Stories From Richard Attenkah
Ibrahim Baidoo, Ashaiman Municipal Chief Executive, has stated that it is not impossible for Ghana, as a nation, to produce more food and export the surplus to other countries to enable it generate the needed foreign exchange for its economic activities.
Unfortunately, post-harvest losses across the length and breadth of the country have deprived Ghana, especially its farmers, from deriving the full benefits of their toil, thus rendering our farmers poor, and not helping the nation to feed its people, he noted.
He has, therefore, challenged researchers in the agricultural sector to delve into what can be done to ensure that post-harvest losses in the country are minimised, if not eradicated completely.
“I want to throw the challenge to our researchers to assist our poor farmers, and even the market women, through Agricultural Extension Officers to minimise, if not eliminate, agricultural post-harvest losses,” he stated.
Mr. Baidoo was speaking at the 29th Farmers’ Day celebration, organised by the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA), to honour farmers in the municipality, under the theme “Reducing Post-Harvest Losses for Sustainable Food Security and Nutrition.”
Touching on efforts the government was putting in place to improve upon the agric sector, the ASHMA boss said it introduced the block farm concept and the pig-in-kind project to empower many young Ghanaians to sustain the meat production capacity of the nation, and to generate enough income for our farmers.
Mr. Samuel Kwasi Afari was adjudged the Overall Best Farmer for the Ashaiman Municipality, out of the 12 persons who were pronounced best farmers in the following categories, rice, onion, pepper, maize, cattle, alternate livelihood, small ruminants, piggery, poultry, grass-cutter and best agric extension officer.
For his prize, he took home five cutlasses, one pair of wellington boots, a brand new television set, one piece of GTP wax print, one wheelbarrow, one double-decker fridge, water pumping machine, Tuna flakes (Starkist), assorted agro chemicals and a set of aluminium pans.
The other award winners each received two cutlasses, one pair wellington boots, four bags of fertiliser, one knapsack sprayer, one bicycle, Tuna flakes (Starkist) and assorted agro chemicals.
Mr.-Samuel-Kwasi-Afari-receiving-the-certificate-for-the-overall-best-farmer-for-the-Ashaiman-Municipal-area-from-Hon-Ibrahim-Baidoo-Ashaiman-Municipal-Chief-Executive-2nd-from-right.