Agric Minister Laments Lack Of Funds For Farmers Day Celebration

The Minister for Food and Agriculture Dr. Owusu Akoto Afriyie has lamented the fact that there is not enough funds to back this year’s National Farmer’s Day Celebration.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament earlier today, Dr. Akoto disclosed that his Ministry has been compelled to depend on sponsorship from corporate Ghana as well as other partners in order to organize this year’s celebration due to lack of funds.

This year’s celebration which marks the 34^th Edition will be held in the Northern Region. Dr. Akoto Afriyie opines that despite the limited budgetary allocation, his ministry will ensure that deserving farmers are rewarded on Friday, 7 November 2018.

“The constraints on the national budget had a major drawback on this year’s preparation given that some budgetary allocation of GHS 2 million approved for the fiscal year 2016/2017 was maintained for 2018. In effect, the ministry has had to rely heavily on sponsorship from corporate Ghana and other developing partners to ensure a successful celebration”, Dr. Afriyie Akoto said in Parliament today ahead of Friday’s event.

He continued; “Going forward, it is the hope that the budget approved for the National Farmers’ Day will reflect the status of agriculture as the lead sector for propelling Ghana’s economy to the height of prosperity that we all desire.

“I trust, therefore, that in reviewing the 2019 budget estimates for the Ministry of Agriculture, this matter will seriously engage the attention of the house and receive further consideration”.

The theme for this year's celebration is: ‘Agriculture, moving Ghana beyond aid’. The Minister for food and Agriculture has also assured farmers of continuous support from government since agriculture is the backbone of Ghana's development.