Kofi Vinyo’s exploits
When Mr Kofi Vinyo, a physically challenged man, emerged as the National Best Farmer for the production of maize during the 2016 edition of the National Best Farmers’ Day held at Kintampo in the Brong Ahafo Region, many people wondered how he was able to accomplish such a feat.
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His maize produce from more than 300 acres, coupled with his adherence to best agronomic practices, enabled him to win the award three years after he had ventured into full-scale agriculture.
When this reporter followed him up on his farm located at Bofuorkrom in the Sunyani West District, it emerged that he is nursing an ambition to cause an agricultural revolution in the Brong Ahafo Region in particular and the country in general.
Our reporter on the farm with Mr Vinyo
“I am disabled physically but I am not disabled mentally” was how Mr Vinyo answered me when I enquired about how he managed to win the award and how he had put measures in place to process the various vegetables he is currently cultivating for export.
With available arable land where everything can be planted, Mr Vinyo says the sky is the limit as he plans to revolutionise agriculture and make sure that the importation of vegetables such as tomatoes and onions from neighbouring Burkina Faso becomes a thing of the past.
Pepper and other farms
Currently under cultivation at Bofuorkrom is a 55-acre organic pepper farm on which more than 200,000 seedlings of pepper have been planted.
Already, a total of 20-acre chili pepper farm at Kwatireagya and Sreso, near Odomase is ready for harvesting while plans are far advanced for the installation of machines for the processing of the products into paste for export.
The award-winning farmer is making use of two types of improved local pepper developed at the University of Ghana, Legon, known as Legon 18 and Scotch Bonnet.
As of the time of the visit, Mr Vinyo told the Daily Graphic that samples of his products had been sent to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi for testing as a requirement from his foreign partners.
Mr Vinyo showing our reporter the extent of his farm
“We will go to the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) for the necessary authorisation before going into large-scale processing and export,” Mr Vinyo explained.
To ensure that farming is done throughout the year, he plans to construct a small dam and lay pipes to provide water for his crops on the 55 acres.
Boreholes have, however, been drilled to provide water for watering his other nearby farms which are currently bearing fruits.
To demonstrate his interest in the cultivation of ginger, Mr Vinyo has cultivated a 10-acre ginger farm which he intends to use as seed for the cultivation of 100 acres of the spice.
Proposed onion farm
“I become sad when I see Ghanaian traders trooping to Burkina Faso to buy onions when Ghanaian farmers can supply our needs and export the surplus to neighbouring countries,” Mr Vinyo said.
To make real his intention, the farmer said he was in the process of acquiring 300 acres in the Northern Region solely for the cultivation of an all-year-round onion farm.
“It is this type of farming that the country needs to ensure large-scale production of all types of crops to satisfy both the local and international markets,” he stated and wondered whether the country could be self-sufficient if it continued to import simple foodstuffs which could be produced in the country.
Background
Coming from a family which did not find it useful to educate a physically challenged person, Mr Vinyo still managed to acquire an Advanced Level Certificate in Accountancy by dint of hard work.
“I told myself that I will not be a beggar. Even though I am physically challenged, I am strong in mind and can accomplish any task I set for myself.
“Now people who rejected me in the past see me as a blessing and God-send to the family,” he stated.
He advised the physically challenged against begging on the street, saying it would not take them anywhere, since they would not get much from the practice.
“I am advising physically challenged persons to go through skills-acquisition training to enable them to use their skills to generate income to feed themselves and others.”
Challenges
The biggest challenge facing people who will want to go into large-scale farming and processing of their produce in the country is financing.
“Even though government after government professes that agriculture is the backbone of the country’s economy, their actions do not support their claims,” he lamented, suggesting: “If we want a booming economy, we should support farmers to go into large-scale farming.”
Currently, Mr Vinyo has employed a total of 188 people and says his mission is to encourage the youth to venture into agriculture, expressing the hope that he would get the needed support to enable him to continue to expand his farms.
“I have been able to get to where I am now through my own efforts and if I can even get a GH¢5 million long-term loan with attractive interest, I will be able to employ more than 500 people and produce more for local consumption and export.