Mr. Stephen Twumasi, a 67-year-old farmer from Bimma has been adjudged the overall best farmer for Asante-Akim Central at the 2022 Municipal Farmers Day, By Yussif Ibrahim, GNA, held at Kyekyebiase. Mr. Twumasi has a total acreages of 116 of various crops including cocoa, plantain, maize, citrus, coconut, cassava, taro, rice, garden eggs, pepper, okro, sweet potato, and oil palm. He also owns nine cattle, 137 poultry birds and 37 sheep. He took home a tricycle, knapsack sprayer, five machetes, three bars of key soap, half piece of cloth, a pair of wellington boot, and five bags of sachet water.

Mr. Paul Saaso of Patriensa was named the first runner up with Madam Mary Acheampong from Nyamebekyere emerging as the best woman farmer. They both received assorted farm inputs and other items as prizes in recognition of their contributions to food production in the municipality and the country at large.

Mr. Robert Kwakye, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), underlined the need for a paradigm shift to see agriculture as a business that responded to economic growth and development of the country and not just for purposes of feeding the household. 'It is for this reason that the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture since 2017 has taken steps to address food security challenges through the Planting for Food and Jobs which was launched in April 2017," he stated. He said the government also introduced subsidy on fertilisers in addition to the flagship programmes purposely designed and tailored to address specific needs to facilitate the transformation of agriculture in Ghana.

The MCE encouraged the people to patronize made in G ana products to enhance agribusiness, adding that the department of agriculture had started training the youth in packaging and labelling of products to ensure value addition. 'I wish to use this opportunity to urge the youth to venture into agriculture as it remains a sustainable form of employment all year round," he advised. He congratulated the award winners and all farmers in the Municipality for their exceptional contribution to food production and the national economy. This year’s celebration which was held on the theme, “Accelerating Agricultural Development through Value Addition,” brought together key stakeholders in agriculture including farmers, staff of the Department of Agriculture and Municipal Assembly, Traditional Leaders, Assembly Members, and the general public.