This content highlights the success and viability of farming, specifically watermelon cultivation in Ada East, Ghana, through the inspiring story of Ras, a 25-year veteran farmer and award-winning "Best Farmer." It emphasizes that agriculture offers significant financial rewards and a fulfilling lifestyle, challenging the notion that farming is a last resort.
Mind Map
انقر للتوسيع
انقر لاستعراض خريطة الذهن التفاعلية الكاملة
[Music]
It's been 25 years since you became a
farmer. Yeah. But from your expression,
you sound like you can read and write.
Why did you not continue your education
and you decided to come to farming?
Simply because of the hardship by then.
And by then to I can say we are a
lot and our father farm like 45 acres
our father alone and my father need
help. There is no money to be taking
people to come and help him. So we have
to help our father so that we make a
farm. We don't get much money in the
farm by then but all the time we do
month hand to month and also we all the
time get food from the farm. Even I can
say my father even share a farm product
for the other community people free not
just for said to help the community
people that's what my father do by then
so I decided to join my father and do
the hard work my father do as I stand
here I learned three types of work first
I learn
blacksmith second painting the third is
butcher wow so I'm about to crown
a chief butcher in this ad community but
since I have noticed that we have now
gaining something in the farm so I
redraw the butcher work and involve into
the farm
tell me what did you gain from farming
that made you rather prefer farming over
being a chief butcher I gained a lot by
then I'm in the butcher first I'm I'm
head of my butchers because I get free meals
meals
tomatoes, onion, pepper,
cava. All those I did not buy. I did not
buy condo. I did not buy cava dough. I
don't buy meat. But all my butchers, my
meat, them all bought those things. But
I alone I did not buy. So even that all
the time I'm ahead of them. All the time
I gain a lot of money which they did not
gain. So I decided to involve into it
hard as our father do.
Anyway, so this is Ada is district and
mainly they are known for cultivating
different types of vegetables from
tomatoes, pepper, onion, okra, maze,
melon and many others. Standing next to
me is Ras and he has been doing this
work for the past 25 years. Today he
manages over 12 acres of farmland and he
grows melon. The field we find ourselves
now is a field being prepared for melon
planting the minor season. Yeah. Now
tell me a bit about melon farming in
Ada. How popular is melon farming in? Oh
melon farming is very very popular
because when we need a lot of
watermelon, we produce a lot of
watermelon from Adan here. Even this
year I can say
over four it's more than 4,000 care
trucks that come out from this village
to the city to the city.
What are some of the varieties you grow
here? We
grow sweet
shangria, sugar
dragon, gray
top, green marks because green mass they
come from sakata seed and also top gun.
We grow also
um senta which is egali. Those are the
varieties we grow here. M which time in
the year do we see farming activity
ongoing seriously in Adan East? In Adan
East we started first in the minor
season we started from 10th January to
15th February that's the time we start
from Adan here. Okay. All right. Um so
when we talk about the melon farming
what kind of soil is good for melon
farming? If I'm coming to rent land in
Adan East, what land should I be looking
for? Okay, I can say a black swell as
you see this one is it all the time
fertilize. So when you just get a little
artificial manure or then you are good
to go. Yeah. Okay. So what are some of
the preparation you do to your land
before you come? First preparation we
spray weedside. After we decide we
spread a little of artificial mana which
is either cow don or fon or even go don
but as I'm a Muslim so I don't go with
big one okay I only go with fouls goat
and sheeps right so after we spread that
then we prow it first prow and second
prow then we started planting okay how
much is plowing one acre costing in 350
cities so how many times will you plow
the land before it is ready for the next
process. We prow a week then we do the
second prow. Okay. Sometime we plow when
there is no rain as we are using bleo to
do the irrigation we water it. So when
we spread water on it then we do the
second plow plow. So two times two
times. Okay. Most of times whenever the
situation or the season is hard we do
the brow third time for the weather to
be good for the land.
When do second and third brow like this
it make the soil soft. So whenever the
sun is shine like whatever it won't
affect the plant. Okay. That's the
reason why we normally do second prow
and third brow. So whoever do second
prow and the person that do just one
brow they will never be the same. There
much different right when we f different
between the one that do second and third
brows. Where is the difference coming
from? Is it from the yield or it is from
what? From the yield. Starting from the
plant, the way the plant grow. Okay. And
even the yield, the the height there's a
match level. Okay. If like we are in the
season now, we have now started planting
like see the difference because I all
the time teach the people around here
the different first brow, second brow
and third brow. So now make people are
all the time follow second and third
brow. Okay. So tell me how much do you
buy the seed that you plant? Okay, the
seed for sugar dragon is 550 for per 100
g per air is 450 cities 500 seed per top
gun is,000 seed 680 cities. Okay. So how
many of these seed do you buy for one
acre? For one acre most at times I can
say for egali which is senta I buy three
three yeah per top gun two. Okay per
acre per dragon also two per acre but ea
most of time we have some that are big
some also are not big it depend the
place and where they have be cutting the
acre. Okay so is it direct planting or
you have to do ner and transplanting? No
direct planting. Direct planting. We transplant
transplant
tomatoes, garden egg, pepper and others.
But watermelon we did not transplant it.
Okay. Direct planting. Okay. What what
uh is the distance in between from this
point to this point? Most most of times
we use 6 7 cm sometimes. So it's 10 15
C. It depend on the varieties. Okay.
Because none of the varieties are the
same. None of them two are not the same.
All right. As this one that we are
planting now, we are giving 10 cm per
distance because of this one it move.
Okay, it move long, right? We have some
of them they are not moving long like
sugar dragon and even sweet chandria
that is east west seed. Okay. Okay. And
also top gun also it move as the egg and
top gun move. So we give the same cm for
right. Great. So after planting how many
days does it take to start shooting up
flowering before you see the fruit
coming? 3 weeks. Okay. 3 weeks. All
right. Which is 21 days. Okay. And in
total how many weeks does it take to
mature for harvest? For harvest is most
time depend on the variety and the
season. Yes. So the one you are planting
rain season like this we go 2 months 3
weeks. Most of time 3 months but dry
season like this we go 9 weeks and 10
weeks. Okay. Because of the heat of the
sun. So watermelon like heat. So when it
getting heat it do quick. But when it's
not getting heat it doesn't do quick.
It's slow. Yeah. I see. So in one acre
if all things go well how many kia
tracks will you move from your farm?
Most if things go well Mhm. most time
two K track. Most time one K and one
bongo. Okay. Most of times to one K and
oven. Okay. It depends, right? It
depends. And last year or during the dry
season, how much did you sell the Kia
track? The Kat is 5,000 50,000 per
truck, which is 500 million. Wow. And
presently, yeah. How much is it going
for now? For now, those that they are
harvesting is 800 cities for the truck.
Sorry. 8,000. 8,000. 8,000 for the
truck. Ah, Russ, you made my heart jump.
800 C,000, right? Truck. Okay. So,
normally we don't like the rain season
one. We all the time like the the dry
season. The dry season because the dry
it's not all the people that can do can
do it. It's those that can afford to do
the irrigation that do. But in the major
season like because of the rain
everybody everybody. So since everybody
do it can't print in the system. So they
did not buy. Ras for 25 years you have
been farming. What have been the most
challenging part of farming for you?
Okay, I can say financial
problem. Financial problem is one thing
because to farm one acre now at least
you have to get 20,000 for one acre. For
one acre watermelon watermelon before
everything go successful. 20,000 20,000
what? Per dry season per the minor
season. But per major season like this
when you get like 10,000 you can do it.
You can do it. But this is the place
where people lost
what time this time. This time the rainy
season. Yeah. The rain season because
the rain season one they have now
started harvesting some of them. Okay.
But I did not do that one. Okay. Because
the one that I'm doing now will go into
a little dry season. So when it started
now by 10 15th August we har this one.
Okay. So if you always want to target
the dry season, tell me what time to
what time do I do it? Because I want to
take some of Ras's money. Tell me what I
say from 10th January. Yes. To 15th
February. The first one is ready. First
one. Yeah. Okay. From January 10th then
we started planting to 15th February.
Then we end it for there. Okay. Okay. So
those that will follow apart from 50
February their price will come down by
then a lot of people own would have been
harvesting. Uhhuh. So the next one that
will go a little into the dry season is
what you are doing now around May.
Around May from 25th May to 15th June.
Okay. But I just want to plant on after
this watermelon. I'll plant on in
August. Right. That's why I normally
like to start early. Okay. Like I could
have start from 10th of June. M but
because of the onion that I'm planning
to transplant that's why I bring this
one on a little great you see I always
tell you that farming is calculation oh
true it's calculation if you don't
calculate it you never succeed you all
the time fear and beside we have book on
it the date and whatever the numbers and
days that it will take all the time you
have to be calculating so it's like
mathematics exactly that is how far
that's it Now we've talked about the
challenges but farming has been good to
you right? Very good. This 25 years I
understand that you've won an award.
What award did you win? I got a motor
bike. No the category of award you won
is what? Best farmer. Best farmer. In
which year? In 2023.
Okay. And the packages were motorbike.
Motor and what else? fertilizer and
other wetting boots, spray machine,
sack, spray machine and other. Okay.
Apart from the award, what assets
property or how have you been able to
stay for your family this 25 years for a
farmer? I make a lot of property. I get
I get over 300 cies
over 300 cis and also goat
sheeps I think I'm living in my own
house not a rent house and I have the
one that I just b to rent that one that
is not done yet I bought
over 7 acres of land that those that I
bought with my pocket money but the
place where we were now was a family
done. But I have mine that I bought myself.
Guys, I'm short of words. Those of you
sitting in office and you think you have
money, go and sit down. Go and sit down
somewhere. So if you are ready to go and
check the cus now, I can move you to the
place. I will go with you. Even this
place that now I have 15 of them here in
this community.
Thank you very much. Congratulations. I
have three cart ranch.
Africa. Most of Ghanaian youth or even
Africa, most of the youth are in a hurry
to go to America, UK, Germany,
Australia. But you, you are here.
Despite your riches, you are still here.
Why? Why are you not going? The reason
I'm not going. First, I make my mind to
go. But after searching and looking
through my way, what my director tell me
is that my lucky is here. And if I go, I
will go and suffer and what I'm planning
to go, I'll get it. But whatever I make
down before I go, I'll lost everything.
So either I stay to continue my work
here or I go. So the choice is for me to
take. Choice is for you to take. So I've
decided to leave here. Since if I go
those that I work and build down, they
have to collapse. Yes. I have to sit and
maintain them. Good. Good. Your director
really did well. Now we about wrapping
up our our interview. What will you tell
uh Ministry of Food and Agriculture,
district directors and people who have
money, what will you tell them to do to
make agriculture appealing and
attractive to young people? Okay. For
the government, I'm pleading with them
to come and help the youth in my
community. Okay. Those that did not get
boho because this place we can't create
dam. We can't drink dam. We only dr ball
hole. So if they can come and help us
with go and also to make electricity in
the system for us those are two things
that will help my community for here.
This is Zeno.
We are living in Zeno. We have Zeno at
Ashama Zeno. Zeno for Adam. Okay. And
when you say Zeno a lot of people know
Zeno because they know what we produce
and they know what we do in Zeno, right?
So I'm pleading with the government to
help us with water. So when we get water
I think we can produce a lot of plant
that we will not go outside to look for
plant or something all the time we just
go and search for food and others
outside but when we get those help in
adan we can produce a lot and even I
hope the government know what Adam do.
Yes, the government know what I don't do
because they hearing name.
Okay. Uh Ras, we are about to finish our
interview. Finally, there are a lot of
people in the diaspora abroad, they want
to come and do farming. When we come to
Ada and we want land for farming, who do
we go to? Is it family? Is it individual
or is chief? Okay. Most times we get our
most times we go to the chief. Okay.
Because we have some family land like
this the chief all the time control
them. So when we see the chiefs I think
that will be good and we have some
people too you go to the family. So it
depends that you go and the place you go
for my side like this if you come we
take you to our family right so you sit
with the family and talk. So if whatever
you need and the family know they have
it. Yeah. They come to help so that we
get more food to help Ghana. Indeed, if
you come by and you talk to him, he will
lead you to the family. If they agree to
what you want to do and they want to
sell or lease, they will discuss and
agree with you. This has been the
Ghanaian farmer. My name is Anonam, but
when you see me in town, call me Ghet
Farmer. I find myself in another
district precisely in a community called
Zueno. And here they are known for
cultivating watermelon, tomatoes,
pepper. They have some cows and goats
and sheep. But if you come to this area
in Zenu, they do a lot of things. And
with the help of Bho because there is no
dam here. So they've drilled B hole and
they've connected the irrigation tubes
and they are farming all year round. In
Ghana, we say most of our food is
cultivated by small holder farmers. And
so we need to give them the support and
the need to be able to grow more. And
that's why we are here to put the
spotlight on the best farmer 2023. He
won this district or this area. That is
what he won. He's been awarded. He has
some cows and goats and other farms and
he work with other young people. He's
doing amazing incredible things here in
farming. So if you are in or you are in
abroad and you come from Adam come and
invest in farming. How would we contact
you if we want to do farming with you?
You can talk to your people. What number
should we call 0243
0243
0471 36 0243
0243
047136 or
0257 52
5183 that's my number. Great.
Lastly, tell young people in Ghana why
they should think they should rethink
Please what message for them? Even the I
can say even the ministers are farming
but not all of them know even the
president is farming. If there is no
food and there is no money in it the
president will know involve me to
farming because he waste his money but
they know what we have in the farm. So
the youth I'm pleading with you to rise
up and let's help let's farm because we
have a lot of money in farming. So just
bring yourself out and let's do work
together so that we can help our
motherland Ghana. Thank you. Even here
my youth are all the time that you can
see some of them passing. Yes. Young
young boys they are all the time
involved into farming because they know
what they are ending in the farm. So
every season at least the money that a
lot of the youth earn in the farm they
like it. So it's simply because of there
is no if like it rain fall as you come
now you see a lot of people that are
working seriously. Okay. Thank you very
much. You're welcome. Thank you. The
full name again is what?
Amino Amadu. I come from Kaja Adam.
Okay. So that's it. Thank you very much
for watching. Remember to subscribe and
of course share the video. But if it's
anything that has to go to do with
farming in Ada, you can reach out to Ras
and he would guide you through the
process. Thank you very much for
watching. I'll see you on the flip side. [Music]
Heat. Hey, Heat. [Music]
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