The Chief Executive of the Upper Manya Krobo District of the Eastern Region, Joe Sam has reiterated the government’s quest in investing heavily and rolling out various programmes to ensure the Agric Sector remains the backbone of the Ghanaian economy.

He said government will continue to create the enabling environment and put in place the necessary interventions for the rapid growth of the sector.

The Chief Executive was speaking at the 38th National Farmers’ Day Celebration at Dawa Korlewa under the theme “Accelerating Agriculture Through Value Addition”.

According to him, the district has so far received 78,000 mango and oil palm seedlings which were distributed to 503 farmers under the Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) Program. Under the Planting for Food and Jobs Program, the district had benefitted from a significant quantity of improved seeds and fertilizers which were sold to over 500 farmers at subsidized prices to improve the farms.

Mr. Sam said it is against this backdrop that the district is currently collaborating with the Ghana Buffer Stock Company to provide ready market for the farmers to minimize post harvest losses which always characterize bumper harvest.

He encouraged farmers to take advantage of all the interventions in place in the Agric Sector to produce more in order to supply the requirements of processing industries in the country.

The District Director of the Department of Agriculture, Vladimir Debrah Agyekum said the department recognizing the important roles women play in agriculture value chain, ensures that they are empowered through training workshops, marketing and value addition.

The department also ensures free supply of cockerels to the women in poultry production to cross their local breeds so to increase the market value and their income status.

In all, 12 farmers were rewarded with a 41 year old Moses Tetteh from Bormase being adjudged the District Best Farmer of the year. He had been farming for over 18 years and was in 2018 crowned the District Best Youth in Agriculture. He took home a tricycle, cutlasses, knapsack sprayer, wellington boots, a radio set, a half piece of wax prints, weedicides and a certificate as his prize.

The other award winners include, Isaac Nyavor from Mensah Dawa being the Best Physically Challenged farmer, James Okrah of Sekesua as the Best Livestock Farmer, and Grace Terko Tetteh of Sawa being the Best Woman In Agriculture Development.