Thirty-eight-year-old Adam Musah from New Kokrompe has been crowned the Atebubu-Amantin Municipal Overall Best Farmer for 2024 at the 40th Farmers’ Day awards held last Friday in Atebubu, the municipal capital.
The winner, who holds a Higher National Diploma in Human Resource Management and boasts 15 years of farming experience, cultivates approximately 400 acres of farmland. His diverse agricultural enterprise includes:
Crop Production: 120 acres of maize, 67 acres of cowpea, 50 acres of rice, 30 acres of watermelons, 25 acres of neri, 20 acres of mangoes, 10 acres each of cassava, yams, and garden eggs, 8 acres of pepper, 7 acres of cashew, and 5 acres of coconuts.
Livestock: 45 cattle, 60 sheep, 35 goats, 200 local fowls, 125 guinea fowls, 120 exotic layer birds, and 50 ducks.
For his achievement, Musah received a certificate, a tricycle, a half-piece wax print, three pairs of Wellington boots, three knapsack sprayers, a radio set, four cutlasses, three bars of Key soap, and an assortment of agro-inputs.
Climate-Resilient Agriculture Takes Center Stage
In his welcome address, Mr. Bright Atta Boateng, the Atebubu-Amantin Municipal Director of Agriculture, emphasized the event’s theme: *“Building Climate-Resilient Agriculture for Sustainable Food Security.”* He stressed the urgent need for innovative solutions to combat climate change’s impact on farming.
“Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, droughts, floods, pest infestations, and extreme weather events threaten crop yields, livestock productivity, and food availability,” he noted.
To address these challenges, Mr. Boateng advocated for climate-smart practices such as crop rotation, early-maturing and drought-resistant crop varieties, irrigation systems, water harvesting, organic farming, agroforestry, and improved access to weather information and insurance for farmers.
Government’s Commitment to Food Security
Mr. Joseph K.B. Tang, the Municipal Coordinating Director, delivered a speech on behalf of the Bono East Regional Minister, Hon. Kwasi Adu-Gyan (who also serves as Acting Municipal Chief Executive). He highlighted how climate change exacerbates food insecurity in Africa, linking it to socio-economic, technological, political, and environmental factors.
“Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food,” he stated. He further explained that the government’s Climate-Smart Agricultural Investment Plan aims to bolster the sector’s resilience against climate change.
Other Award Winners
Faustina Amoakoa – Best Crop Farmer (received a double-door fridge, a television set, and farming inputs).
Dauda Muniru – Best Livestock Farmer (received a double-door fridge, a television set, and farming inputs).
Mr. Phillip Deku – Best Agriculture Extension Agent (awarded a brand-new laptop and other items).
The event, chaired by Nana Kwabena Kyere III (Adontenhene of Atebubu Traditional Area), was attended by a delegation of chiefs from the Amantin Traditional Area.
