The Municipal Coordinating Director (MCD) at the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Mr Francis Dwira Darko has asked stakeholders in Agriculture to strive to come up with innovative approaches and solutions to the challenges that seek to hinder the country’s quest to have a sustainable and resilient sector.

Speaking on behalf of the Kumasi Mayor at last Friday’s edition of the joint Farmer’s Day Celebration between the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council (ARCC) and KMA at the Jubilee Park, Mr Darko noted that the country needed a different direction to dealing with food security and safety since the world was changing rapidly into a highly technological one.

He said the old tradional methods that the country had been using in the agric sector was inadequate to addressing the increasing complex challenges facing the agric sector.

“There is the need to use urgent but smart solutions to addressing challenges facing the agric sector such as climate change, unreliable weather patterns and limited resources”, the MCD stated.

Interventions By KMA:

The MCD said the KMA was committed to doing its part to come up with measures and Interventions to support farmers in the metropolis.

Currently, Mr Darko said the Assembly was dealing with post harvest losses in the agric sector,  especially with regards to grains, fish, fruits and vegetables.

The KMA, he disclosed has consequently started a targeted training programme for 700 market women in the metropolis to address post harvest losses.

He also noted that 10 battery cages have been provided to 10 women poultry farmers with each able to accommodate 120 birds.

Additionally, he said the KMA had commenced a campaign and vaccination regime to deal with rabies.

Awards:

Exotic Vegetable Sellers based in Bantama was adjudged the Best Marketing Group and received 10 plastic chairs, a certificate, a box of key soap and 10 cutlasses.

Green Bomens Farms in Ohwim also took home the accolade as Best Crop Farmer award receiving a certificate,  knapsack sprayer, a mattress, Wellington boots, weedicides, half piece of cloth, key soap and 10 bags of fertiliser.

Osbonsa Farms at Daban also won the Best Tradional Farmer award taking home a certificate, mattress  cutlasses,  Wellington boots, half piece of cloth, weedicides and bars of keysoap as Bomsan Saah Agro at Mbrom took home the title as Best Agrochemical Dealers also receiving a certificate, a plaque and a television set.

Interestingly, Amanfrom Camp Prisons based in Amanfrom won the Metropolitan Best Farms award taking home a certificate, a tricycle, knapsack sprayer,  a box of cutlasses, 2 Wellington Boots, 12 litres of weedicides and 10 bags of fertiliser.

Winning the Overall Best Farmer award at the joint Farmer’s Day Celebration was Nana Abena Gyamfua, a native of Asante Juaben.

Nana Gyamfua has 40 acres of oil palm, 27 acres of Maize grown 2 times in a year, 6 acres of Taroo (Kooko), 6 acres of vegetables, 2 acres of mango plantation and 8 pigs.

Regional Minister:

Earlier, the Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah speaking at the 39th Farmer’s Day event themed “Delivering Smart Solutions For Sustainable Food Security and Resilience, commended Ghanaian farmers for taking on the arduos task of working to feed the population.

He pledged government’s support to farmers including the provision incentives, productive measures and technology to make their work easier.

Story By Michael Ofosu-Afriyie, 

Kumasi.