Farmer’s Day Celebration: Minister for Food and Agriculture is committed to Consolidating Food system in Ghana, Planting of more Food and Jobs

FARMERS DAY CELEBRATION:
PLANTING FOR FOOD AND JOBS – CONSOLIDATING FOOD SYSTEMS IN GHANA
HON. DR. OWUSU AFRIYIE AKOTO (Minister for Food and Agriculture).

Farmers work from sunrise to sunset often. So it is no wonder that we have a day for them.

Let us all pay tribute to them on this auspicious day.
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.

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.

by Emmanuel Aniagyei, Communication Aide 0248743081