With 8 years of farming experience, the winner has 85 acres of maize, 15 acres of mangoes, 10 acres each of yam, cowpea, groundnuts, and cashew as well as 3 acres of rice.
He also keeps 65 cattle, 8 goats, 4 sheep, 15 local fowls, and 25 guinea fowls.
For his prize, Tawiah took home 1 tricycle, 1 full piece wax print, 2 pairs of wellington boots, 2 cutlasses, 2 knapsack sprayers, 1 radio set, 2 bars of key soap, 5 liters of weedicides, a bag of fertilizer, and a certificate.
Addressing the gathering, which also marked the Bono East regional celebration of the same event, the regional director of agriculture Mrs. Cecelia Kagya Agyemang said agriculture in the region has undergone a lot of improvement as a result of the ‘planting for food and jobs’ initiative by the government.
She noted that the production of crops like cassava, maize, rice, beans, yam, and soya beans among others have increased as a result of the provision of fertilizers, chemicals, and improved seeds under Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ).
She underscored the need in adding value to farm produce and urged all to venture into the cottage industry to help reduce post-harvest losses and increase the income of farmers.
In addressing the audience, the Atebubu-Amantin Municipal Chief Executive Hon. Edward Owusu said the theme for the event ‘agricultural development through value addition’ could not have come at a better time considering the current global economic challenges which require pragmatic measures to ensure agricultural sustainability and food security.
“Value addition coupled with improved packaging leads to a diverse range of products that appeal to larger markets, enhances storage time thus reducing post-harvest waste leading to a significant increase in incomes for farmers and processors as well as ensuring food safety and security”, he indicated.
The MCE said it is in line with this objective that the government through the Ghana Agricultural Sector Improvement Programme (GASIP), and Modernizing Agriculture in Ghana (MAG) under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has over the years organized a series of sensitization programs for groups and individual farmers in the area of value addition.
Awards were presented in 9 categories including crop, livestock, youth, female, physically challenged, value addition, agricultural extension, and farmer-based organization.
Winners received certificates and assorted items including farm implements, water-pumping machines, refrigerators, motor bikes, and among others.