Use Best Farmers’ Award system to transform the agricultural sector – Dr. Stephen Takyi advises gov’t
A Planning Lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr. Stephen Takyi, has called on governments to reconsider how they reward the best farmers across the country.
He believes that instead of providing houses and vehicles, authorities should prioritize innovation and financial support to help increase food production.
Dr. Stephen Takyi explained that the current practice of offering luxury rewards does little to address the pressing issue of food shortages in Ghana.
Instead, he recommended the use of practical tools such as access to improved technology, affordable credit, and farm inputs that can help farmers expand their operations and improve yields.
“Providing financial and technical assistance to best-performing farmers will enable them to grow their farms, adopt new methods, and even create employment opportunities for others,” Dr Takyi said.
Dr. Stephen Takyi offered the advice during a panel discussion on Otec FM’s morning show “Nyansapo,” hosted by Kwaku Owusu Boateng on Tuesday, July 15, 2025.
According to him, this approach will create a ripple effect across the agricultural sector, boosting both productivity and rural development.
Dr. Stephen Takyi argued that the current system of offering houses and vehicles, although prestigious, does not directly contribute to food security.
“These rewards may feel good in the short term, but they don’t equip the farmer to produce more food or increase national supply,” he added.
Dr. Stephen Takyi warned that failure to support farmers properly could worsen the country’s food crisis and increase Ghana’s dependency on imported food.
This, he said, could have serious implications for national food sovereignty and economic stability.
The Planning and Policy lecturer concluded by appealing to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to review its award schemes and align them with Ghana’s long-term agricultural development goals.
“We need to invest in the people who feed us, not with buildings, but with tools to feed the nation,” Dr. Stephen Takyi emphasized.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Francis Appiah
