A 60-year old farmer, James Obeng Boateng, from the Brong Ahafo region has won the National Best Farmer at the 2018 National Farmers Day ceremony held in Tamale, Northern regional capital.
James Obeng Boateng who is from the Nkoranza South district has been farming for the past 18 years.
He produces crops like cassava, cocoyam, cereals, okro, pepper, garden eggs, mango and cashew.
He also rears cattle, goats, sheep and manages two fish ponds as well as 100 boxes of beehives.
The 2018 National Farmers Day award comes with a GH¢ 480,000 cheque, a huge improvement from the events first edition in 1985 where the winner took home cutlasses.
Mr. James Boateng had his cheque presented to him by the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the events 34th edition.
In a citation, the overall best farmer was described as a philanthropist helping to renovate teachers’ bungalows in the district.
He is also a former 1st Runner-Up at the awards organised in the Nkoranza district of the Brong Ahafo region.
James Boateng takes over from Philip Kweku Agyeman who won the 33rd edition in 2017 and also hails from the Brong Ahafo region.
It means Brong Ahafo region retains the national award.
A farmer from the Central region, Charity Akotia, was also adjudged the 1st Runner-Up while Alex Frimpong who farms in the Kwahu Afram Plains of the Eastern region took the 2nd Runner-Up position.
Read also: 2018 National Farmers Day: National Best farmer awardee dies in Tamale
Ghana News: Latest news in Ghana