Former President, John Dramani Mahama, has called for the consumption of locally grown food.
Mahama, who took to his facebook page to celebrate farmers on the occasion of Farmers’ Day said farmers assured them of better days ahead.
“I celebrate our gallant farmers and fishers across the country on the occasion of the 2019 National Farmers Day. To all farmers- small, medium and large scale- including back yard garden owners and investors in agro-processing and agri-business, I assure you of better years ahead.”
The former president said eating locally grown food should be seen as a patriotic duty to the country.
The talk about eating locally grown food is gradually catching up in the country especially after Citi FM/Citi TV boss, Samuel Attah-Mensah begun a campaign for the consumption of Ghana rice.
“On the occasion of the 2019 National Farmers Day, let me also remind us all that we need to eat what we grow. Eating what we grow should not only be a social obligation to our farmers but also a patriotic duty to our nation,” Mahama said.
Read the full statement below:
I celebrate our gallant farmers and fishers across the country on the occasion of the 2019 National Farmers Day.
To all farmers- small, medium and large scale- including back yard garden owners and investors in agro-processing and agri-business, I assure you of better years ahead.
Investment in Agri-business is the new level that we need to grow and expand in order to enhance agriculture development and transformation.
We can generate greater interest in agriculture, especially among young Ghanaians, when they have the assurance of affordable credit facilities, ready purchase, improved pricing and value addition.
This can happen when we have, among others, agro-processing set-ups around the farm gates.
This is why I established the Ghana EXIM Bank to fast track value addition, import substitution and diversification of the economy through the provision of funds for agriculture production and agro-processing.
We must ensure that the Ghana EXIM Bank scales up investments in the sector.
On the occasion of the 2019 National Farmers Day, let me also remind us all that we need to eat what we grow. Eating what we grow should not only be a social obligation to our farmers but also a patriotic duty to our nation.
Happy Farmers Day!
Meanwhile Charles Gyamfi, a 58-year-old farmer from the Tano North district of the Ahafo Region has been adjudged the 2019 National Best Farmer, He was honoured at the 2019 Farmers’ Day celebration held in the Volta Regional capital, Ho.
Abdulai Atiku Seidu from the Upper West Region, was the 1st runner-up while the 2nd runner-up was Nana Yaw Sarpong Serebuo from the Ashanti Region.
The 2019 celebration was under the theme: ‘Enhancing Small Scale Agriculture Towards Agribusiness Development.’