Madam Boyuo Benedicta, a 49-year-old woman from Billaw, has been named the overall best farmer in the Lambussie District at the 39th Farmers’ Day celebration.
She was recognized for her remarkable achievements in crop and animal farming, including beans, Bambara beans, soybeans, maize, groundnuts, and rearing goats, fowls, and guinea fowls.
With 35 years of experience in farming, Madam Boyuo was awarded an Apsonic 125 motorbike, weedicide, cutlass, boots, and a certificate.
The event was celebrated under the theme: “Delivering Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience”. The district recognized 16 farmers, including the best physically challenged farmer and best woman farmer.
Abu Bakuoro, 48, and Besuon Domeguume, 37, were the 1st and 2nd Runners up.
Madam Boyuo Benedicta, the overall best farmer mentioned that her major challenge was identifying the right crop for a particular type of land.
However, through the education she received from Extension Officers, she was able to overcome this challenge.
“The challenges are how to plough the land; you can use this land to sow soybean, groundnut or beans. I didn’t know that at first so I was using any type of land to sow anything until I received training from Extension Officers. Now I know what type of crop to sow on a particular type of land”, she stated.
Mdam Boyuo advised people who want to go into farming to be patient, seek knowledge from experts, and be honest in their dealings with others.
Mr Pious Nartey, the District Agriculture Director, mentioned that the government has implemented measures to ensure sustainable food security and job creation.
“The implementation of flagship programmes such as Planting for Food and Jobs, Planting for Export and Rural Development, one village one dam, one district one warehouse has yielded considerable gains in the area of food security and job creation,” he stated.
He reported that the 2023 production season witnessed a fairly normal rainfall pattern “Except for a 2 week dry spell which occurred in different parts of the district between the periods of the last week of June to the first week of July”.
Mr Nartey stated that the high cost of agricultural inputs during the 2023 production season was a challenge. He attributed the cost increase to the discontinuation of the subsidy under the Planting for Food and Jobs programme.
“However, farmers can breathe a sigh of relief next year because Planting for Food and Jobs phase 2 has been launched and it is coming live and colored in 2024”, he added
The District Chief Executive for Lambussie, Mr Naluri George Gerard, stated that the government has introduced smart solutions towards agriculture modernization to increase food production.
He said the district has benefitted significantly from government pro-poor programmes particularly the Planting for Food and Jobs.
“Additionally, Planting for Export and Rural Development programme, which was launched in 2018 continue to empower farmers in cashew farming through the support to individuals and many plantations across the district”, he added.
According to Mr. Naluri, poor road network has been a major hindrance to agricultural activity in the district.
He mentions that significant progress has been made in the road sector, thanks to the rehabilitation of feeder roads under the European Union project that covers the entire district.