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George Asamoah Amankwah of Europa farms in the Western region has emerged as the National Best Farmer for 2014. The 49-year old husband and father of three has been farming for 17 years. Amankwah has a 129-acre maize farm, 6,800-acre plantation, 20-acre pepper and okra farm, 6000-acre plantain farm, a 20-acre oil farm, 147 cattle and three fish ponds in which he farms catfish and tilapia. He has 22 staff and 50 casual workers. In his acceptance speech, Amankwah expressed his appreciation for the honour bestowed on him. He, however, urged the government to consider outsourcing the tree planting component of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority programme to private people, since they have shown the capacity to do a better job over the years. �I would like to appeal to the government to outsource the tree growing component of SADA to private afforestation development organisations, since they have demonstrated competence over the years to be able to grow the trees,� Asamoah Amankwah stated. He also appealed to the Media to allot some time to discussing issues related to farmers and agriculture in general. Friday�s (today) ceremony which was graced by President John Mahama was held in Sefwi-Wiawso in the Western region.