Simon Kpogo, a year-59-old farmer and a carpenter from Klokpe in the Akatsi South Municipality of the Volta Region, has been adjudged the overall Municipal Best Farmer. This was announced by Mr Charles Grunitzky, the Akatsi South Municipal Director of Agriculture during the 39th celebration of Farmers' Day on the theme: 'Delivering Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience.' Mr Grunitzky, in an address at the Akatsi Senior High Technical School park on Friday, commended all stakeholders, including the Municipal Chief Executive and Member of Parliament for the area for expanding the awards categories. 'As it was for last year, there was a national directive to limit the award categories to three but considering the fact that Akatsi South is an agrarian society, we decided to all six more award categories making a total of nine in all.' Mr Grunitzky indicated that the theme for the celebration was appropriate to enable farmers to produce more food as well as store the excesses for use in emergencies. He said his outfit remained in constant touch with farmers towards offering Smart Solutions that involved the use of modern technology to increase the quality and quantity of commodities, while 'making maximum use of resources, optimizing the human labour required as well as saving the environment.' Mr Gruntitzky explained that the Agric Department collaborated with several Agric-related organisations and institutions in engaging farming groups, communities, and others daily for effective and productive farming seasons. Among the collaborations was the Ghana Agricultural Sector Investment Programme in forming Savings and Loans Associations, which would improve farmers' chances of getting financial help to aid all farming activities. 'We have successfully formed five of such Associations at Avadre, Gornikope, Hudekope, Dzuepe, and Zuta.' On the challenges, Mr Grunitzky called for a drying floor for rice farmers to prevent situations where rice grains were washed away because of drying at fill ing stations. On the awards, Exotic Farms at Akatsi took the Best Crop Farmer. Others include Vivian Amevor, Best Livestock Farmer from Klokpui, Alex Gborsonu, Best Physically Challenged Farmer from Kporwuvi, Ebenezer Ladzekpo, Best Rice Farmer from Adeheta, Feed Nations Poultry Farm as best Poultry Farmer, Mawudeka Farms, Best Youth Farmer at Gadzekpo-Kpegbafe. The Department also awarded some schools under the School Gardening initiative as well as two National Service persons from the Agric Department for their dedicated service. Mr Kofitsey Martin Nyahe, MCE, Mr Bernard Ahiafor, MP, Heads of decentralised institutions and departments, assembly members, farmers, and others graced the event. The awardees were presented with various farming equipment such as, cutlasses and hoes, boots, chemicals, spraying machines, pieces of cloth, wheelbarrows, and a tricycle. Source: Ghana News Agency