Pastor James Anin of the Saviour Church of Ghana at Kotwi last Friday won the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma District best farmer at a farmers' day held at Piase.

He took home a bicycle, a pair of Wellington boots, a radio cassette player, one piece of wax print and a certificate.

Opanin Kwasi Nsiah from Deduako, a cocoa farmer, placed second and received a knapsack sprayer, four litres of chemicals, a pair of Wellington boots, a cutlass and a piece of wax print.

Asisriwa District Assembly Basic School emerged the best first cycle school in general crops production.

Sixteen other farmers were honoured and received a radio cassette player, five cutlasses, a pair of Wellington boots and a certificate each. Addressing the farmers, Mr Bright Addai-Mununkum, the District Chief Executive, commended them for their dedication and hard work.

Mr Salifu Moro from Dormaa near Anyinasuso in the Ahafo-Ano North District was last Friday adjudged the best district farmer.

For his prize he received a bicycle, a knapsack sprayer, a pair of Wellington boots, five pieces of wax print and a certificate.

Madam Ama Mansah from Camp Two and Mr Abudulai Sidiki of Wioso are the best district cocoa and coffee farmers respectively and for their prizes they received a knapsack spraying machine, a pair of Wellington boots, insecticides and two cutlasses each.

Twenty-two other farmers were also honoured and received a pair of Wellington boots, two cutlasses and a certificate each.

Speaking at the function Mr Akwasi Adu-Poku, the Ahafo-Ano North District Chief Executive, reiterated that agriculture is the backbone of the country's economy but expressed regret that it is dominated by the aged.

He therefore appealed to the youth to take agriculture seriously so that they could take over from the older generation instead of migrating to the cities and urban areas searching for non-existent jobs.

Mr Kwame Owusu Frimpong, Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, appealed to chiefs, family heads and landowners to make land available to the youth in their areas who wished to go into agriculture.

He urged farmers to join the National Health Insurance Scheme that becomes operational in January next year so as to have access to quality health care.

Mr Peter Owoahene Acheampong won the Ahafo-Ano South district best farmer award and received a knapsack spraying machine, wax prints and cutlasses.

Fifteen other farmers were also honoured and received Wellington boots, cutlasses, wax prints, bars of soap and certificates.

Addressing the farmers, Mr Kwaku Obeng Boateng, the Ahafo-Ano South District Chief Executive, asked the youth to take more interest in farming since it is now a lucrative venture.

He said 20 pupils from the Essienkyem Primary School were to enjoy scholarship by the assembly and therefore asked the pupils to take their education seriously.

Mr Alfred Amo, the District Director of Food and Agriculture, told farmers that the 17 extension agents in the district are prepared to assist them in modern techniques of farming and livestock rearing.

He said the extension agents could also organise them into groups and introduce them to financial and other institutions that grant credits to farmers.