Cornelius Kpende is Kpando Municipal Best Farmer

Gbefi (V/R), Nov. 2, GNA - Mr Cornelius Kpende, a native of Gbefi-Hoeme has been adjudged the best Municipal Farmer at this year’s National Farmers’ Day celebration at Gbefi in the Kpando Municipality of the Volta Region.      He received a motorised tricycle and a certificate as his award for observing good agricultural practices.      Mr Kpende cropped 54 acres of maize, 25 acres of oil palm, 10 acres of cassava, five acres of garden eggs, two acres each of okro and water melon.      He also owns 12 sheep, six goats, 31 fowls and two operational tractors.      Fifteen other individuals, Kpando Torkor Municipal Assembly Junior High School and two farmer-based organizations (FBOs), namely Elikem Farmers Group of Kpando-Gabi and Volta Lake Fish Farmers Association were honoured for their sterling contribution to the development and production of agriculture in the Municipality.      Mr Lawrence Atobu, physically-challenged farmer was adjudged the best in the category for cultivating one acre of rice, two acres of maize, half an acre of cassava and 50 ruminants.      He received a pair of Wellington boot, three cutlasses, a knapsack machine and a certificate.      The rest of the award winners in various categories such as maize, poultry, rice, cassava and small ruminants received prizes for distinguishing themselves in agricultural production and development.      Mr Francis K Ganyaglo, Municipal Chief Executive said government is poised to strengthen agricultural mechanisation, improve on irrigation and improved seeds and high yielding variety of seed stock.      He said ready markets and storage systems would be available for products and commodities as well as strengthening of the technical and research capacities to perk up production in the sector.   Mr Ganyaglo urged the FBOs to remain organised and institutionalised a measure to keep avail themselves of schemes of training and loan regimes.      He expressed dissatisfaction at the high default rates of the GH¢200,000 Millennium Development Authority scheme urging beneficiaries to honour their indebtedness so that others could be part of the programme.      Ms Cecilia Gboloo, Municipal Director of Agriculture said there are 20 active FBOs made up of 877 individuals who are into crop and animal production.      She said under the Youth in Agriculture programme in 2012, a total of 1,600 fertilisers worth GH¢60,900 was distributed and 245 hectares of land placed under cultivation of mainly fruits.      She said production hinges on technically competent FBOs and is glad that farmers are accepting this concept.      Mr Kpende told the Ghana News Agency that the award would motivate him to increase production in the future and aim at the national awards.      The programme was on the theme: "Strengthening FBOs for market place bargaining power."   GNA... Read Full Story