2015 Best Farmer Has No Formal Education

Mr. Ibrahim Musah, a 48-year-old farmer from Dormaa in the Brong Ahafo Region, is the 2015 National Best Farmer. For his prize, he received a three-bedroom house from the Agricultural Development Bank (adb), GH¢3,000 from Kasapreko Distilleries, a desktop computer with printer, a laptop and a certificate.

Mr. Musah, who has no formal education, has 13 years farming experience, and is married with six children.

He won the award with a record of cultivating 207 acres of maize, 10 acres of cocoyam, a seven-acre cassava plantation, 12 acres of citrus, 10 acres of plantain,  two acres of okro, six acres of yam, one acre of  tomatoes, 20 acres of teak,  12 acres of oil palm and two acres of pepper.

With poultry and livestock, he has 150,000 layers, 40 guinea fowls, 80 goats and sheep, 40 herds of cattle, 70 local birds, 49 turkeys, as well as the cultivation of mushroom, tilapia and cat fish ponds, among others.

Mr. Gideon Anaba, a teacher from the Bawku Municipality, came second and Mrs. Charity Akotua, from Agona West in the Central Region, placed third.

A representative of the Past Best Farmers Association, Mr. David Korboe, thanked the government for initiating many interventions in the agricultural sector to transform the economy.

He called on government to review the fertilizer subsidy, and encouraged the youth to take advantage of the numerous opportunities and go into farming to sustain the sector.

This year’s national Farmers’ Day celebration was held in the Upper East Regional capital, Bolgatanga, on the theme ‘Transform Ghana, Invest in Agriculture’.