By Nana Ama Gyapong.
44 Year old Alhaji Mohammed Mashud, the 2021 National Best Farmer, has disclosed that when he moved from Tamale to Cape Coast, he never thought of emerging as the winner at the just ended Farmers Day celebration.
According to Alhaji Mohammed Mashud, winning the National Best Farmer award is just the beginning for him and he is hoping to impact lives as well. He explained that growing up, he was introduced to farming by his father who had a backyard garden adding that he officially started farming in the year 2006 when he was 29 years old.
Speaking about his journey on the GTV Breakfast Show, the National Best Farmer disclosed that he started farming to feed his family alone with four acres of rice which he had 60 bags after harvesting. He distributed some to his neighbors, sold some and kept the rest for his family. In the year 2008, he upgraded to eight acres of rice and two acres of maize which was also lucrative, he then thought of acquiring extra land of which he can now harvest about five hundred or more bags of rice and maize.
He advised the youth to engage in farming and desist from primitive thinking about agriculture.
The 2021 National Best Farmer also used the platform to invite the public to visit his farm after the Christmas season.
Alhaji Mashud Mohammed from the Mion District of the Northern Region was adjudged the National Best Farmer for 2021 on Friday, December 3, 2021.