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The Director of Akira Farms, a multipurpose farm entity in the Sekyere South District of the Ashanti Region, Madam Hilda Arku, has expressed gratitude to the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, for the huge investments made in the agricultural sector.

Madam Arku who has received massive support from Government through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in the areas of supply of inputs and farming equipment, says the interventions from the Ministry have contributed tremendously to the development of her farming business.

She made these remarks when the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, paid a working visit to her farm last Thursday.

"I doubt how I would have been able to cultivate all these thousands of acres of lands without support in the form of types of machinery, I am most grateful to the government and to you Minister for the support," she noted.

Located at Adidwan near Mampong, Akira Farms is currently leading in the cultivation of mango, cashew, maize, soybean, and sweet potato.

The farm also runs an out-grower scheme, employing hundreds of youth to cultivate thousands of acres of land through a buy-back arrangement.

She, however, said she owes much of her success in the agribusiness to the huge support through the interventions rolled out by the Government under the Planting for Food and Jobs programme.

"Last year, I received improved seeds and fertilizers from the Ministry through the District Agric Office; however, the most important support came in the area of mechanization," she emphasized.

Commenting on the visit by the Minister, she lauded the commitment exhibited by Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto since his inception as the Minister for the sector, stressing "I have never seen someone so passionate about the development of farmers and the agric sector like you".

"For the first time, I have seen a Minister taking the trouble to visit us; this is very encouraging to us honourable Minister," Madam Arku said.

The Minister, on his part, commended the Executive Director of Akira Farms for the wonderful work she is doing.

Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto said the government of Nana Akufo-Addo was committed to its agenda of transforming the economy of this country through agriculture, stressing that he was very elated to see women take charge of the agricultural revolution in Ghana.

The Minister was on a six-day working visit to four regions in the forest zones to interact with farmers and other stakeholders in the agricultural value chain.