Gyamfi is 2019 National Best Farmer

The 25 years journey in agriculture paid off for Mr Charles Gyamfi from the Tano North Municipality in the Ahafo Region, when he emerged the 2019 National Best Farmer.

The 58-year-old farmer, who ended his education at the secondary level, won the prestigious annual award at a colourful durbar held at the Volta Regional capital, Ho, on Friday, taking home a cheque for GH¢536,000 donated by the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) and a GH¢500,000 life insurance cover from Glico Insurance.

He diversified his farming activities by combining the cultivation of food and cash crops, animal husbandry and aquaculture and also adopted integrated cultural practices to boost his productivity.

It was a moment of pride for the father of five, when he was pronounced winner of the highest national farmers' prize.

A citation eulogising the accomplished farmer, read by the Minister of State in charge of Agriculture, Dr Gyiele Nurah, was received with a spontaneous standing ovation, as the gathering clapped  incessantly to cheer him on as he walked calmly to receive his honour.

Citation

The citation indicated that Mr Gyamfi had cultivated 500 acres of cocoa; 20 acres of teak; several acres of cashew, yam, cocoyam, maize, garden eggs, plantain, citrus and cashew.

He also has 75 cattle; 25 goats; 2,000 layers; five beehives; three fish ponds and 1,000 snails.

The citation further praised Mr Gyamfi for practising good record keeping; using modern technology; having good knowledge of husbandry practices and being environmentally sustainable in his operations.He uses droppings from the animals as manure and uses the maize and other cereals to feed fish.

It added that the great impact his farming activities had on society, including employing 158 workers, and his social responsibility initiatives in the education, health and other sectors, made him fit for the crown.

Handshakes

It was all joy when the holder of the 2018 crown, Mr James Oppong Boateng, also from the former Brong Ahafo Region, stepped forward to shake hands with Mr Gyamfi.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was joined by the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, to decorate the award winner with a sash.

Present at the ceremony organised on the theme, “Enhancing small-scale agriculture towards agribusinesses development," were ministers of state, regional ministers, financial institutions, traditional leaders, farmer associations and stakeholders in the agriculture value chain.

Prizes

The First and Second Runners-up were Nana Yaw Sarpong Siribuo from Juaben in the Ashanti Region and Mr Abdulai Antiku Seidu from the Upper West Region.

They received a tractor and a double-cabin pickup vehicle respectively.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo presenting a key to Nana Yaw Sarpong Siriboe (right), 1st Runner-Up. With them are  Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto (2nd right) and Mrs Elizabeth Afoley Quaye (left).

Additionally, they also got GH¢300,000 and a GH¢200,000 life insurance package respectively from Glico Insurance.

Shortly after he was presented with the ultimate prize, friends, family members and well-wishers gathered around him in solidarity to give him ‘a pat on the back’ for his accomplishment.

With smiles, Mr Gyamfi simply remarked, when given the opportunity to do so that, "I am proud to be taking over the crown from another brother from the Bono and Ahafo area. I thank the President for creating the new regions; and Ahafo has demonstrated that we are grateful by winning this ultimate prize”.

"I will be holding the fort and lighting the path for all farmers for the next one year and I promise to be a worthy ambassador. May God bless all farmers," he added.

President Akufo-Addo presenting a prize to Mr Abdulaiu Antiku Seidu (right),  the 2nd Runners-Up. With them are Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto (2nd right) and Mrs Elizabeth Afoley Quaye

Other winners

Mr Ernest Sarkodie from Sankore in the Ahafo Region emerged the National Best Cocoa Farmer, while the best female farmer went to Ms Philomina Tenge from the Eastern Region.

Mr Atamga Alanga from Bongo in the Upper East Region won the Best Physically challenged Farmer award.

Other winners of national awards are: Best Digital Farmer, Bori Baidoo from the Ashanti Region; Best Tree Crop Farmer, Mr Seth Adjei from the Bono East Region; Youth Farmer of the Year, Mr Ayuba Gyibrilla from the Eastern Region; Best Livestock Farmer, Mr Newell Kwaku Asankomah from the Ashanti Region, and Best Irrigation Farmer, Mr Tom Kwarteng Amaning, from the Ashanti Region.

Fisheries

For awards in the fisheries sector, Mr Joseph Hemans Asmah from the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem (KEEA) in the Central Region was adjudged the Best Fisherman.

The Best Marine Fisherman went to Nana Kwamina Badu, also from KEEA, while Mr Richard D. Fran-ang from Nadoli Kaleo in the Upper West Region, won the Best Inland Fisherman award.

Mr John Coffie from the Upper Denkyira West District in the Central Region and Ms Eva Atitsogbe from South Dayi in the Volta Region emerged winners in the Best Aquaculture and Fish Processor categories respectively.

Regional winners

Farmers, who excelled at the various regions were also awarded at the National Farmers Day durbar.

They are Mr Mashoud Dori, Upper West; Mr Ayine Justice Atombisa, Upper East; Mr Mahamoud Mohammed Awal, Northern; Mr Nagmang-Rana Tahiru Ibrahim, North East, and Alhaji Zakaria Imoro, Savannah.

The others are Professor Akwasi Asabere-Ameyaw, Bono East Region; Mr Osman Debrah, Bono Region; Mr Stephen Tweneboah Kodua, Ahafo Region; Mr Joseph Kwabena Gyasi, Western North Region, and Mr De Graft Nyansah Afful, Western Region.

The rest are Nana Obeng Gyasi, Ashanti Region; Mr Daniel Gbedawo, Eastern Region; Nene Djadagonor II, Greater Accra Region; Mr Maxwell Kwame Essebu, Central Region; Mr Edward Awuku Kaka, Volta Region, and Mr George Achibra, Oti Region.

The National President of the National Farmers and Fishermen Award Winners Association of Ghana (NFFAWAG), Mr Davies Narh Korboe, thanked the government for the various interventions aimed at improving the livelihood of farmers.

He asked for the regional Farmers Day celebrations to be revived, since that would help promote farming.