By Buertey Francis BORYOR
Nana Owusu Achiaw Brempong, a 70-year-old farmer from Sekyere Central District in the Ashanti Region, has been honoured as the National Best Farmer at the 40th edition of the National Farmers’ Awards.
Nana Owusu, a seasoned farmer with over 50 years of experience, has established a legacy through his ownership of North American Farms. The large-scale farm employs 168 workers and cultivates an extensive range of crops, including cocoa and cashew. His dedication has made a substantial impact on the agricultural sector.
In recognition of his exceptional achievements and contributions to the nation’s economy, Nana Owusu was recently honoured with an award that included a prize of GH¢1 million.
The Farmers’ Day celebration recognised the crucial role farmers play in driving economic growth. It was themed: “Building climate-resilient agriculture for sustainable food security”.
Swift, strategic action needed to build climate-resilience in agriculture sector- Dr. Acheampong
Speaking at the awards ceremony held in Accra, Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, said there is the need for swift and strategic action to building climate-resilient agriculture system to safeguard the agriculture sector against the challenges posed by climate change.
He said this will require a concerted effort by policymakers, research and academic institutions, farmers and agribusinesses, civil society organisations and the international community.
“Erratic rainfall patterns, prolonged dry spells and recently, drought, floods and the emergence of new pests and diseases are becoming the new normal. We must therefore act swiftly and strategically by building climate-resilient agriculture system to safeguard our agriculture against these challenges and to ensure that Ghana remains food-secure in the face of a changing climate. Combating the menace requires an integrated approach, mainstreaming climate resilience in every facet of our lives because our very existence is being threatened,” he elaborated.
Against this backdrop, he stated that the ministry is intensifying efforts to promote climate-smart agricultural practices nationwide. This includes introducing crop varieties that are drought-tolerant, early maturing, and high-yielding.
“In collaboration with our research institutions, development partners and the private sector, the ministry is working to increase the access to improved crop varieties and breeds of livestock to farmers. Besides, we are promoting sustainable farming practices such as agroforestry, multiple cropping, conservation agriculture and integrated pest management to reduce adverse environmental impacts and boost productivity,” he said.
He added that the government is expanding access to irrigation and sustainable water management systems, which are essential for building resilience to climate change and enabling year-round production.
Also, he indicated that the ministry over the last eight years, has significantly expanded the area under public irrigation schemes from 11,000 hectares in 2016 to 19,000 hectares in 2024. He further stated that, between 2023 and 2024 alone, about 7,000 hectares have been added- while farmer-led private commercial schemes also increased from 189,000 hectares to 207,000 hectares between 2016 and 2023.
Despite the challenges posed by climate change, he noted that the agriculture sector has experienced significant growth, rising from 2.6 percent in 2016 to an average of 5.7 percent between 2017 and 2023. He attributed this progress to strategic government investments and programs, with the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) initiative and PFJ 2.0 serving as key drivers of growth.
He additionally said farmer access to certified seeds, fertilisers and mechanisation services improved significantly over the period. For instance, he indicated that the use of certified seeds increased from 2000mt in 2016 to a total 44,000mt in 2023, and fertilizer use increased from 8kg/ha to 25kg/ha over the same period.
According to the minister, this resulted in increased crop productivity and production of targeted crops- as yields of maize, rice and soyabeans for example increased by 135 percent, 67 percent, and 18 percent respectively- while production of cereals, legumes and roots and tubers increased by 106 percent, 68 percent and 59 percent respectively from 2016 to 2023.
Also, he said the country achieved food self-sufficiency in major food staples – such as; maize- 122 percent, soyabean- 106 percent, cassava- 107 percent, plantain- 133 percent and yam- 110 percent.
“It is also important to underscore that these achievements were realized despite the impact of the 4COVID-19 pandemic, the global disruptions in supply chains due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the general global economic meltdown,” he further noted.
