One of a thousand smallholder rice farmers
trained by the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) and the Northern
Development Society (NORDESO) Iddrisu Ziblim has been honoured at the 2015
edition of Farmers Day Celebration held at Pong-Tamale in the Savelugu-Nanton
Municipality.
Mr. Ziblim was
honoured for his hard work, discipline and ability to adapt to the new farming
technology introduced to him and several other rice farmers known as Systems
Rice Intensification (SRI). “All the criteria and benchmark set for all the
farmers were meticulously fulfilled by only Ziblim, hence our decision to
honour him on this special day”, Mr. Jacob Mansu, Local Capacity Builder (LCB)
with NORDESO told Savannahnews.
SNV in
partnership with NORDESO has since the beginning of 2015 farming season,
started the implementation of an agric project dubbed: “Local Rice Farmers Can Feed West Africa” in the Savelugu- Nanton
Municipality in the Northern Region of Ghana.
The project sought
to support and empower 1000 rice farmers to increase their yields through good agronomic practices, have access to
market, agro-inputs linkages and services, good rice mills as well as learn
from demonstration fields and seed support.
Also, cardinal among the set objectives was to equip 300 processors
with modern technologies in rice processing, and unlock their potentials in
maintaining the value chain in rice production.
All
beneficiary farmers have so far been trained in improved rice production management
technologies including bonding, rouging, soil aeration and among others. Farmers have
also been trained on how to apply fertilizer as well as weed, insect, pest and
disease management to help boost rice production.
“So far, LCB
has completed the aggregation of farmers and facilitated the necessary linkages
in the area of land preparation, input services and extension delivery on best
rice production practices in 21 communities comprising of 43 farmer based
organisations in the municipality” Mr. Mansu explained.
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| Mr Ziblim (R) Receiving a Certificate of Recognition From The Savelugu MCE |
For his prize,
Mr. Ziblim took home assorted farming equipments including a rice thresher,
watering can, knapsack sprayer, wellington boots, tarpaulin, four machetes, a
hoe, bag of fertiliser and a certificate.
The
National Farmers Day is commemorated each year on the first Friday of December
to honour our gallant Farmers and Fishers. The event acknowledges the vital
position Farmers and Fishers occupy in the nations socio-economic development.
In
particular, Ghana acknowledges farmers and fishers untiring efforts at feeding
our growing population, providing raw materials to the nation’s industries, and
contributing substantially to the nation’s foreign exchange earnings.
The
programme of activities usually planned for the celebration include, a National
Farmers Forum at which the Award Winners are expected to interact with policy
makers and experts on some technological advances in the agricultural sector and
also make their views known. Prizes are awarded to deserving farmers and
fishers in order of best practices and outputs.
Meanwhile, a
total of 20 farmers were awarded and they took home different packages of
prizes containing bicycle, knapsack sprayer, fertilisers, wellington boots, GTP
fabrics among others.
The Regional
Best Farmer award was went to Alhaji Hussein Nuhib Khama who took home a motor
king tricycle, water pumping machine, generator, sewing machine, corn sheller,
knapsack sprayer, machetes, bags of fertiliser, wellington boots and a
certificate.
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