Gbortsui, Dec. 14, GNA - Nii Armarh Ashitey, Greater-Accra Regional Minister, on Tuesday, challenged farmers in the region, to do all they could to keep the National Best Farmer's title in subsequent years. Nii Ashitey said winning was one thing, while staying on track, and winning all the time was a challenge.

"Farmers in the Region must move away from sustenance farming to commercial farming, since Greater-Accra stands out very tall to provide the national food basket".

The Regional Minister threw the challenge at Gbortui, in the Tema Metropolis, when he met and congratulated Mr Benjamin Adjetey Adjei, this year's National Best Farmer, and other award winners, in the various districts in the Greater-Accra Region. He was accompanied by the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives of Tema, Ashaiman, Adenta, Dangme East, Dangme West, and Ga West. Nii Ashitey urged Assemblies in the Region to spearhead the revolution of mechanized and commercial farming, to attract and generate employment for the Youth, and to also create wealth for the nation. He said the erroneous notion that Greater-Accra was all about building and sand winning, needed to be corrected, since the Region had more to offer than that.

The Regional Minister said even though Ghana had a lot of fertile land and water bodies, it was unfortunate that it imports about one billion dollars worth of food annually, with rice accounting for half of the imports.

He questioned if Ghana could not go into massive irrigation to produce more to ensure the availability of food on the market, even during the lean season.

"Even though we have got oil that does not mean we should abandon Agriculture, it should rather be the backbone of our economy", he stated. On his visit to the Best Farmer's farm, he said it was in the interest of his outfit to meet with all the award winners in the Region, to congratulate and encourage them to move ahead in their sector. Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, congratulated the award winners, especially Mr Adjetey, for lifting the name of the Tema Metropolis high, and promised to support them in their endeavours.

Mrs Margaret Khei Manu, Greater-Accra Regional Director of Agriculture, said it was heart warming that the Region had consistently won national awards during the national best farmers' day celebrations since its inception.

Mrs. Manu stated that the Region had the potential to excel in the Agricultural sector due to the availability of market and labour. The 60-year-old Mr Benjamin Adjetey Adjei said he was introduced to farming by his father at the age of 25. Mr Adjei encouraged the Youth to develop interest in Agriculture, explaining that his four daughters and two sons helped him to win the award, since they farm with him. He said everybody must be engaged in some form of Agricultural practice to help increase food production in the country. 14 Dec. 10