NANA KWABENA PONKOH II EMERGES AS 2020 NATIONAL BEST COCOA FARMER

Nana Kwabena Ponkoh II from Atatoase in the Obuasi District of the Ashanti Region has emerged as the 2020 National Best Cocoa Farmer.

The 65-year-old farmer was presented with the prestigious award at the grand durbar for the 36th edition of the Farmers' Day Celebration held at Techiman, the Bono Regional Capital on Friday 6th November 2020.

He has a total of 72.11 hectares of cocoa farm in Obuasi; producing over 3200 bags of cocoa annually.

For his prize, the Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Hon Joseph Boahen Aidoo, presented Nana Ponkoh II with a Double Cabin Toyota Hilux Pick-up, a Dual-purpose Motorized Slasher/Pruner, a Motorized Spraying Machine, Protective Overalls, Safety Goggles, Respirators, Hats and Gloves.

In addition, he took home Wellington boots, cartons of Assorted Cocoa Products, Hand Sanitizers, COCOBOD Embossed Nose Masks, Carbolic Soaps, a Crystal Plaque, Insecticides and Fungicides.

The National Best Cocoa Farmer expressed profound gratitude to the COCOBOD Chief Executive for the honour and touted the Productivity Enhancement Programmes as being pivotal to his attainment of the national award.

He also encouraged the youth to go into farming, particularly, cocoa farming; asserting that "the government is providing a lot of assistance to us farmers making farming beneficial and making us proud to be called farmers."

Hon Boahen Aidoo also presented prizes to Rita Boateng Apraku (36), who has a 12.8-hectare cocoa farm at Ahyiayem in the Techiman District of the Brong Ahafo Cocoa Region and Peh Raymus (35) who also has a 10.4-hectare cocoa farm at Agona Port in the Diaso District of the Western South Cocoa Region.

The two were respectively adjudged the 2020 National Most Enterprising Female Cocoa Farmer and National Most Promising Young Cocoa Farmer.

They were each presented with a Single Cabin Mini Truck, a Dual-purpose Motorized Slasher/Pruner, a Motorized Spraying Machine, Protective Overalls, Safety Goggles, Respirators, Hats and many other items.

Similarly, Barichiso Ibrahim from Mamprugu Mogduri, the 2020 National Best Shea Nut Picker received a Tricycle, Protective Overalls, Safety Goggles, Respirators among other items.

Twenty-six (26) other award winners at the regional level, consisting of seven (7) Regional Best Cocoa Farmers, seven (7) Regional Most Enterprising Female Cocoa Farmers, seven (7) Regional Most Promising Young Cocoa Farmers, and five (5) Regional Best Shea Nut Pickers were as well presented with prizes.