Isaac Agyapong, District Chief Executive Officer of the Kwahu East District has cautioned farmers to be weary of bush fires as the harmattan approaches.

He made this known at the 37^th National Farmers’ Day which was held at Mota-Mireku.

He said bush fires impoverishes the soil, destroys the flora and fauna, and also destroys farm plantations which subsequently leads to food insecurity.

Hon.Isaac Agyapong, the district chief executive said planting for food and job(PFJ) program is a government flagship program intended to encourage the people to take farming more seriously than in the past by making it a respectable and profitable business which would create more job for them.

On PERD initiative, the DCE said the assembly received and distributed 144,500 kg of fertilizers, raised 200,000 cashew seedlings and supply to farmers free of charge. The district also received 5.4 metric tonnes of 5400 kg of improved maize seeds and distributed later to farmers.

He congratulated the hardworking and gallant farmers, fishers, agro-processors and other individuals whose toil has fed us as a people.

Mr Ibrahim Ayim a 43-year-old farmer from Miaso, was adjudged the overall best farmer in The kwahu East District.

He took home tricycle, double decker fridge, knapsack machine, field boots, silver basin, cutlasses, soaps and certificate.

Mr Ibrahim, the best farmer has 7.8acres of cabbage,4.8 acres of green pepper,2 acres of tomatoes,200 acres of cashew,350 acres of plantain and 8 acres of cocoa.

Others include,0.8 acres of watermelon,40 acres of teak,49 acres of garden eggs,5.2 acres of beans,1.6 acres of onion,200 acres of cinderella and 50 acres of “ofram” tree farms. The best farmeron behalf of awardees expressed gratitude to the organizers of the program and pledge to do more in the agriculture sector. Mr Ibrahim appealed to the youth in the district to involve themselves in the agro business to reduced unemployment situation in the country.

Other farmers were also presented with tricycle, silver basin, cutlasses, field boot, knapsack machine and certificates.

The district director of agriculture, Mr Isaac Mensah took the chiefs and people through the procedures of awarding the farmers, which includes the size or scale of the farm, diversity, farm sanitation, role and contributions in the community, knowledge in modern agriculture and records keeping. He commended the farmers for their hard work and urged them to do more to uplift the image of the district. The Aduamoaheneand chairman for the event Nana Ahia Tutu Brempongcommanded the assembly for hosting the 37^th Farmers Day Celebration at Mota Mireku.