By: Kingsley Attitsogbui|
The Queenmother of Agortime-Wodome, Mama Wosife V, has been crowned as the overall district best farmer 2023 for the Agortime-Ziope District at Takuve last Friday.
The Queenmother, currently residing at Agortime-Akpokorpe cultivates acres of farmland in the Agortime-Ziope District for her farming business.
She cultivated thirty (30) acres of Maize, seven (7) acres of Tomatoes, three (3) acres of Okro, three (3) acres of Cassava, 1.5 acres of Yam, five (5) acres of Sweet Potato and two (2) acres of Pepper.
The rest are twenty five (25) goat, six(6) sheep and forty two (42) fowls.
She received one 43 inch TV set, four (4) spraying machines, eight (8) Cutlasses, four (4) Boots and ten (10) weedicide for her prize.
Mama Wosife V in her acceptance speech, said she has always loved to farm however, because of the duty postings of her late husband who was a police officer, she did not have the time to venture fully into it.
She said she started with business but later when her late husband retired from active service, she zoomed fully into agriculture about sixteen (16) years ago.
“I started with business in a shop but I realized the shop cannot cater for the family. All my siblings are farming and I decide to farm too to support the family” she said.
She encouraged more women to venture into farming to support their families as the men cannot do it alone.
She further added that the award she received challenges her to do more in farming.
The District Chief Executive for the Agortime-Ziope District, Hon. Emelia Emefa Adzimah, said the contributions of our farmers to the growth of the nation cannot be overemphasized, saying the invaluable contributions of farmers to ensure food security in the country in pursuit to achieve Goal two (2) of the Sustainable Development Goals which seeks to provide sustainable solutions to eradicate hunger in all forms by 2023.
She said the assembly is ensuring that the agriculture sector is given the necessary attention and resources to ensure all year food production and the application of the necessary technologies to increase yield and prevent post- harvest loses.
She said with the support of the World Bank through the Ghana Productive Safety Net Project (GPSNP), the assembly has Citrus and Coconut Plantations in ten (10) communities in the district.
“The goal is to alleviate extreme poverty, boost the productivity and incomes of the poor in the country whilst mitigating climate change challenges” she said.
The Paramount Chief of the Ziope Traditional Area, Torgbui Binah Lawluvi VII who chaired the occasion said stakeholders must create the necessary environment through policy interventions and other incentives He to motivate farmers to play their roles more effectively.
He said stakeholders must demonstrate more sensitivity to the needs of farmers to enable them to optimize productivity, build resilience and attain a level of competitiveness derived from the efficient use of resources and technology.
“This year, about 90% of our Tomatoes produce were left to rot on the farms because of lack of Access roads” he said.
He bemoaned government’s attitude towards establishing a Tomatoes factory in the district.
He said the Traditional Authorities from the two Traditional Areas in the district will work closely with the department of feeder roads and the Agric department in the District Assembly to harness
development to the people.
The 39th edition of the National Farmers’ Day was on the theme: “Delivering Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience”.
Other award winners were; Mr. Midao Ekpoh-Best Extension Collaborator, Mr. Ahiale Kwadzo Believer-Most Enterprising Farmer, Mr. Yao Keteku-Best Youth Farmer, Mr. David Dogbey Kwashie-Overall Best Animal Farmer, Mad. Beatrice De-Gaulle-Overall Best Crop Farmer and Mr. Stanley Dagadu-Best Agriculture Extension Agent.