The MCE handing over the sword of office to the new municipal best farmer
The Chief Executive (MCE) for Adentan Municipal Assembly, Daniel Alexander Nii Noi Adumuah, has indicated that the assembly, in collaboration with the Department of Aquaculture, has identified one thousand (1,000) households within the municipality to take part in a backyard Catfish Farming project, which will commence next year.
The MCE, who was addressing guests at the 34th National Farmers’ Day held under the theme: “Agriculture: Moving Ghana Beyond Aid” for the Adentan Municipality at the Nii Amoah Okromansa Park at Amrahia near Adentan in the Greater Accra Region on Friday, explained that the assembly’s decision to introduce catfish farming forms part of their efforts towards championing the President’s flagship programme of Planting for Food and Jobs under the new drive of “Rearing for food and Jobs project”.
He further stated that the municipality is endowed with 22 water bodies which would be the focal centres to start the catfish project.
“Catfish is very easy to rear; it grows at a very fast rate, resistant to a number of conditions and with a high market value. We believe that as we create additional jobs for households and its value chain this way, we are also protecting our water bodies and helping to ensure a safe natural ecosystem for our people,” he remarked.
The MCE also expressed satisfaction about the progress of the assembly’s mushroom project which, according to him, is an European Union (EU) sponsored project.
He disclosed that the mushroom project which started barely three years ago has attracted some youths who do the training as an additional income-earning venture to complement their incomes.
Dr. Mrs. Irene Egyri, an Agricultural Economist, called on Ghanaians to embrace the President’s call for all to work towards “Ghana Beyond Aid”, adding that it would help the country conserve its foreign earnings for its developmental agenda.
Dr. Mrs. Egyir, who is also the Head of Department for the University of Ghana School of Agriculture, urged farmers to take advantage of science and technology to improve crop yield, while also emphasizing value addition by adding value to whatever is produced.
Fifteen farmers within the municipality, who excelled in all the sectors of crop, livestock and fisheries production, received various awards, while a 43-year-old farmer emerged the overall municipal Best Farmer. He took home a tricycle and a number of farm inputs.
By Solomon Ofori