KoKMA marks 2021 Farmers Day Celebration

The Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly (KoKMA) in the Greater Accra region on Friday joined the rest of the country to mark this year's National Farmers Day Celebration under the theme, "Planting for Foods and Jobs: Consolidating Food Systems in Ghana".

This year's celebration is the 37^th of its kind since the inception of the celebration in 1984 and the 2^nd since the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly came into being in 2019.

Marking the day at the Korle Klottey Municipality, hon. Samuel Nii Adjei Sowah, the Municipal Chief Executive commended the gallant farmers for their tremendous efforts over the years and urged them to take advantage of government's Planting for Foods and Jobs flagship program to do more.

The MCE said the theme for the occasion was carefully selected to reflect on the gains chalked by Ghanaian farmers since the introduction of the Planting for Foods and Jobs program which is very dear to President and government at large.

According to the Korley Klottey Municipal Mayor, the planting for foods and jobs program was amongst other things tailored towards empowering small holder farmers , creating jobs and generating incomes, agricultural modernisation amongst others.

Even though Agriculture has been the main livelihoods of Ghanaians including those of Korle Klottey, the MCE however bemoaned the lack of farmlands in the Municipality thereby making it difficult for farmers within the Municipality to fully benefit from the flagship program.

He encouraged the youth to venture into backyard and organic farming to enable them benefit from the flagship program.

"Farmers day celebration is very important to his Assembly in recognition of the valuable farmers contribution to the socio economic development of Ghana through the provision of jobs and income generation."

In his welcome address, the KoKMA Agricultural Director, Mr. Godfred Sowatey Lomottey indicated that the theme for the celebration fits well into the plans and programs of the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly .

He commended the farmers for their massive contribution not only to feed the people but to create jobs, incomes and contribute to socio economic development of Ghana.

Mr. Lomottey congratulated all farmers nationwide and urged them to maximise their efforts to win more laurels for themselves and families at large.

Government , he pointed out ,is making agriculture very attractive through the introduction of the Planting for Foods and Jobs flagship program. He therefore encouraged the youth to take advantage and venture into the sector because farming is now a profitable venture.

The Agriculture Director calls for massive investment in the agricultural sector by both public and private entities to help create jobs and incomes for the people. "Investing in the sector is not a waste but very profitable because you will recoup more that what you have invested," he said.

On his part, Dr. Ernest Christian Winful the Dean of International Program at the Accra Technical University ( ATU) noted that the challenges of the present generation affirms the need and importance to celebrate the country's gallant farmers.

The Dean who chaired the occasion on behalf of the ATU's Vice Chancellor also mentioned that farmers have always been the backbone of Ghana's economy and still continue to play important roles in the socio economic advancement of the country.

"There is still hope for Ghanaian farmers despite the challenges being encountered due to government's continues support for the farmers."

Market women also appeal to the MCE to ensure that they are well trained in the processing of their items in order not to go waste . "The Assembly must through the Agricultural Unit train and equip us on food processing , which will go a long way to help preserve our food products from going waste."

Madam Olivia Quaye was adjudged the best farmer in the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly. For her prize, she took home an outboard motor, sword, citation, spraying machine amongst other valuables.