He alleged that the farmers have to pay for the transportation of the extension officers to visit their farms, which he stated should not have been the case.

He called on his colleague farmers who could not win awards due to such challenges, to take advantage of the numerous interventions in place to work harder to be honoured in future.

Mr. Dorman made the appeal in his appreciation speech at a dauber to commemorate the 33rd National Farmers and Fishers Day Celebration held at Anomabo where he and twenty other farmers in the Municipality were honoured.

Mr. Dorman received a Corn Mill, Suit Case, Knapsack, Cutlasses, Cloth, Wellington Boots and a Certificate among other things as his award.

He cultivated 175 acre land on which he has Cocoyam, Plantain, Oil Palm, Cowpea, Okro, Tomatoes, Garden eggs, Yams, Pigs, Sugar Cane, Pepper, Goat, Sheep, fowl, Dove, Maize, Citrus, Cocoa, Cassava and pineapples.

Mr. Eric Essah Hagop from Endasimaim, aged 55, was the first runner up, while Madam Abena Maanan, 62, a native of Emissikrom-Enkronful was the second runner up.

Mr. Kenneth Kelly Essuman, Mfantseman Municipal Chief Executive, said government under the leadership of President Nana Akufo-Addo seeing how important farming was, launched the planting for food and Jobs programme.

He disclosed that a total of 2,600 bags of fertilizer, 1,800 Kg of improved local seed maize and 1500Kg of Hybrid seed maize were allocated to the Municipality under the programme to support farmers through the extension services to boost production.

He stated that 414 out of 550 farmers who registered benefited from this year’s programme and appealed to all farmers in the Municipality to patronize the package to increase their yields and production which would lead to increase in their incomes and standard of living.

On his part Mr. Ebenezer Azasu the Municipal Director of Agriculture said food was an essential part of people’s lives and there was the need for measures to be put in place to reduce postharvest losses.

 He advocated that famers be educated on safety issues, adoption of improved technology and soil fertility.

 Mr. Kow Quansah Hayford, Member of Parliament for Mfantseman, congratulated the award winners for their hard work, and added that all was set to resource the extension offers to reach out to farmers, as well as educate them on modern farming techniques to improve and expand their farms for more produces.

He also assured them of ready market for their produce for the free Senior High school programme and encouraged them to make good use of opportunities in place to improve their livelihood.

The theme for the day was “Farming for Food and Jobs”.