The Sixth National Farmers Day Forum has been held in Bolgatanga, Upper East Region, ahead of the National Celebration of the main event.
The forum brought together awardees from the country’s 10 regions who arrived in Bolgatanga ahead of the National Farmers Day scheduled for Friday.
In his address, Mr Fiifi Kwetey, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, acknowledged the contributory role of farmers to national development and said the country needed experienced and committed farmers to expand and sustain agricultural production to be able to feed the growing population.
He said challenges of market and credit access would be tackled and more opportunities created for farmers to explore and expand their businesses, adding that Ghanaian farmers had always persevered in improving production despite difficulties and, therefore, needed support.
Mr James Zuugah Tiigah, Upper East Regional Minister and Chairman of the Farmers Day Committee in his remarks, welcomed the farmers and said the awardees forum provided an opportunity for winners to discuss and express their opinions on the progress of the agriculture sector.
Their opinions, according to the Minister, would help guide the agricultural sector and stakeholders on policy issues. The farmers’ forum would also promote interaction amongst the awardees, other fellow farmers, stakeholders and policy makers
Represented at the forum were Officials from the Agricultural Development Bank. One of them, Mrs Silvia Nyanteh, Head of Agriculture Financing, presented a paper on, “Agricultural Financing for Economic Transformation”.
Mr Samuel Duodu Manu, an expert in aquaculture also spoke on “Sustainable fish farming and value chain development”, whist Professor David Millar of Millar Open University delivered on “Modern Agriculture, a tool for economic development”.
The Minister was accompanied by Dr Ahmed Yakubu Alhassan, the Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture who also doubles as the National Coordinator for the National Farmers Day ceremony.
The 2015 National Farmers Day will be held on Friday, December 4, at the Bolgatanga Girls Senior High School on the theme: “Transform Ghana: Invest in Agriculture”.
