Farmers Day; Government is working on your pension scheme- Deputy Lands Minister To Farmers

The Member of Parliament for the Prestea Huni-valley Constituency and Deputy Minister, Lands and Natural Resources Mrs. Barbara Oteng Gyasi has assured cocoa farmers in the Prestea /Huni-Valley constituency of Government’s effort towards the creation of a pension scheme which will benefit all cocoa farmers

Mrs Barbara Oteng Gyasi echoed how cocoa farmers whose efforts contributed immensely to the economy and has put the country on the world stage with regard to cocoa production tends not to benefit significantly from the revenues generated from the sector. She noted that “the scheme will ensure that all workers in cocoa production chain will benefit from a pension scheme so that upon retirement, these hardworking people, who have been the backbone of the country from time immemorial will be well catered for”

She made the pronouncement at the 34th National Farmer’s Day Celebration which was held at Petepom, a farming community within the Prestea /Huni-Valley constituency in the Western Region on Friday, 7th December, 2018, with the theme “Agriculture; Moving Ghana Beyond Aid”

The event which saw Mr. Samuel William Debby a 59-year-old farmer as the overall Municipal Best Farmer took home a tricycle, locally called ‘aboboyaa’, a double door fridge, a 42inch plasma TV, a spraying machine, a sewing machine, a radio set, five bags of fertilizer, two wheelbarrows, four cutlasses, two watering cans, three shovels, a box of soap, kente cloth, eight pieces of African print cloth, a box of weedicide and three wellington boots.

The MP applauded the farmers and stakeholders in the constituency on their effort towards 'Planting for food and jobs' policy being implemented by the Akuffo- Addo led administration. “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 realise the Ghana Beyond Aid vision” she added.

She further assured the farmers of her continued support and efforts being made for an additional Cocoa District at Prestea in addition to that at Huni-Valley in order to minimize the difficulties farmers experience in accessing chemicals and fertilizers.

“ I will continue to support the spraying, pollination and pruning of cocoa farms to enable the sub sector contribute significantly to the growth of GDP, foreign exchange earnings, employment generation and poverty reduction in the constituency” she added.

She urged farmers to take advantage of the conducive environment provided by the government through the Planting for Food and Jobs as well as Planting for Export and Rural Development to improve on their productivity to ensure food security and industrialization by providing the raw materials for agro industries under the 1D1F policy.

A special award was presented by the Deputy Minister to Nana Kwaku Appiah III, Chief of Petepom for his contribution towards the development of constituency.

Mrs Barbara Oteng Gyasi (Deputy lands minister) and Mr Mozart Owuh (MCE) inspecting some farm produce

Deputy lands minister interacting with farmers

Mr Abeam Danso (NPP prestea Huni-valley constituency chairman ) and Mrs Barbara Oteng Gyasi (Deputy lands minister) inspecting some farm produce

Deputy lands minister presenting an award to Mr Samuel Debby (Municipal overall best farmer )

Mrs Barbara Oteng Gyasi presenting a special award to Nana Kwaku Appiah III, chief of Petepom