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Veep Portrays 2022 Best Farmer For Setting Up Agric Institute At Juaben

Sheriff Willy 1 year ago

Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, the Vice President, praised Oheneba Yaw Sarpong Siriboe I, who was named the 2022 Best Farmer and Akyempimhene of Juaben. She started a school to teach people who want to learn about agriculture.

Dr Bawumia stated that the establishment of the Siriboe Institute of Agribusiness and Skills Development is opening opportunities to prepare more young people for the future of work in the areas of agriculture innovation and skills development.

Intercommunicating Chiefs and other invited guests, considering the Member of Parliament, at the official commissioning of the Siriboe Institute of Agribusiness and Skills Development in Juaben on Tuesday, Dr Bawumia noted that the future of agriculture in Ghana was no longer tools and cutlasses but the use of emerging technologies to make agriculture smart in conformity with the 4th industrial revolution.

‘’Today, this center is being inaugurated to provide such prospects to young individuals who possess the inclination towards intelligent agriculture and possess the necessary skill set for the future of employment, as stated by the Vice President.

The Veep noted that he always gets excited to be amongst young Ghanaians, adding that he taps into their energy, hopes and aspirations.

Government Support:

The government, the Vice President said, had provided support for the youth through start-ups and small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs), such as the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), the Ghana Enterprise Agency (GEA), the National Youth Authority, and many other agencies.

The Veep disclosed that the Siriboe Institute would, alongside 44 others, benefit from a seven-million-dollar NEIP support program for innovation hubs across the country.

These innovation hubs, as Veep mentioned, are located right in the communities, and they have the mandate to provide tailor-made business solutions, skills training and capacity building, mentorship, employment opportunities, access to market and market linkages to start-ups, entrepreneurs and the youth.

The government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, has launched phase two of the Planting for Food and Jobs with a key component for youth in Agriculture, and I will urge the Ministry and the YEA to strongly collaborate to train most of the youth who will register for the Youth in Agriculture programme. This centre should become a centre of excellence for agriculture innovation and skills development’’, the Veep stressed.

Exploits of Best Farmer:

Nana Yaw Sarpong Siriboe, having started out as a farmer with the establishment of Siriboe Farms Limited in 2001 worked hard and this culminated in his winning of the Ejisu Juaben Best Farmer award.

In 2015, Oheneba Siriboe, won the accolade as the Ashanti Regional Best Oil Palm Farmer at the Farmers Day event for the region.

Oheneba, in 2016 also emerged as the Runner-Up to the overall Best Farmer in the Ashanti Region and in 2019 was adjudged First Runner-up to the National Best Farmer.

And in 2022, Oheneba Siriboe crowned his efforts with the title as the National Best Farmer at the national event.

Other Speakers:

Welcoming the Veep, Daasebre Otuo Siriboe, Chairman of the Council of State and Omanhene of the Juaben Traditional Area commended the government for consciously channelling investments into agriculture.

He noted that the dividends are there for all to see and therefore encouraged the youth to venture into agriculture as they take opportunities to learn both the theoretical aspects and the practical to make them operate at the optimum levels.