The date for this year's general election has affected the normal schedule of the 24th Annual National Farmers' Day celebration in the country.

At the launch of the event in Accra, Agric Minister, Ernest Akubour Debrah said the annual event will be held in the Brong Ahafo region on the first Friday of November which is the 7th instead of the usual first Friday of December which falls on the 5th.

According to him, the November 7 date is to ensure that participants, including the award winners and officials are not impeded upon but have ample time to participate fully in the country's general election slated for Sunday 7th December 2008.

He reiterated government's commitment to bring about positive growth in the agricultural sector in line with the NPP's manifesto to pursue policies that will bring about positive change in the economic, political and social fabric of this country.

A planning committee, chaired by Clement Eledi and made up of officials from the Agriculture and Fisheries ministries as well as some public institutions has been constituted.

Mr. Eledi, who is also Deputy Agric minister in charge of crops, expressed the need for the private sector and public spirited individuals to show goodwill by donating generously towards the National Farmer's day celebration as the government's budgetary allocation for the activities has over the years declined.

Narrating the selection process, Mr. Eledi said the ministry is in the process of constituting the national Farmers Day selection committee to tour the regions and visit farms to select National, Regional and District best farmers and fishermen.

He mentioned the composition of the committee as being made up of representatives of the four public universities, the research institutions and the Ministries of Food and Fisheries.

"To arrive at a fair decision as to who is a hardworking farmer worthy of National recognition, preliminary selections are made at the District and Regional levels in which farmers are closely monitored and assessed by extension officers over a farming season," he disclosed.

According to him, the committee's selection will be based on some criteria including the diversification or integration of farming operations, the scale of operations, knowledge of husbandry practices, environmental awareness and relevant practices and the identification of farming problems and innovativeness. The rest are record keeping, adoption of new technologies and farmer's role in his community.

He went ahead to say that, the names and location of the three farmers in each region then are sent to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture headquarters in Accra for onward transmission to the selection committee.

The selected farmers and fishermen will converge in Accra on Sunday 2nd November, 2008 and will be touring several places of interest during that same week followed by a cocktail party to be organised by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in honour of the farmers and fishermen. Source: The Statesman - The Statesman