George Asamoah-Amankwah is National Best Farmer, gets 3-bedroom house
A 49-year-old farmer from Derma in the Tano South District of the Brong Ahafo Region, Mr George Asamoah-Amankwah, was today crowned the 2014 national best farmer.
He was among 75 farmers who were honoured at the 30th national Farmers Day held at Sefwi Wiawso in the Western region.
For his prize, Mr Asamoah-Amankwah who has been farming for 17 years and owns Europa Farms, would be the proud recipient of a $100,000 three-bedroom house donated by the ADB Bank, to be sited at a place of his choice.
He has among others, 129 acres of maize, 600 hectares of tree plantation, 20 acres of pepper and okro farms, plantain intercrop of 6000 acres, 25,000 mounds of yam, 20 acres of oil palm, 147 cattle and three fish ponds with catfish and tilapia.
The best farmer, who has 22 permanent workers and 50 casual workers, is married with three children.
Dressed in rich traditional cloth with native sandals to match, Mr Asamoah -Amankwah walked briskly to the presidential dais where President John Dramani Mahama shook hands with him.
Acceptance speech
In his acceptance speech, he thanked the nation for the honour done him saying the award would encourage him to do even better in future.
He said food security was crucial in advancing the development of the nation and therefore called for increased support for farmers to enable them produce more.
The national best farmer appealed to the government to outsource the tree planting component of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority ( SADA) to private developers who had demonstrated the capacity to do better.
Mr Asamoah-Amankwah also called for a special fund to be created for plantation developers to enable them grow more to arrest deforestation.
Others award winners
The first runner-up to the national best farmer was Nana Obeng Wiako III from Upper Denkyira District, while Mr Yaw Gyan from Wenchi, was second runner-up.
The best cocoa farmer was George Owusu of Numesua No. 2 near Tepa in the Ashanti region with Madam Adwoa Awo of Suhenso in the Western region emerging as the most promising female cocoa farmer.
The promising young cocoa farmer was Michael Acheampong from Kwabeng in the Eastern region.
