By Collins Agyekum Gyasi, Fomena-Adansi
THE Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Osei Assibey Antwi, has urged farmers to practice internal liberalisation rather than external liberalisation in order to make farming and profitable.
“The problem of processing, storage and marketing especially export-led commodities along the valley chain are being tackled in order to make farming more profitable,” the minister said.
Mr Assibey Antwi was speaking on the occasion of the 24th Ashanti Regional Farmers day celebration at Fomena where about 24 farmers including one institution were awarded.
At the same function, 20 farmers from the district were also awarded for their various roles of feeding the nation.
Mr Osei Kwaku, staff of Adansi Rural Bank was declared the District best farmer while the regional best farmer award, went to Mr Anthony Kofi Gyamfi, who took home a corn-mill machine, 10 machetes, Wellington boot, wax print, radio cassette player, motorised spraying machine, sawing machine, a catapult and assorted chemicals.
Interventions
Plantation resource limited, a private company was also adjudged the best in the area of fisheries.
Mr Assibey Antwi observed that, since the future of any country depended on the strength, ability and capacity of the youth, appropriate interventions were therefore being put in place to entice the youth into agriculture.
“Their interest will also help minimise rural-urban migration and replace the aging farmers.”
He therefore urged them to work in collaboration with Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) to upgrade their knowledge on mechanisation and irrigation, which were steadily being improved upon in the country.
The Deputy Minister saluted Ghanaian farmers and appealed to them to help make the forthcoming general elections peaceful and successful.
He said Ghanaians should think of what the NPP administration had done for them in terms of education, health, farming and other social infrastructures and vote accordingly.
Mr George Badu Yeboah, Regional Director of Agriculture commended producers, processors, marketers and consumers for their immense sweat and contribution, to the maintenance and sustenance of life.
“Food is life, but hunger leads to sickness, death, poverty and slavery.”
Contributions
“Your contributions became significant and evident when Ghana was able to absorb all the external shocks that crumpled some bigger economies elsewhere,” he added.
“We thank farmers for their hard work, Ayekoo,” he stressed.
He said agriculture “is the biggest employer offering 70 percent of the population jobs with about 80 percent of agricultural production coming from small holder family-operated farms.”
Mr Assibey Antwi pointed out that the government’s sustainable agricultural growth and development, targeted at small-scale farmers would be promoted, in order to bridge the technological and information gaps between small-holder farming systems.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Peter Kwabena Ameyaw said though the district was created only four years ago, its ability to host the programme had demonstrated that, they could face all challenges and deliver.
He mentioned that since the establishment of the district, the assembly had grown from strength to strength out running her contemporaries.
The DCE mentioned that, many deplorable feeder roads had bounced back to life and that would ease the burden of farmers in carting their produce to the market centres.
The chairman, Nana Sarfo Agyeman, Ahensanhene and the acting President of the Adansi Traditional Council, commended the government for the various interventions introduced into the agricultural industry, health, education and for making social life easier for Ghanaians.
However, as a farmer, he suggested that silos should be built for storage of farm produce, so that during the lean season, the populace would not feel any food shortage.
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