2020 National Best Farmer pockets 7.5 Billion Old Ghana Cedis As His Prize Money
Fifty five years old multi-purpose farmer and philanthropist, Solomon Kwadwo Kusi, on Friday emerged as the National Best Farmer with a jaw dropping prize of 570,000 Ghana Cedis- an equivalent of 7.5 billion old Ghana Cedis (or 100,000. US Dollars).
The tall list of crops cultivated in his large acreage of farm at Jomoro in the Western Region include cocoa, coconut, cassava, plantains, ginger, oil palm, maize, maize, pepper among others and also live stock.
Aside these, the 2020 national Best farmer is into the cultivation of forest woods including Odum and mahogany.
Mr. Kusi has his own recycling plant where almost all the waste he generates from his farms are turned into manure or other useful agro-chemicals like insecticides.
As philanthropist in his own right, the accomplished farmer has provided social services in road construction in his community as well as supporting the education of several deprived children.
After the tall list of his accomplishments was presented and his name was mentioned, Mr. Kusi received a standing ovation from the crowd including some prominent chiefs and member of government.
At the programme was the President, Nana Addo –Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Guest of Honour, who left the function immediately the National Best Farmer had received his prize and acknowledgements to return to the Ashanti Region to complete his working tour which ends on Saturday.
In his congratulatory message released President President Akufo-Addo wished all farmers a happy Farmer’s Day.
He said “this year has been tough for many countries due to COVID-19 but Ghana’s resilient economy resourced the Agriculture sector and that ensured no shortage of food.”
“As a result of the resilient nature of Ghanaian agriculture, buoyed on by the fact that the sector has received strong support from government over the last three and ten months, we in Ghana faced no food shortages in food surplus since the outbreak on the virus on our shores in March, and our country has since been able to stand on its own two feet in spite of the obviously difficulties.”
President Akufo-Addo expressed his appreciation of “a grateful nation to farmer and fisher folk across the country for achieving this historic feat. “
Ghana Farmers Day, which has become a big national ceremonial event was introduced in by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in 1988 during the PNDC era.
It is celebrated on the first day in December to honour farmers and fishermen for their efforts in securing national food security and also to boost the export of cash crops to improve Ghana’s GDP ‘
This year’s event has to be held one month ahead of the normal period because of the December 7 elections.
The theme for the 2020 event is : “Ensuring Agribusiness under COVID-19 – Opportunities and challenges.
