The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) has given special awards to farmers in recognition of their hard work at the 39th Farmer’s Daycelebration held at Kansaworodo Durbar grounds in the metropolis. The award winers received items ranging from cutlasses, wheat bran, knapsack sprayers, wellington boots, insecticides, white wash and Mattresses. The category for the awards were Best Youth Farmer, Best Vegetable Farmer, Best Crop Farmer, Best Female Farmer, Best Livestock Farmer, Best Fisherman and Overall Best Farmer. Speaking on the theme “Delivering Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience”, the Metropolitan Chief Executive of STMA, Hon. Abdul-Mumin Issah thanked the farmers for their tireless efforts in sustaining the agricultural sector of the nation. He said their dedication has improved food security and its abundance in the country.

He pointed out that innovative measures are needed to be adopted to ensure that the goal of providing food, livestock and fish is achieved regardless of the changes in the climate as it sometimes affects yields. He added that smart agriculture was the surest way to promote sustainable food security. He intimated that the compliance with the closed fishing season was crucial in sustaining the fishing industry, thereby increasing fish products when the season is opened and therefore appealed passionately to the fisher-folks to comply at all times since such custom would be observed yearly. The Chairman for the occasion, a retired Agric Director, Mr. Daniel Essel, urged the Agricultural Extension Officers to educate farmers on best farm practices as well as collaborate with the Ghana National Fire Service to ensure farmers form Fire Volunteer Groups in their farm areas to safeguard their produce.

He expressed the hope that the move would ensure that smart solutions for sustainable food security is achieved. Mr. Osagyefo Rowell Stephen, a 34 year old farmer with nine cultivated crops, 52 pigs, 500 pieces of tilapia and 300 pieces of catfish emerged as the overall best farmer. He received a tricycle, 2 knapsack sprayers. 2 wellington boots, 4 cutlasses, 4 bottles of insecticides, 2 bags of white wash and 5 bags of wheat bran. He thanked the Assembly for the recognition and urged the youth to venture into agriculture as it is a service to humanity and God.
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