FAO honours two Ghanaians for their contribution to agriculture
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) as part of its 70th anniversary commemoration, honoured two Ghanaians with the “FAO Commemorative Medals,” at this year’s Farmers’ Day held at Bolgatanga.
A statement issued in Accra by Mr David Youngs, Communication Department, FAO Ghana said Mallam Issah Seidu and Mrs Lydia Sasu were decorated with the medals for having demonstrated exceptional and outstanding contribution towards the organisation in enhancing agriculture.
The two had also collaborated with FAO in enhancing Agriculture, Food and Nutrition security in Ghana through their work at national and grass root levels.
Mallam Seidu, a technocrat and now a practical on-the-ground farmer, has worked on the local and international scene bringing development to the agricultural sector at national and community levels over a period spanning more than 30years.
He has under his cultivation more than 100 acres of high value crops including mangos, butternut squash, okra, chilies under rain fed and irrigation together with about 100 out growers cultivating on their own fields and feeding his nucleus estate.
He served as Ghana’s Alternate Permanent Representative to FAO, International Fund for Agricultural Development and World Food Programme from 1995 to 1999 contributing to the programme delivery of the UN agencies in Ghana.
As the Director of Policy Planning Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, where he retired, he facilitated policy alignment and translation to the field for improved agricultural services delivery.
Mallam Seidu also led the development and implementation of many initiatives which has brought benefits to the country at large.
Some of his works include preparation of the Northern Rural Growth Programme, coordination of relief activities of the 2007 Northern Floods an FAO and UNDP emergency support project and coordination of the World Bank sponsored Agricultural Services Sub-sector Investment Project.
Mrs Sasu, on her part is a well-grounded small-scale farmer, an advocate for women in agriculture, a skilled trainer and educator.
She worked for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture at the Department of Women in Agriculture for several years.
She took part in the coordination of the FAO’s “Freedom from Hunger Campaign for Development” which led to the birth of the “Development Action Association,” in 1999.
Through her collaboration with the Ministry and other Ministries, the FAO and other international organisations, she contributed to the development of the FAO Chorkor Smoker, a local oven which has gained international recognition.
She has educated more than 600 women in numeracy and book-keeping in rural communities and supported the Fish and Cassava processors at rural communities.
Source: GNA