John Mahama On 2018 National Farmers Day

Former President Mahama has taken on the ruling Akufo-Addo government and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for failing to instittute critical agricultural initiatives to help farmers.

Former President Mahama, in his message to mark the 2018 National Farmers' Day, further urged government to double down on providing innovative solutions in the agricultural sector.

He said the Akfuo-Addo government has been giving rhetorics.

FULL STATEMENT

It is another year, and another day to celebrate and praise our dear farmers and our fisher folks for their hard work, which continues to contribute greatly towards sustaining our economy. We must also praise God almighty for the rains this year.

As we celebrate our dear farmers, today, we must as a nation decide to move beyond mere words and support them with the needed inputs and machinery to ensure safety and efficiency in agriculture.

I urge government to pay serious attention to, and continue programmes such as the Agricultural Mechanization Centres, the Farmers Service Centres and other policies like the deliberate development and rehabilitation of irrigation facilities and provision of targeted funding through the EDAIF, now Ghana EXIM, to farmers.

I believe our farmers deserve better returns on their investments than what government is offering them. Therefore, government must roll up its sleeves and back their rhetoric with concrete and innovative actions.

This is the only way we can ensure good returns on investment for farmers, enhance productivity, and achieve agricultural diversification through agro processing, cotton, shea nut and cashew farming.

Ayekoo to our farmers!

Happy Farmers Day!!

---MyJoyOnline