24TH FARMERS DAY HELD AT WUNDUA
A Female Hardworking Farmer receiving her award
A policy change by government especially on rice importation could help promote mass rice production in this era of escalating food prices. This will adequately feed the country’s population and at the same time put more money in the pockets of the Ghanaian farmer as some excess produce could be exported to earn foreign exchange.
The East Mamprusi District Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture [MOFA], Mr. George Gyimah Asare made this observation in a speech to mark the 24th farmers’ day celebration held at Wundua in the Northern region.
Mr. Gyimah Asare noted that Ghana’s continuous dependence on rice importation and food aid will only disrupt and further threaten the country’s food security. On the theme for the occasion “Globalisation- its effects on agricultural production in Ghana”, the director said globalisation has brought in its wake the dumping of cheap agricultural products on the Ghanaian market and this adversely affects the productivity of farmers.
He said for instance Ghana’s inability to sufficiently feed her citizens is as result of the global economic system arranged by the western world that stifles that country’s efforts in exploiting strategies that have the potential of maximizing agricultural yield.
Mr. Gyimah also noted that aside the increasing benefits of globalization, it has not still addressed the numerous problems that developing African countries face for example poverty, civil strife and underdevelopment. It has almost become impossible for poor countries to compete favourably with their well endowed counterparts who have been able to provide subsidies to their agric sectors.
He however disclosed that a number of concerned groups have put in place measures to boost the productivity of the Ghanaian farmer. The Association of Church Development Projects, the Interchurch Organisation for Development Corporation, the European Union and the International Centre for Soil and Agric Development have jointly funded the farmer agricultural production and marketing project to assist farmers in raising their production levels.
Also, the Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation in collaboration with the World Food Programme has rolled out an initiative dubbed Purchase for Progress which is expected to help thousands of farmers across Africa to maximize their gains. He advised farmers to take advantage of these programmes to enhance poverty alleviation efforts by the government and also extinct extreme hunger.
In his welcome address, the chief of Wundua Wunduarana Abudulai Chimsi expressed the appreciation of his subjects to government for the numerous development projects undertaken in his community. These include the extension of electric power to Wundua, a number of classroom blocks that have led to increased enrolment and retention of student numbers and a Ghana Health Service post that has tremendously improved the health status of the Wundua people.
Chief Chimsi also commended nongovernmental organizations including Care International, EQUALL and the CRS for providing selfless services such as food aid, health care delivery and primary education in the community.
The chief however noted that his area lacks a good motorable road which will help in carting goods and services to and from Wundua. At the moment, only donkey carts are used in transporting commodities to market locations and this cause perishable food stuffs to spoil in transit.
He also appealed to the district assembly to provide subsidized tractor plough services to farmers in his area during the farming season adding that only a few privately owned ones are available and these charge high above the reach of the rural farmer.
The chief disclosed that only three boreholes exist in Wundua and these are not able to provide adequate potable water to the over 5000 inhabitants of Wundua. He asked NGOs to come to the aid of his people.
The East Mamprusi District Chief Executive, Honourable Peter Baga Wuni in his message to farmers noted that the district is disadvantaged as it has been experiencing erratic rainfalls. Also, population explosion has negatively affected agricultural productivity as many people now scramble for the same small piece of arable land.
Honourable Wuni advised citizens against indiscriminate burning of bushes and wanton destruction of natural resources as these are needed all the time to ensure the continuous survival of mankind. He commended all farmers for their dedication to farming saying they provide for Ghana’s food requirements.
The DCE said government has over the years implemented several policies aimed at inducing higher agric productivity including the subsidy on fertilizers and availability of credit facilities to farmers. He said government has also imported several thousands of tractors to help farmers go into mechanised agriculture.
In all, 38 hardworking farmers were awarded with Mr. Abdul Gafaru, a Langbensi based farmer emerging the overall best farmer. He took home a phoenix bicycle, three cutlasses, a spraying machine, a radio-cassette player and pesticides. The district MOFA office spent about GH¢ 2000 in organizing the event.
A policy change by government especially on rice importation could help promote mass rice production in this era of escalating food prices. This will adequately feed the country’s population and at the same time put more money in the pockets of the Ghanaian farmer as some excess produce could be exported to earn foreign exchange.
The East Mamprusi District Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture [MOFA], Mr. George Gyimah Asare made this observation in a speech to mark the 24th farmers’ day celebration held at Wundua in the Northern region.
Mr. Gyimah Asare noted that Ghana’s continuous dependence on rice importation and food aid will only disrupt and further threaten the country’s food security. On the theme for the occasion “Globalisation- its effects on agricultural production in Ghana”, the director said globalisation has brought in its wake the dumping of cheap agricultural products on the Ghanaian market and this adversely affects the productivity of farmers.
He said for instance Ghana’s inability to sufficiently feed her citizens is as result of the global economic system arranged by the western world that stifles that country’s efforts in exploiting strategies that have the potential of maximizing agricultural yield.
Mr. Gyimah also noted that aside the increasing benefits of globalization, it has not still addressed the numerous problems that developing African countries face for example poverty, civil strife and underdevelopment. It has almost become impossible for poor countries to compete favourably with their well endowed counterparts who have been able to provide subsidies to their agric sectors.
He however disclosed that a number of concerned groups have put in place measures to boost the productivity of the Ghanaian farmer. The Association of Church Development Projects, the Interchurch Organisation for Development Corporation, the European Union and the International Centre for Soil and Agric Development have jointly funded the farmer agricultural production and marketing project to assist farmers in raising their production levels.
Also, the Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation in collaboration with the World Food Programme has rolled out an initiative dubbed Purchase for Progress which is expected to help thousands of farmers across Africa to maximize their gains. He advised farmers to take advantage of these programmes to enhance poverty alleviation efforts by the government and also extinct extreme hunger.
In his welcome address, the chief of Wundua Wunduarana Abudulai Chimsi expressed the appreciation of his subjects to government for the numerous development projects undertaken in his community. These include the extension of electric power to Wundua, a number of classroom blocks that have led to increased enrolment and retention of student numbers and a Ghana Health Service post that has tremendously improved the health status of the Wundua people.
Chief Chimsi also commended nongovernmental organizations including Care International, EQUALL and the CRS for providing selfless services such as food aid, health care delivery and primary education in the community.
The chief however noted that his area lacks a good motorable road which will help in carting goods and services to and from Wundua. At the moment, only donkey carts are used in transporting commodities to market locations and this cause perishable food stuffs to spoil in transit.
He also appealed to the district assembly to provide subsidized tractor plough services to farmers in his area during the farming season adding that only a few privately owned ones are available and these charge high above the reach of the rural farmer.
The chief disclosed that only three boreholes exist in Wundua and these are not able to provide adequate potable water to the over 5000 inhabitants of Wundua. He asked NGOs to come to the aid of his people.
The East Mamprusi District Chief Executive, Honourable Peter Baga Wuni in his message to farmers noted that the district is disadvantaged as it has been experiencing erratic rainfalls. Also, population explosion has negatively affected agricultural productivity as many people now scramble for the same small piece of arable land.
Honourable Wuni advised citizens against indiscriminate burning of bushes and wanton destruction of natural resources as these are needed all the time to ensure the continuous survival of mankind. He commended all farmers for their dedication to farming saying they provide for Ghana’s food requirements.
The DCE said government has over the years implemented several policies aimed at inducing higher agric productivity including the subsidy on fertilizers and availability of credit facilities to farmers. He said government has also imported several thousands of tractors to help farmers go into mechanised agriculture.
In all, 38 hardworking farmers were awarded with Mr. Abdul Gafaru, a Langbensi based farmer emerging the overall best farmer. He took home a phoenix bicycle, three cutlasses, a spraying machine, a radio-cassette player and pesticides. The district MOFA office spent about GH¢ 2000 in organizing the event.
Comments