The Eastern Regional Minister, Hon. Eric Kofi Kwakye Daffour has affirmed that the National Farmers’ Day celebrated to award farmers across the country will encourage the country’s farmers to see farming as a business avenue and prepare them as future award winners.
According to the minister, many farmers did not see farming as an economic venture.
“Many farmers do not see farming as an economic venture and this has adversely affected the practice of good agronomic practices by our farmers,’ he said.
He however expressed optimism that measures put in place in the selection process will encourage farmers to also strive for awards.
“Due to the measures put in place in the selection of the farmers, farmers will be motivated to do the right thing to be selected for an award,” he averred.
The regional Minister while speaking on the Rite Morning Ride disclosed that ‘mixed crop farming’ was one of the criteria used in the selection process of the awards. But that’s not all as ‘good farming practices’ is another factor considered in the selection criteria as well as proper documentation for future references when the needs arises.
He did not leave out government’s strive to modernize agriculture.
“The current government wants to modernize the agricultural sector as many policies are being put in place to make sure farmers feel and see positive impacts in their lives,” hon. Daffuor asserted.
He thus urged farmers to take advantage of these policies to expand their farms, produce more to feed the country, get raw materials for the local manufacturing industry and export the remaining for foreign exchange.
He however expressed regret that government instead of creating employment opportunities for its people through agricultural prospects rather import raw materials to feed its local industries. This he lamented affected the economic status of the economy, adding that the launch of the operation planting for food and jobs was partly to address some of these issues.
National Farmers’ Day
Farmers’ day was instituted by the government in 1985 in recognition of the vital role farmers and fishers play in the economy especially the highly commendable output of farmers and fishermen in 1984 after the bad agriculture years of 1982 and 1983. The day is thus celebrated to motivate them to produce more.
The first National Farmers Day was celebrated in 1986 at Osino in the Eastern Region.
The package to the first best farmer was made up of two matches, a pair of wellington boots and a preset radio. Ever since the value of the awards has improved from year to year, moving from bicycle to power tillers to tractors, to pick-ups and presently to 3 bedroom house and a car since 2002 till date.
Source: Austin Ofori Addo/ritefmonline.org/austinofori.addo@gmail.com
