A farmer with over three decades of experience from the Nkoranza South District of the Brong Ahafo Region has been adjudged as the National Best Farmer for 2018.
James Obeng Boateng beat competition from all others to join a history of winners that dates back to 1985.
He received a cheque for GH¢480,000 as his prize.
The award was presented by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at a special ceremony held at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale.
The ceremony was themed: ‘Agriculture: Moving Ghana Beyond Aid’.
The winner, 60, is said to have a highly diversified farm consisting of crop enterprises, large ruminants as well as 100 boxes of beehives and two fishponds of tilapia.
He has been a runner-up of the Award before, at the district level.
His philanthropic works were highly commended especially building schools for his community and renovating teachers’ bungalows.
Charity Akotia from Agona West in the Central Region came second while Alex Frimpong Tenkorang from the Kwahu Afram Plains South came third.
Other awards were presented to a national best fish farmer as well as regional best farmers.
Scholarships announced
There was a major addition to this year’s awards.
A total of 24 scholarships was presented by government for the wards of some of the award winners.
This is to cater for the tertiary education of wards of the winners who want to pursue programmes in agriculture at that level.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Akufo-Addo assured the farmers and fisherfolk that government will continue to commit to making the industry attractive, especially to the youth.
“We will continue to work hard to ensure that agriculture regains its place of pride in the country and our farmers and fisherfolk are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.”
For him, “If you have eaten today thank the farmer and the fisherfolk”.
Source: 3news.com|Ghana