Profile of the National Best Livestock Farmer – 2019

MR.  MAXWELL KWAKU ASANKOMAH

(ATWIMA KWAWOMA DIATRICT –ASHANTI REGION)

Background

Mr. Maxwell Kwaku Asankomah is a 42-year-old farmer from the Atwima Kwanwoma District in the Ashanti Region. With basic education, Mr. Asankomah has been farming for the past 16years. His Farm, the Shamo Farms &Trading which is located at Trede, a suburb of Kumasi employs a total of 47 workers, including 33 full-time employees, 12 casual employees, and 2 family relations.  Mr. Asankomah is married with six children.

Diversification/Integration of Farming

The Shamo Farm & Trading is quite diversified with his crop enterprises covering a very broad areas of roots and tubers (cassava, cocoyam), maize, and plantation crop (cocoa, coconut, plantain) and vegetables. In terms of livestock enterprises, he has cattle), small ruminants (goats and sheep), exotic poultry birds (layers), pigs, snails, rabbits, grasscutters, and aquaculture (tilapia and catfish). 

Degree of Integration of Farming Operations

The Shamo Farm’s combines the cultivation of crops and farm animals for very good reasons consistent with the principles of integration of farming operations. The remains of his crop yields are used to feed his farm animals such as sheep, goats and birds. Sales of the produce are also use to procure drugs and vaccines for the animals. The manure from cattle and the poultry   constitutes farmyard manure, which is used to maintain soil fertility of the crop fields, while the droppings of the pigs are used to provide biogas that is used on the farm. 

Knowledge of Husbandry Practices

Mr. Asankomah has fairly good knowledge of crop husbandry practices. He has over the past years obtained his planting materials from certified seed dealers and from the MOFA.  The farms are well maintained in very good sanitary conditions at both the crop and livestock enterprises to address the problem of pests and diseases.  

In relation to animal husbandry practices, Mr. Asankomah reasons for keeping the species are that:

• Pigs are prolific and grow rapidly
• Small ruminants do not feed much
• Fowls after laying are easily sold as spent layers at affordable prices to meet the pockets of the ordinary person
• Poultry business is self-financing
• Waste of poultry can be used as manure

The farmer got his initial breeding stock of cattle from the Tamale market while the fingerlings were taken from the Fisheries hatchery at Tano Odumase in the Ashanti region. The rabbits and pigs were bought from the Cletus Farm and the Naa Farm both at Akropong.  The farmer adheres to the advice from the Veterinary Officer in charge of the community to address the health needs of his livestock. Feeding of his animals is done extensively through grazing and supplementary feeding of peels of cassava. Most times is prepared using wheat and maize brand. He follows a well-structured vaccination regime to ensure the health of his livestock. Mr. Asankomah exhibits good management skills when it comes to the animal production aspect such as;

The housing provided for the animals is very spacious, clean, well illuminated and ventilated, non-leaking of the roof with concrete floor and has feeders and watering troughs. This is to provide protection, against theft, for easy feeding and watering, to monitor livestock numbers, track their numbers easily detect sick animals among the stock. Mr. Asankomah uses maize bran, wheat bran, wheat, rice bran soyabean meal, fodder, and fish meal to feel his animal.  

 Scale of Operation

The scale of operation of his enterprises is as follows:

Environmental Awareness

The farmer identified flooding, and bushfires as the main environmental factors affecting his farming business.  Mr. Asankomah usually relocates some of his enterprises such as livestock to higher grounds to avoid the effects of flooding and often constructs fire belts around the farms to reduce the incidence of bush fires. 

Major Farming Constraints/Innovative Solution

Some major constraints affecting Shamo farm includes waste management, lack of credit, inadequate machinery/implements. As coping strategies to the aforementioned challenges the farmer has put certain measures in place to ameliorate the situation to enhance sustainability of the farming business as follows:

• Adoption of the IMO technology to deal with the waste.
• Reliance on banks for credit at interest rate of 22.5%
• The use of manual labour for most of its operations.

Record Keeping

Record keeping is very essential in every thriving business and as such Mr. Asankomah keeps records on poultry production, livestock production, and on employees for various reasons that include:

• To know the expenditure and income
• To monitor stock numbers
• To track the performance of his business

Adoption of Improved Technologies

Thanks to the effort of the officers of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture through the Agricultural Extension Agent and the veterinary officer assigned to the community, the farmer has learned important improved farming technologies, which have yielded dividends on his farming business. The technologies adopted include:

• Planting of crops in rows
• The Indigenous Microorganisms (IMO) technology
• Use of automatic drinkers

Role of Farmer in the Community

Mr. Asankomah within his farming community is perceived as a role model and a source of inspiration for the youth in the community. His farm is very accessible to other famers who want to learn from him. Even JHS students within the community visit the farm to learn.   The farmer belongs to the following associations:

• Ashanti Regional Pig Farmers Association
• Ashanti Regional Meat Processors Association
• Poultry Farmers Association

The farmer through hard work has won a number of awards at the district and regional levels. These awards include.

• Best Municipal Meat Processor in 2017
• Ashanti Regional Best Pig Farmer in 2014

As part of the social responsibility, the Shamo farms has supported the community with the following projects:

• Provided a hand-dug well to the community
• Supported 1 individual to learn trade at the Kumasi Magazine.

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General Impression

The Shamo Farm and Trading run by Mr. Asankomah is well diversified in both crop and livestock enterprises. The farm has modern facilities for livestock production and biosecurity is taken seriously.  The farm has a good farm layout with good structures housing the poultry, and pigs with modern sanitation facilities that allows the droppings of the pigs to flow under the structure through a well-designed system. These waste are used to generate power for the farm. . In spite of the    lack of credit, and lack of farm machinery, the farmers has done very well in the livestock business, serving as an inspiration to the youth in the area. He therefore deserves commendation.