NPP Salutes Farmers

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has lauded farmers for their efforts and ‘invaluable’ contribution to the development of the country.

According to a statement signed by the Acting General Secretary, Mr. John Boadu, the party commended government’s timely intervention to addressing the army worm situation and increasing the budgetary allocation to the Agric sector.

As part of the celebration of farmers on the 2017 National Farmers Day celebration under the theme, “PLANTING FOR FOOD AND JOBS”, over 20 hardworking farmers would be awarded for their immense contribution to the economic development of the nation at a grand durbar.

The NPP called on the government to prioritize the concerns of farmers and also all Ghanaians to appreciate the efforts of our farmers by patronizing their products.

They added: “As much as possible, let’s endeavour to eat what we grow and grow what we eat because that is the surest way of guaranteeing food security in the country and a boost in agriculture, which is the backbone of the Ghanaian economy.”

The full statement:

December 1, 2017

NPP SALUTES GHANAIAN FARMERS ON THE OCCASION OF FARMERS DAY COMMEMORATION

As the nation commemorates the 33rd National Farmers Day today, the NPP is pleased to join the rest of the world to recognize and celebrate Ghanaian farmers for their invaluable contributions to the socio-economic development of the country. National Farmers Day was instituted in 1985 for this purpose and has since been observed across the country also as a public holiday on the first Friday of the month of December each year.

It is not only a day for celebrating the unique importance of our farmers but also a day to occupy ourselves with the concerns of these farmers by bringing such concerns to the fore and finding ways to addressing same. There is no doubt that the unpopular fall army worm invasion that occurred in the course of the year had greatly affected many farms and for that matter livelihoods. As much as we sympathize with these gallant farmers, the party also acknowledges the timely intervention of the government to arresting the situation and prays that we don’t go through this difficulty any longer.

The NPP also wishes to use this occasion to call on Ghanaians to renew their commitment in patronizing the output of our farmers rather than resorting to imported substitutes. As much as possible, let’s endeavour to eat what we grow and grow what we eat because that is the surest way of guaranteeing food security in the country and a boost in agriculture, which is the backbone of the Ghanaian economy. We are happy to note that government, on its part, has substantially increased the budgetary allocation to the Agric sector.

It is gratifying that the 2017 National Farmers Day celebration is anchored on the theme, “PLANTING FOR FOOD AND JOBS” ostensibly, to bring an overwhelming spectacle on government’s flagship agriculture initiative. This initiative, Planting for Food and Jobs, has amply proven to be the master key to realizing prosperity in the Agriculture sector and the nation at large. Not only is it boosting agriculture, but has also provided thousands of jobs to our countrymen and women.

It promises to get even much better in the coming years and so, we encourage all and sundry especially the youth to take advantage of this special dispensation provided by the government to become more productive.

We also take cognisance of the famous Akufo-Addo’s Marshall Plan for Agriculture which was unveiled in the 2018 to support an ambitious agriculture transformation agenda. We commend government for this laudable initiative and hope that the rest of the nation would continue to provide a LISTENING EAR to our gallant farmers and prioritize their concerns because without them, there cannot be us. They feed and grow the nation and so, what matters to them, should matter to all.

Once again, the NPP says AYEKOO to the nation’s farmers and wishes them a HAPPY FARMERS DAY.

Thank you.

 

…Signed…

JOHN BOADU

General Secretary (Ag)

Source: Jennifer Avemee/ thePublisher