Farmers Day Slated For November 2.

Farmers Day Slated For November 2.
Mr Kwesi Ahwoi - Agric Minister, launching the Farmers' Day celebration in Accra Tuesday.
Mr Kwesi Ahwoi - Agric Minister, launching the Farmers' Day celebration in Accra Tuesday.
The Ministry of Agriculture (MoFA) has launched the 28th Famers’ Day celebration in Accra to kick-start series of activities to honour the country’s farmers and fishers.

Unlike the convention where the day is celebrated on the first Friday of December annually, this year’s event will be held at Abokobi in the Ga East Municipal Assembly on November 2, 2012 because of the general elections on December 7.

On the theme ‘Grow More Food: Strengthening Farmer Based Organisations for Market Place Bargaining Power,’ the ministry is using this year’s event to consolidate its policy to develop Farmer Based Organisations (FBOs) as tools to make farmers and fishers more competitive, cost effective and have greater bargaining power at the market place.

Launching the programme and an appeal for sponsorship for the event, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, Agriculture Minister observed that the threat of marginalisation imposed by globalised economies was knocking on the doors of small scale farmers.

He indicated that for them to survive, there was the need for small scale farmers to become more efficient in value chain management and produce according to market dictates.

In that regard, he said FBOs could provide the necessary platform that would engage Ghanaian farmers and fishermen to overcome the challenges they faced in view of their small scale operations.

The Minister said while Ghanaians could continue to count on the ministry to pursue prudent policies for sustainable agriculture development, it would encourage the private sector to take up investment opportunities in agriculture and agribusiness and work with FBOs to build their capacities.

The budget for this year’s event is close to GHC 4 million but Mr Ahwoi said the ministry could only afford GHC 700,000.

While commending the support of sponsors of the programme over the years, he also appealed for donations in kind and cash to make this year’s event a success saying “the National Farmers Day celebration would not be the respectable programme that it is without your contributions.”

The occasion also marked the presentation certificates to year 2011 National Famers Day sponsors.

The National Farmers Day celebrations serves as a platform to appreciate the work of Ghanaian farmers who toil to produce food to feed the people and raw materials for the country's industries as well as revenue for the country through export.

The awards started in 1984 when the first best national farmer took home a pair of Wellington boots and a machete. 

In 1988, the government set aside the first Friday of December every year to honour the country’s farmers.

To win an award, qualified farmers are assessed on criteria including diversified and integrated farming, adoption of new technology and scale of operation.

The awards committee is also interested in knowledge of husbandry practices, environmental awareness and relevant practices, entrepreneurship and the farmer’s role in his or her community.

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