The Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) PLC has presented a cheque for GH¢1 million to the 2022 National Best Farmer, Nana Yaw Sarpong Siriboe, in Accra.
Nana Yaw Sarpong Siriboe, who is the Akyempimhene of the Juaben Traditional Area, was last year crowned the best farmer at the 38th National Farmers celebration held at the Jubilee Park, Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital.
Presenting the cheque to the best farmer in Accra on Friday, the Managing Director of the bank, Alhaji Yakubu- Tali, said it has repositioned itself as the bank of choice in the area of agricultural lending and provision of other related support, including advisory services.
“The bank remains a major partner for all agricultural related programmes and projects of the government,” he added.
Alhaji Yakubu-Tali said the agricultural sector required a critical partner like the ADB for agricultural financing and growth, and pledged the bank’s support to harnessing the transformational power of agribusiness for wealth creation.
Receiving the cheque, Nana Siriboe, who is the owner of Siriboe Farm Limited, said the money would be invested into the construction of Siriboe Agritech Training Institute.
He said it would be a training centre to train the youth in agriculture, especially in technology transfer, sustainable farming ideas and best practices in farming.
He mentioned that the 600 capacity centre, which was 50 per cent complete, would also provide Information Communication Technology (ICT) agricultural solutions linked to agricultural extension services, marketing and enhanced extension delivery, such as mobile phone and audio conferencing.
“The Siriboe Farms Limited will serve as a demonstration farm to provide hands-on training and education, it will be a reference point for farmers, students and anyone with interest in agriculture to visit physically or online and be abreast of various opportunities and developments in the agricultural sector,” Nana Sirboe stated.
To ensure scientific and research-based training, the 2022 Best Farmer said the centre was in the process of partnering with the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ministries of Food and Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
Nana Siriboe said the award would facilitate various projects and initiatives and enhance youth and women participation in agriculture.
The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Bryan Acheampong, said the recent adversities of COVID-19, climate change and the Russia-Ukraine war, and their combined impact on the global economy , particularly hikes in food, inflation, had highlighted the need to prioritise matters of food security and resilience.
“This also reinforces the importance for greater national investments in agriculture and a conscious effort to incentivise our farmers,” he added.
Mr Acheampong said the ministry was shifting its focus to an effective pathway towards harnessing the potential of agriculture, adding that “our new focus presents inherent opportunities for greater partnerships”.
He said the ministry would engage with ADB to explore possible areas of cooperation to catalyse the transformation process of the agricultural sector.
BY JEMIMA ESINAM KUATSINU
