Ghana: ADB Presents GH¢570,000 As Ultimate Prize to National Best Farmer

From ( l-r); MD of ADB; National Best Farmer, Solomon Kusi; and Minister of Food and Agric, Dr Akoto

Accra, Ghana//-The Agriculture Development Bank PLC (ADB) has officially presented a cheque of five hundred and seventy thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢570,000.00) to Solomon Kwadwo Kusi, the 2020 National Best Farmer.

According to ADB, it received an agribusiness proposal seeking funds from the bank by the said farmer through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and after careful study the Agribusiness Division was impressed at the document and indicated that part of the money would be used to purchase and install a cocoa drying house, expand most of his existing farms to enable him create more jobs.

Besides, three boreholes will be constructed as well as the upgrade of his agricultural mechanization centre and the adoption of improved agricultural methods, propagation materials, fertilizers, animal feed, among others.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony in Accra, the Managing Director of ADB, Dr John Kofi Mensah congratulated Mr Kusi and indicated that the bank would provide him with a committed technical team to support him in ensuring the proper utilization of the funds.

“ADB continues to collaborate with MoFA to ensure that the agriculture sector plays a significant role on food security and sufficiency of the country”, he assured.

Dr Mensah said the bank is also funding outgrower schemes for the One District, One Factory (1D1F) projects to boost job creation as well as planting for food and jobs, rearing for food and jobs, planting for export and rural development and explained that these initiatives are agriculture component of the IDIF.

“The bank has also initiated moves for similar projects in the Eastern and Greater Accra regions as our committed technical team in evaluating applications frompoultry farmers to support them in the agricultural value chain”, he added.

For his part, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto said the farmers’ day celebration is a flagship programme on the calendar of the ministry, adding that it will be expanded to accommodate more farmers across the country.

He said the achievement of the national best farmer will challenge other farmers across the country to work hard to enable them receive national recognition in all their farming activities and therefore called on the bank to institute flexible terms of loans for farmers to access funds for farming investments.

Receiving the cheque, Mr Kusi thanked government and the management and staff of ADB for the gesture saying the initiative will urge other farmers to embrace agriculture as a lucrative venture.

“I humbly appeal to ADB to open a branch at Elubo, a suburb of Jomoro in Western Region to serve the farming communities”, he said.

Ben Laryea reporting from Accra, Ghana

 

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