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Business news for Wednesday, September 30, 2020
Source: thefinderonline.com
2020-09-30
National Farmers Day 2020 has been launched in Accra
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoA) has announced that the 36th edition of the National Farmers’ Day celebration will place emphasis and value on all agribusiness activities such as transportation, marketing, distribution, processing and storage.
Agriculture in Ghana has functioned over the years as a mere subsistence activity, with few professionals concentrating on adding value.
Speaking at the launch of National Farmers Day, Elizabeth Afoley Quaye, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, said Ghana’s agriculture was now being transformed from primary and subsistence production to value-added and agribusiness.
“Expected benefits will include massive investments in the sector, job creation, market expansion, competitiveness of goods and services and a new entrepreneurial spirit for agriculture,” said Ms. Quaye.
The Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development announced that the celebration of National Farmers Day 2020, which was launched yesterday in Accra, will be held at Techiman in the East Bono Region.
The event, he said, will be held under the theme: “Ensuring Agribusiness Development Under COVID-19 – Opportunities and Challenges.”
Ms. Quaye was satisfied with the government’s vision of repositioning agriculture as the main driving force on Ghana’s development agenda.
“For us in the agricultural sector, we are excited because we are confident that our farmers and fishermen can continue their livelihoods with the support of the government and its partners, even in times of emergency,” he emphasized.
Speaking about the greenhouse initiative that was established to enroll young people in the agricultural sector, he indicated that the project would go a long way to boost the production of high-value vegetables in the country.
He added that the intervention was projected to bring the country about $ 1 billion from vegetable exports over the next six to seven years.
Mentioning plans to have a successful Farmer’s Day celebration amid the pandemic, he said the significance of the 2020 launch, among others, was that advancement in technology was positively impacting agriculture.
Support more agriculture
Dr. Nurah Gyiele, Minister of State in the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, asked all interested parties to donate generously to make the occasion memorable and successful.
He said the celebration of the day was an enduring strategy to motivate farmers and gain support for a fertile partnership for years to come.
Dr. Gyiele indicated that since the COVID-19 pandemic had been a rude awakening for everyone, it was important to position agriculture in a way that ensures sustainable food security and a thriving agribusiness to build resilience even in times of emergency. .
“We are required to formalize government recognition of farmers despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. This is because our farmers continue to accept and lend themselves to all the technical advice and opportunities that come with government interventions, such as ‘Planting for food and employment,’ he emphasized.
The Farmer’s Day celebration was instituted by the government and people of Ghana in 1985, to honor and recognize the hard-working Ghanaian farmers and fishermen whose efforts provided food, foreign exchange earnings, employment and raw materials to support economic development.
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