Forty seven year old woman from Dasime, Fulera Abudu was adjudged the district best farmer for the Sissala West of the Upper West Region. Madam Fulera is married with 16 dependents and started farming four years ago.

She cultivates 20 acreage of maize, 7 acreage of cowpea, 5 acreage of groundnut, 7 acreage of soya bean and 47 acreage of cashew trees.

She also rears various types of livestock which include sheep (11), goat (18) and cattle (45).

The citation read for her stated that she started farming as business and through her farming activities she gradually was able to purchase three tractors and built three houses, one each at Techiman, Kumasi and Jeffisi.

‘‘Madam Fulera is an influential member in her community. She donates generously to her community members.

She interacts a lot with fellow farmers, especially women farmers to share her experiences and knowledge with them.

Speaking on the theme of this year’s celebration, ‘‘Reducing Post Harvest Losses for Sustainable Food Security and Nutrition’’, the Sissala West district chief executive, Moses Dramani Luri mentioned bushfires as one of the factors that militate against food security in the district.

He appealed to the people to guard against it, adding, the menace affected not only farms but the environment as well.

Mr. Luri said government's agriculture policy is aimed at reducing unemployment and aiding poor farmers through programmes such as the Northern Rural Growth, Block Farm concepts and the Fertilizer Subsidy Programmes.

These programmes according to the Sissala West DCE have supported farmers’ efforts at ensuring food security and they should therefore reciprocate by honouring their obligations and paying back these loans for the continuity of the programme.

He said government is gradually shifting attention to dry season crop production due to the numerous benefits it holds for the people in savannah ecological zone.

In this regard, he hinted that government is prepared to support communities that have water bodies such as dams and dugouts to be used during the dry season to cultivate crops.

He urged communities that fall under the category to take advantage of the programme to boost food security and their economic fortunes.