Madam Victoria Kisseh, 63, has been adjudged the Best Physically Challenged Farmer in the 26th Greater Accra Regional Farmers Day celebration held at Anyamam in the Dangme East District.
She received a certificate, cloth, agro-chemical, spraying machine, wall clock, plastic chair, mattress, aluminium bowl and wire mesh among other things.
In an interview with Ghana News Agency, Madam Kisseh said she was motivated to go into farming in 1969 when she realised there were no jobs in her area.
She said her greatest challenge was transportation to the farm, and as she could not afford a wheelchair, she was compelled to allow people to carry her in a wheel barrow to the farm on daily basis.
Madam Kisseh, who cultivates pepper, tomatoes and cassava and rears goats and pigs, encouraged physically challenged persons not to reduce themselves to begging but should strive to work to cater for themselves.
She expressed gratitude to Nii Amarh Ashitey, Greater Accra Regional Minister and Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, Minister of Education and Member of Parliament for Ada, who promised to provide her with a wheelchair.
Nii Amarh Ashitey said the theme for the celebration; "Grow More Food," was carefully chosen to reflect the desire to achieve food security and sufficiency in the country.
He said in a world confronted with the challenges of unrestricted population growth and climate change among others, growing more food was crucial and indispensable to the nation's survival.
Nii Amarh Ashitey noted that in as much as the day was used to encouraged farmers to work hard, the occasion could also be a platform for
self-reflection and stock taking in the agriculture sector.
The Minister announced that the block farm concept under the Youth in Agriculture Programme (YIAP) had been implemented in the region, adding that land preparation with tractor services, fertilizer, seeds and agro-chemical were provided to the youth on credit to be repaid after harvesting and marketing.
"One hundred hectares of seed rice, 150 hectares of grain rice, 100 hectares of tomatoes and 100 hectares of onion were cultivated. In all 665 youth benefited under the block farm concept of the YIAP in the region," he said.
Nii Armah Ashitey said a seven million euro credit facility from the Spanish Government had been sourced to address safety and post harvest
losses, build six cold stores in selected fishing communities and establish a national food buffer stock company for food security.
He congratulated the farmers' and especially award winners for their continuing dedication and commitment to agriculture.
Mr Rex Daniel Wussah, District Chief Executive of Dangme East, said the district was famous for the production of watermelon, tomatoes, pepper, onion, legumes, okro and cassava.
He said the district was grappling with a myriad of problems in the agricultural sector including low crop yield, overdependence on rainfall, low agriculture mechanisation and low exploitation of groundwater for irrigation.
Mr Wussah said the assembly had also contracted a consultant to prepare a business plan on agro-processing focusing particularly on tomatoes and pepper.
"The road network of the district is also being improved to facilitate easy transportation of farm produce to market and processing centres," he added.
In all 19 farmers were awarded in the Dangme East District with Mr Jonas Scotti winning the Best Youth in Agric awards, while Madam Otuko
Sododzi won the Best Woman Farmer.
At the regional level, 23 farmers received awards with Mr Samuel Abbey emerging the Best Regional Farmer.
For his prize, he received a certificate, cloth, radio set, agro-chemical, spraying machine, wall clock, cutlasses, plastic chair, wire mesh, mattress and a corn mill.
Labone Senior High school won the Best Institution in Farming and received a certificate, cloth, radio set, agro-chemical, spraying machine, wall clock, cutlasses, plastic chair, wire mesh and mattress.