. Other development and donor partners such as Food and Agriculture Organization, Cocoabod, African Development Bank, Bank of Ghana were duly represented. Present also were former award winners, representatives of financial institutions and some members of the Diplomatic Corps.
The Senior Minister, Hon. Yaw Osafu Maafo who performed the launch said government was committed to the developing the agriculture sector since it is the leading growth driver for Ghana’s economy, he however lamented that, agric potential in contributing to growth and development has been underexploited. He added that achieving sustainable food security in Ghana within the context of a phenomenal growth in population and increasing unemployment was a challenge to the country’s development hence, the NPP administration came with a renewed commitment by increasing the budgetary allocation to the sector as an effort to boost productivity.
Hon. Yaw Osafu Maafo called on strategic partners in the sector, institutions, oil companies’ financial institution and corporate entities to donate towards a fruitful 2017 NFD event. He urged all to join hands in the retooling and remodelling process to celebrate farmers for their immense contribution to national development. To that effect, a committee comprising of technical experts from relevant national organisations have been tasked to re-model the NFD celebration.
The senior Minister, assured famers of government continues commitment to the distribution of agriculture inputs and machinery at a subsidised price to enable farmers and fisher folks increase their production.
Hon. Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto Minister for Food and Agriculture in his speech said, the Planting for Food and Jobs Policy, rolled out by the NPP administration is expected to yield a bumper harvest this year as such the ministry is mapping out plans to support farmers. These plans he said, includes acquiring 27 warehouses belonging to the Buffer Stock Company to be handed over to the Grains Development Board to encourage private sector participation. Farmer groups and stakeholder will be engaged to ensure that the government policies for the sector were properly carried out to ensure food security, this he added.
Hon. Elizabeth Afoley Quaye, Minister for Aquaculture Development urged farmers and fishermen to use the upcoming event as a reference point to stay away from the use of bad and illegal fishing methods in a quest to boost the fishing sector. She said the country’s fish stock continue to deplete as a result of bad practices.
Hon. Dr. Nurah Gyele, Minister of State at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and Chairman of the 2017 NFD Planning Committee announced the award categories with the corresponding benefits sponsors will derive. The categories were given as follows:
- Platinum Sponsor: 50,000.00 and above. This category will get acknowledgement in the media, advertise company’s logo on sponsors’ billboard at the durbar for telecast, and advertise company logo in event brochure, plague and special certificate of sponsorship at the Sponsors’ Awards Night. The rests are full page colour print company advert with felicitation message to farmers and fishers in the National Farmers’ Day brochure, photo opportunity for presentation of packages to the Minister for Food and Agriculture for the media, and branding of some sections of the principal route to and outside perimeter of durbar ground.
- Gold sponsor: 50,000.00-30,000.00 will have their company logo advertise in event brochure and a half page colour print company advert with felicitation message to farmers and fishers in the National Farmers Day Brochure.
- Silver sponsors: 30,000.00 to 10,000.00 will also get acknowledgement in the media; advertise company’s logo on sponsor’s billboard at the durbar ground for telecast, special certificate of sponsorship at the Sponsors’ Awards Night and photo opportunity for presentation of packages to the Minister for Food and Agriculture for the media.
- Bronze sponsor below 10,000.00 and below will get acknowledgement in the media, special certificate of sponsorship at the Sponsors’ Awards Night as well as photo opportunity for presentation of packages to the Minister for Food and Agriculture for the media.
