the Oda – Amanfopong and Swedru – Apoli –Ningo roads have all been awarded on contracts by the central government. Work is progressing steadily on these roads and they would be completed soon to ease the hardship that drivers and commuters go through daily when plying these roads”, he told the gathering.

Mr. Kofi Amponsah further indicated that as part of the PFJ programme a total of 2700 extension agents would be recruited to support the initiative to increase the production of selected crops for food security and job creations.

On some interventions put in place by the District to improve agriculture, the DCE indicated that out of the targeted 40,000 nursed oil palm seedlings under the Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD), 25,000 has been achieved and are yet to be distributed to over 700 farmers for cultivation free of charge in June 2019.

Nana Kwarteng Karikari Presenting an award to the overall District Best Farmer