In all, 14 farmers who distinguished themselves in the cultivation of various food crops, rearing of livestock and fisheries were honoured, with the Overall Best Farmer going to Simon Tettey Nyaglortor, 62, from Sapor, while Esther Annor, 49, from Dawatokro was adjudged the Best Female Farmer.

The two, together with the remaining 12 farmers, were presented with prizes and certificates.

Mrs Quayson encouraged women yet to engage in agriculture to consider venturing into it, given the benefits associated with it.

She said her outfit aimed to create a world without hunger, in which everyone, particularly women and children, would have enough food to eat.
Investment

The Hunger Project Country Director said her outfit not only handed out prizes but also invested in women in agriculture, especially in deprived communities, since it was women who provided food for the family.

Mrs Quayson further stated that when there was no food in the home, children looked to their mothers for food, which was why her organisation had decided to support female farmers. 

That, she indicated, would help reduce hunger.

Mrs Quayson was happy that all 14 award winners came from the Hunger Project's operational areas. 

Female farmer

Hunger Project Ghana provided the prize for the Best Female Farmer, Esther Annor.

It comprised a refrigerator, a 32-inch plasma television, half a piece of wax print, cooking utensils, a knapsack sprayer, cutlasses, weedicides, two pairs of Wellington boots and a certificate.

Ms Annor, 49, from Dawatokro has 30 acres of maize, 12 acres of cassava, 12 acres of plantain and three acres of mango.

The rest are three acres of oil palm, two acres of coconut, two acres of pepper, an acre of okro and 150 local fowls.

Mrs Quayson further asked females not engaged in farming or any business activity to consider venturing into farming to win the support of Hunger Project Ghana.

She also urged women to take advantage of the Hunger Project's backyard garden package to better their lot.

The Deputy Minister of Finance, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Thomas Ampem Nyarko, said farmers had contributed significantly to reducing inflation by producing more food crops, which helped drastically lower prices.

He praised the farmers whose efforts made it possible to have more food in the country, because without them, there would not be enough food on the table.

Bumper harvest

Mr Nyarko, however, deplored the situation where farmers produce more food crops (bumper harvests) but cannot find a market, resulting in some crops rotting.

He said it was in that direction that the buffer stock company had been set up to buy the farm produce.

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Asuogyaman, Gordon Sobobee, said the assembly would rehabilitate roads leading to farming communities to make them motorable, enabling farmers to transport their produce to buying centres with ease.

Two of the award winners, Simon Tettey Nyaglortor and Esther Annor, told the Daily Graphic that, despite the spillage from the Akosombo Dam two years ago, which destroyed some of their farms, they would continue farming.

They, however, appealed for a reduction in interest rates on bank loans to support their farming activities.