2016 National Farmers Day celebrations launched in Accra
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture MOFA), at the weekend launched this year’s National Farmers’ Day celebrations scheduled to take place on October 7, at Kintampo in the Brong- Ahafo Region.
The day, which is set aside by government to honour farmers and fishers who provide food for the people, raw materials for industries and earn foreign exchange for the country, is on the theme: ” Agriculture; A business response to economic growth.”
In a speech read on his behalf to launch the event, Mr Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff, said the theme underscored effective commercial agriculture, as a critical factor for the country’s development agenda and there is thus a strong need for sustainable and responsible investment to create business opportunities in the agricultural sector.
He said the theme also demonstrates the resolve of government at providing a framework and institutional basis for a long-term engagement and supplementary financing for scaling up investment in private sector-led pro-poor agriculture value chain development through the Ghana Agriculture Sector Investment Programme (GASSIP) being implemented by MOFA.
GASSIP is expected to directly benefit at least 62,900 farmers by Programme Year (PY) 3 and 86,400 farmers by PY 6, that 4000 Farmer-Based Organisations would be involved in implementation and would receive support to be integrated into formalised value chains and expected to be more climatic resilient, he noted.
According to him, most FBOs would be linked to domestic and export markets, agro-industries, input suppliers and at least 150 participating financial institutions or their branches and the linkages would be established through 200 agri-business arrangements with total outreach estimated at 514,000 people.
Mr Debrah said reports by the Ghana Living Standards Survey 6 indicates that the sector currently provides employment for about 44.7 per cent of the total workforce in both the formal and informal sectors of the economy.
He said some investment areas in the sector include; provision of agricultural inputs such as improved seeds and agrochemicals, processing of dairy products as well as supply of machinery to establish hatcheries for day-old chicks, agro-processing industry to add value and reduce post-harvest losses and developing irrigable land through irrigation.
Mr Debrah said responsible investment in agriculture and food systems is essential for enhancing food and nutrition security and transformation of the economy.
Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru Limuna, Sector Minister said agriculture has made significant contribution to economic prospects of advanced countries and its role in economic development of less developed countries like Ghana is even more important.
He said out of a total cultivable land area of about 14 million hectares, 7.8 million is currently under cultivation leaving an uncultivated arable land area of 6.2 million hectares.
He said there is adequate water resources both surface and underground water for irrigation.
The Minister called on the private sector to partner government to substantially invest in the sector.
Mrs Benita Sean Okity Duah, Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development said there are business opportunities available for investors to access in the entire aquaculture value chain especially fish feed production, production of fish such as tilapia, catfish and shrimps in either fresh water or in mari-culture, processing and marketing.
Dr Yakubu Ahmed Alhassan, Deputy Minister, Crops and Chairman of the Planning Committee of the event called on cooperate bodies to respond positively to with the donations to enable the Ministry to award its gallant farmers.
He said this year, innovations by farmers to introduce new varieties would be examined, giving an example like if a farmer has introduced a particular variety of yam into northern Ghana, the farmer would be awarded.
FAO showed its recognition of the contributions made by farmers and awarded the 2015 National Best Farmer.
Source: GNA