Adongo Simon Apuko, from Kalbeo, a suburb of the Bolgatanga municipality, has been named the municipal best farmer of the year. Speaking to the media after his victory, Mr. Apuko shared that he began his farming career with friends in groups, supporting each other during each farming season. It was through these farming groups that agriculture officers got to know him.
With 25 years of experience in farming, coupled with training from Agriculture Extension officers who frequently visited their farms, Mr. Apuko has received several awards, with the title of overall municipal best farmer being his third.
He credited his success to the adaptive methods promoted by extension officers, which include modern agricultural practices such as crop rotation, conservation, mulching, and various methods of sowing seeds.
Addressing farmers at the Bolgatanga Jubilee Park under the theme “Building Climate-Resilient Agriculture for Sustainable Food Security,” the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Rex Asanga, emphasized the importance of the agriculture sector in providing food and nutrition security, creating jobs for the youth, and contributing to the country’s economic development.
Hon. Asanga pointed out the urgent need for pragmatic efforts to develop systems that can withstand the challenges posed by climate change. He highlighted the increasing temperatures, rising sea levels, changing precipitation patterns, and extreme weather conditions that threaten human health, food and water security, and socio-economic development in Africa.
He referenced a report from the United Nations Climate Change Program, released in 2019 by the World Meteorological Organization, which noted that Africa’s 1.3 billion people are extremely vulnerable as the continent warms at a faster rate than the global average.
Hon. Asanga also addressed issues of land ownership, limited access to markets and financial services, the effects of climate change, harvest losses, high input costs, and low returns on investment. He urged appreciation for the efforts of farmers.
He concluded by emphasizing that the country’s ability to predict future challenges and make informed decisions regarding climate change and food security is reflected in the current prioritization of agriculture by the NPP government, led by His Excellency, President Nana Akufo-Addo.