The 38th edition of the National Farmers’ Day was launched today, Friday, 16th of September, 2022 at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture Conference room. This year’s celebration will be held in the Eastern Region of Ghana and would as usual be marked with a National Agricultural Fair from Tuesday, 29th November 2022 to Friday 2nd December, 2022. The last day of the National Agricultural Fair which marks the first Friday of December would be celebrated with a Grand Durbar and Awards Ceremony where Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the President of the Republic of Ghana will confer national honours on best performing farmers.
This year’s launch was chaired by the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, in attendance also was the Deputy Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Hon. Moses Anim, who came on behalf of his Minister Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson, he expressed his appreciation to all sponsors for their generous sponsorship leading to a successful celebration in 2021 and previous celebrations. The theme for the 38th National Farmers’ Day Celebration -Accelerating Agricultural Development Through Value Addition- is instructive and an eye opener in the wake of prevailing global challenges.
This is because the concept of value addition in agriculture especially fisheries and aquaculture presents a very good opportunity for additional revenue generation, job creation, foreign exchange earnings and effective post-harvest management. For instance, in 2021 total fish production stood at 628,617.53 mt estimated at GHS11.04 billion contributing about 1.04% of GDP and 20.99% of Agriculture GDP. I am sure that, if value addition was included, the value would have been more he said.
The Eastern Regional Minister Hon. Seth Kwame Acheampong thanked every one, on behalf of the chiefs and good people of the Eastern Region, I wish to convey our deepest appreciation and gratitude to the National Organizing Committee for the honour bestowed on us to host this year’s National Farmers’ Day celebration, he said. He also congratulated his colleague Regional Ministers who have successfully taken their turns in hosting the event.
Agriculture can never be left out in our developmental agenda as a nation. This is because, our basic survival and progress as a nation depends on the produce this sector provides he said.
Hon. Acheampong said contribution of the Agric sector to our GDP continues to remain significant and the employment opportunities that exist in this sector cannot be overemphasized.
Eastern Region is endowed with a unique diversity in terms of culture, ethnicity, vegetation and also contributes greatly to the food basket of the nation. The region grows almost all the staple crops and in commercial quantities cultivates the three major food crops namely; maize, rice and cassava he said.
Also in attendance was the Chairman for the National Farmers’Day Planning Committee Hon. Yaw Frimpong Addo, the Board Chairman for Ghana Cocoa Board, Mr Peter Mac Manu, the CEO of Cocoa Board Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo. Also in attendance was directors from both MoFA and MoFAD.
STORY BY UROWOLI PHILLIP
ASSISTANT PRO, MoFA