Speaking on this year’s theme ‘Accelerating Agriculture Development through Value Addition’ in his acceptance speech, Mr Siriboe mentioned that he craves the indulgence of the youth in agriculture.

Contrary to the misperception that agriculture, especially farming, is for the uneducated, unskilled and aged, the current Best Farmer, who doubles as a professional mechanical engineer, made a case for why the youth can actively participate in the sector.

According to him, the youth constitute a chunk of the labour force which when tapped efficiently can increase yield and improve profit margin.

It is for this reason he believes government must endeavor to make agriculture “sexy” for the youth in terms of increased reward, innovation, incentives and motivation.

Mr Siriboe commended the government for instituting a lot of measures to promote agriculture through programmes and initiatives that have seen exponential increase in youth participation.

He promised to top up government’s efforts by engaging the youth through hand on training to give them knowledge in best practices while addressing key concern in agriculture, especially climate change, pest disease control and post harvest loses.

Mr Siriboe also pledged to liaise with the ministries, media and other stakeholders to make the agenda of making agriculture attractive a successful one.

He made the comments on the grounds of the Jubilee Park in the Eastern Regional capital, Koforidua, where the grand durbar was held.

At the just ended 38th Farmers’ Day celebrations held at the Jubilee Park of the Eastern Regional capital, Koforidua, Mr Siriboe was honored with the title of the Best Farmer for the year.

He was decorated with a GHS 1million cash price kind courtesy the Agric Development Bank (ADB), which was presented to him by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who was the Special Guest of Honour.

He also received a two-day stay for two, sponsored by the Peduase Valley Resort.

Mr Siriboe was given the honor for his demonstration of good agricultural skills, and his motivation to people to venture into the field.

With a career spanning for 22 years, Mr Siriboe has employed 145 workers of which 20 are full time and 105, casual employees.

His scale of operation is diverse and his farms are located at Bomfa, Ejura and Akokoa, all in the Ashanti Region.

The newly adjudged best farmer is the owner of the Siriboe Farms Limited and can boast of, all in acres farms – 900 oil palm, 63 citrus, 65 cocoa, 240 maize, 17 mangoes, 30 cashew, 37 cassava and 46 cowpeas.

Additionally, he has 17,500 poultry birds, 256 cattle, 72 sheep, 441 goats, 264 pigs, 104 grasscutters, 7000 snail among others.

He is a married man and father-of-four.

Mr Siriboe was awarded alongside 14 others who were also presented with diverse prizes.

It includes 1st Runner-Up National Best Farmer; 2nd Runner-Up National Best Farmer; National Best Livestock Farmer; National Best Crop Farmer; Overall National Best Fisher; National Best Marine Fisher; National Best Inland Fisher; National Best Fisher Farmer and National Best Fish Processor.