Farmers’ day awards were instituted by the government of Ghana in 1985 as part of governments move to recognize the sweat of our gallant farmers and fisherfolks in the country.
Since its establishment, more than 30 outstanding farmers and fisher folks have been awarded at the national level.
This year’s national farmer’s day celebration is scheduled to take place in Kumasi on 1st of December 2017.
But many have raised concerns about the impact of the farmer’s award scheme on Ghana’s agriculture development. Many people are of the view that successive governments have failed in ensuring that the farmers awards impact on agric development, and there wish it will be possibly reviewed.
The standpoint of some of these farmer groups is that past and present governments have not committed enough funds to make the celebrations worthwhile, and that only cooperate bodies are seen sponsoring key prizes.
They want strenuous policies and practices that could enhance the production line of the awardees.
The 2009 National Best Farmer and also the Chairman of the National Farmers and Fisherman Awardees Association of Ghana, Mr. Davies Korboe, has said the whole concept of farmers award scheme should be reviewed as the country prepares to observe this year’s celebration.
He is convinced that when the whole concept is reviewed farmers stand the chance of turning the face of traditional farming into more business adventure.
He said the practice wherein each year majority of hardworking farmers are given a bar of key soap, one machete, and the likes should be stopped since it has no direct impact on the work of farmers.
Mr. Korboe noted that some of the awardees have to go through a lot of frustrations before receiving all their awards, and therefore prayed that this time things will be done to the ease and satisfaction of the awardee farmers.
“It will be prudent to assess the performance of all the awardees yearly to ascertain the level of progress being made by the farmers after receiving the prizes and giveaways,” he added.
He also called on the government to consider constructing link roads to farming communities to avoid post-harvest losses particularly given the volumes of foodstuff that goes waste as a result of the bad nature of farm roads.
This is a fantastic call from the farmers