As Ghana gears up to celebrate the 34th edition of the annual Farmer's Day in Tamale on Friday, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Akufo-Addo-led government have hinted of a big move to turn the fortunes of farmers around by next year.
The initiative is a major agricultural intervention to further boost the agric sector as well as the fortunes of farmers.
According to the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the event will not only be used to reward hardworking regional and national best farmers but also announce major interventions for agriculture.
“It will also be used as a platform to outline efforts by the administration to further enhance Agric productivity and its rewards to farmers in 2019 and 2020. We also use the provided opportunity to highlight work aimed at improving the welfare of farmers, ” he told the press Wednesday.
The celebration is themed “Agriculture, Moving Ghana beyond aid”.
The theme reflects the premium placed on agriculture by the Administration and the critical role of the sector and sector players in Ghana’s ability to meet our beyond aid goal.
Though 34% of the employed population is engaged in agriculture, Agric output and its rewards to farmers had been dwindling in recent years.
In 2017 the administration introduced the planting for food and jobs program targeting 250,000 farmers.
The program was focused on supplying inputs to farmers including fertilizers and improved seeds and providing farmers with Agric Extension services.
It also assists farmers with marketing channels for their output through there organized buffer stock company and licensed buying companies.
According to the minister, the Agric sector will receive a major boost in 2019 as the program is to be expanded.
“The expansion will focus on the number of farmers, kinds of inputs, Agric products as well as expansion in markets to particularly focus on international markets,” he said.
The Information Minister said details of the expansion programmes which is expected to yield 7.3% and 7.0% for 2019 and 2020 respectively will be outdoored at the Tamale celebration.
This year’s Farmer's Day celebration began with a National Agricultural Fair from Thursday and will end on Friday at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium. Celebrations will also be held at the district levels.
---MyJoyOnline
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