Eleven (11) farmers were on Friday honoured alongside four Agricultural Extension and Inputs Distribution agents and educational institutions at the 25th National Farmers' Day held at Ohwim in the Kumasi Metropolis.
Mr Andrews Amankwaah, a 50-year old farmer at Ohwim, was adjudged the over all best farmer and for his prize he received a 21-inch Television (TV) set, two spraying machines, bicycle, wax print, certificate, agro chemicals and key bar soap.
The other award winners also took home, bicycles, wax prints, key bar soap, cutlasses, agro chemicals, spraying machines and certificates.
Mr Samuel Sarpong, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, (MCE), acknowledged the important role farmers are playing to sustain the national economy through feeding of the people and foreign exchange earnings.
He drew attention to the need for them to adopt improved farming methods and technologies to boost production and reduce post harvest losses.
By so doing, the country would be spared the trouble of spending its scarce foreign exchange on food imports.
The MCE said the government was responding favourably to changing global trends and had put in place measures to increase agricultural productivity as highlighted in the 2010 Budget statement.
Mr Sarpong said the government, supported maize farmers in the Kumasi metropolis with GH�27,500 interest free loans to increase their yield.
He said about 85 per cent of the loans had been repaid.
He commended the award winners for their immense contribution to the development of agriculture and asked them to be zealous in their work to sustain the economy.
Mr Stephen Asante, Metropolitan Director of Agriculture, urged farmers to heed the advice by Agricultural Extension agents to boost production.
He called on farmers who have benefited from loans to pay back.
Nana Baryeh Twumasi II, Chief of Ohwim encouraged the youth to venture into agriculture to improve their livelihood.
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