Nana Addo applauds farmers on National Farmers Day

The presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, NPP) Nana Akufo-Addo, has expressed appreciation to all farmers and fisher-folk for their hard work and commitment to the cause of building Mother Ghana over the years, on the occasion of the 2016 Farmers’ Day. He congratulated all award winners in this year’s National Best Farmers’ Day Awards.

A statement issued and signed by Nana Addo : “The role of agriculture in transforming any economy and nation is vital. If we are to make any meaningful change in the lives of the people, our efforts must be directed at this sector. The majority of people can only feel a change in their lives when we develop agriculture rapidly.”

The statement which was issued this morning, Friday, November 4, 2016, said, the agriculture sector, however, has been largely neglected under the NDC government over the last 8 years.

According to the statement, budgetary allocation to the sector has been reducing consistently – from 4% in 2009 to 1.1%, as contained in the 2016 budget.

Adding that, it therefore, comes as no surprise that growth rate in the sector, which stood at 7.4% in 2008, the last year of the NPP administration, was only a dismal 2.4% in 2015.

It said, with modernisation and diversification of agriculture being a key component of the NPP’s 4-Point Agenda for the development of Ghana, he assured farmers and fisher-folk that the blessing of oil will not distract an Akufo-Addo-led NPP government from growing the agricultural sector and making it more modern, more efficient and therefore, more productive.

It further said, access to finance, improved training and technology, reducing post-harvest losses, extending feeder roads and farm tracts to as many farm gates as possible, increasing irrigation facilities, and guaranteeing markets for our farm produce are going to be the nucleus of this approach.

All these the statement said, would be implemented in close collaboration between the District Assemblies and the field staff of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

He said farmers should have a cause to look forward to tomorrow with belief and joy.

He hoped that your exploits and achievements would be an inspiration for others to the benefit of the Ghanaian people.

“God bless our farmers and fisherfolk. God bless Ghana.” The statement concluded.