An 82-year-old farmer from the Kwahu Afram Plains South District, Abraham Kwaku Adusei, was yesterday honoured as the 2025 Overall National Best Farmer at the National Farmers Day celebration in Ho.
The father of 20, who has been farming for the past 44 years, owns a 1,800-acre cocoa farm, 193-acre mango farm, 30-acre rubber farm, 202.8-acre cashew farm, 159-acre rice farm and 600-acre maize farm.
The octogenarian also has a 55-acre plantain farm, 60-acre teak farm, 15-acre cocoyam farm and 30-acre tomato farm.
Opanyin Adusei further cultivates okra, garden egg, green pepper, cow pea, groundnut, hot pepper, ginger and cabbage, in addition to rearing poultry, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, ducks, guinea fowls, other local birds and has a fish pond.
For his prize, he took home a cheque for GH¢1.2 million, a brand new tractor and other agricultural equipment.
A farmer in the Greater Accra Region, Osamunu Kadri, who emerged the first runner-up, was presented with a tractor, a cheque for GH¢200,000 and assorted agricultural equipment.
A farmer in Banda in the Oti Region, Charles Gyato, emerged the second runner-up for 2025.
He received a brand new tractor donated by Stanbic Bank.
President’s pride
The 41st Farmers Day, held on the theme: “Feed Ghana, Eat Ghana, Secure the Futures”, was graced by President John Dramani Mahama, who re-affirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring an all-year food production, saying greater efforts would be committed to irrigation expansion, not only in locations by water bodies, but in areas where water could be tapped from underground for that purpose.
President Mahama renewed his call on Ghanaians to take up farming even if they were already working.
“With farming you can still do another job; so, we expect our teachers, nurses, doctors and other professionals to go into farming as well,” he said.
President John Dramani Mahama said that the necessary steps were ongoing to provide ready market for farm produce to curb the annual ritual of post-harvest losses.
He said the success of national development efforts depended on the availability of quality food for the populace, stressing that a nourished nation was a stronger nation.
President Mahama further gave an assurance that the government would support farmers to obtain credit at the right interest rate for their farming enterprises.
He urged local universities to produce new varieties of seeds to boost crop yields on the farms.
The President said it was gratifying that the United States Government had reversed the imposition of tariffs on agricultural produce from Ghana, and added that the measure was a golden opportunity for local farmers to produce food stuff for export to make money.
President Mahama revealed that Ghana still spent GH¢3 million annually to import basic food items, and called it totally unacceptable.
Meanwhile, he said, all school feeding programmes would now procure their food locally.
That, the President said, was to protect local farmers from suffering losses.
He called on Ghanaians to support local farmers by patronising their produce, saying feeding Ghana meant eating Ghana food.
The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, said collaboration between agricultural research and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) was crucial in the effort to achieve food security in the country.
“Innovation from the laboratory must be evident on the field,” he said.
Mr Opoku said the ministry would provide farmers with the appropriate mechanisation support and fertiliser distribution to increase yield and improve livelihoods.
He appealed to corporate bodies to continue to partner with the ministry to sustain the annual event that honoured farmers for their dedication and sacrifices.
The Minister of Fisheries and Aqua-culture, Emilia Arthur, said in spite of the challenges facing the sector, significant progress had been made.
The Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, said the theme of the 41st Farmers Day celebration reflected the nation’s collective resolve to build a resilient, modern and inclusive agricultural sector capable of driving sustainable national development.
He said the government’s dedication to building a technology-based, climate-smart, and private sector-driven agricultural economy gave profound meaning to this year’s National Farmers Day celebration.
Further, he said, the government’s renewed commitment to feeder road rehabilitation, the Big Push Project that sought to deliver road construction and improvement across the country, irrigation expansion, mechanisation services, warehouse infrastructure, youth agricultural entrepreneurship, and market modernisation were already restoring confidence and igniting new energy among farmers in the country.
The Agbogbomefia of Asogli, Togbe Afede XIV, who chaired the function, said farmers had proven worthy of their calling through their valiant role in feeding the country.
He said there was the need for farmers to be inspired in various ways to produce more to feed the nation.
Other awards
Akwesi Sey of Tarkwa in the Western Region was crowned the Most Promising Young Cocoa Farmer, while Aminatu Sule from the West Mamprusi District in the North East Region was named the Best Sheanut Picker.
They received a mini-truck each and assorted farm equipment for their prizes.
Cecilia Addae of Sankore District in the Ahafo Region was named the Most Enterprising Female Cocoa Farmer, which earned her a mini-truck, assorted farm equipment and GH¢100,000.
Kwasi Gyan from Techiman in the Bono Region was adjudged the Best Coffee Farmer of the Year, which fetched him a mini-truck and assorted farm equipment.
Edward Kwame Yeboah of Mankranso District in the Ashanti Region was named the Best Cocoa Farmer, which earned him a double cabin pickup and assorted farm equipment.
