The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) launched the 37th edition of the National Farmers’ Day at a short ceremony at the Forecourt of Ministry of Food and Agriculture Head Office, Accra. on Wednesday 29th September 2021.
This year’s celebrations is slated for the 29th of November to the 3rd of December 2021 at Cape Coast, Central Region. The theme for celebrations is Planting for Food and Jobs – Consolidating Food Systems in Ghana.
The celebrations will start on the 29th of November 2021, with an Agricultural Fair, Exhibition and Regional Focus Days. On 2nd December will be the ADB Farmers’ Forum, with a climax of a Grand Durbar and Award Ceremony on Friday December 2021. H. E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is the Special Guest of Honour.
Launching the farmers’ day, was the Chairman of the Council of State & Paramount Chief of the Juaben Traditional Area, Nana Otuo Siriboe II, He urged Government to Highlight the opportunities in the agriculture sector to attract the youth.
According to him Agric business is developing rapidly on the back of technology and that it was a said view of the youth that employment is only when one gets engaged in an office environment.
He commended farmers and fisher men for living above the coronavirus pandemic disruption to the farming season and continuously putting food on the table of Ghanaians at a time the immune system was most important in combating the disease.
He also said It is important to keep reminding ourselves that the farmers of this country, play a pivotal role in national development, and are indeed indispensable when it comes to our sustenance as a people. It is hard to imagine our fate if there were no farmers to provide our food and nutritional needs for our healthy growth and development.
He further appealed to Corporate Ghana and well-meaning Ghanaians to generously support this Year’s Farmers’ Day Celebration, “If there was any time in the Country’s history that farmers must be best appreciated, I believe that time is now’’.
The Minister for Food and Agriculture Hon. Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto at the launch indicated that in keeping with tradition, the official launch marks the start of preparations towards the event and equally represents a rallying call to corporate organizations and Ghanaians at large to demonstrate and support and sincere appreciation for the invaluable contribution that farmers and fishers continue to make to the progress of our country.
The contribution that farmers add towards national development, from proceeds of exports of agricultural commodities cannot be underestimated – not to mention their enormous provision of our basic nutritional requirements and daily sustenance.
MoFa and MoFAD who are jointly responsible for the planning of the National Farmers’ Day celebration have successfully organized the event over the years with the support of some partners in spite of various challenges. Appreciation to some key partners like - ADB, EXIM & Stanbic Banks who have consistently sponsored the first three prizes for the National Best Farmer category, and COCOBOD who takes care of the award of the cocoa sector.
Dr. Akoto added that, major dimension of any nation’s security is to ensure food security as a priority, there is incontrovertible evidence across the world that food insecurity is a major driver of conflict and consequently insecurity. It leads to poverty, hunger and anger, creating fertile grounds for conflict due to vulnerability of victims. This is why food production and access are important and must be prioritized at all times.
He further said that, government of His Excellency, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akofo Addo recognizes this and indeed continues to demonstrate that agriculture remains the driving force of the country’s development. Therefore, under his stewardship, he has bonded with farmers and through that have a fuller appreciation of the problems and solutions needed to fast-track government’s modernization and transformation agenda for agriculture.
In attendance was the Host, Central Regional Minister, Hon Justina Marigold Assan, Deputy Ministers for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Yaw Frimpong Addo and Hon Hardi Tufeiru, deputy Minister for MoFAD, Hon Moses Anim, Chairman & Members of The Parliamentary Select Committee for Food and Agriculture, Chief Executive of COCOBOD, Heads of Financial Institutions (ADB, Eximbank, Stanbic Bank) FAO Country Representative, The 2020 National Best Farmer, Chairman of The Award Winners Association, among others.
Central Regional Minister, Hon. Justina Marigold Assan, said the region was ready to host this year’s Farmers’ Day Celebration.
STORY BY: Urowoli Phillip
Assistant PRO, MoFA