An 82-year-old farmer, Opanyin Abraham Kwaku Adusei, has been named the overall National Best Farmer for 2025.

Osman Kadiri emerged as the first runner-up, while 63-year-old Charles Gyato from the Oti Region was awarded second runner-up. All three winners received cash prizes in recognition of their dedication and contribution to agriculture.

The awards were presented by President John Mahama at the 41st National Farmers Day Awards Ceremony held in Ho, the Volta Regional capital.

In his speech, President John Dramani Mahama said the perception that agriculture is only for “village folks” is outdated and limiting.

He noted that many professionals, teachers, civil servants, and private sector workers, can successfully combine their regular jobs with farming.

“Agriculture isn’t only for the village folks,” he said. “You can work and still be a farmer. Teachers and civil servants can go to work and have farms, and the money from the farm can supplement their incomes.”

The President also said high-interest loans remain one of the biggest obstacles facing farmers, many of whom end up “working for the banks instead of working for themselves.”

According to him, farmers who borrow at prohibitive rates often lose most of their profits to loan repayments, undermining their ability to expand, invest in modern tools, or ensure stable income for their families.

“We must provide credit at single-digit rates so our farmers can grow to feed Ghana,” he stressed.

“Farmers should not be taking loans only to end up using all their profits to repay the banks.”

President Mahama said the Volta Region has been a major beneficiary of the initiative, which seeks to rapidly expand Ghana’s road network and boost economic activity across all regions.

“A good percentage of the roads awarded under the Big Push are from the Volta Region,” the President said, emphasising that the allocation is part of a deliberate effort to close infrastructure gaps and support communities that have long faced challenges with transportation.

Earlier, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, in his address, said the government’s agricultural interventions are not only improving national food systems but are also directly impacting households, lifting incomes and enhancing food security for millions of Ghanaian families.

The Minister said the positive changes being recorded in crop yields, market access, and food supply chains are now being felt in homes across both rural and urban communities.

“Our policies are affecting homes. Families are experiencing real improvements from better food availability to increased earnings for farmers, processors, traders, and all those along the value chain.”