Sponsors of 2013 National Farmers Awards honoured

The 2013 sponsors of the National Farmers Awards were on Thursday honoured for their continuous support to the development of the Ministries of Food and Agriculture and Fisheries and Aquaculture.

The Gold Award Companies which received plaques include Japan Motors, Obuoba FM, Rite FM, Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority, Ghana Agricultural Insurance Pool, Guinness Ghana Brewery Limited, Ghana Free Zones Authority, Wynca Sunshine Agricultural Products and GIZ Moab.

The Platinum Award Companies included Quality Life Assurance Company, CFAO, Accra Brewery Limited, Stanbic Bank Ghana Limited, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Bank of Ghana, Afcort Ghana Limited, and Amajaro Ghana Limited.

Six companies were presented with plaques and certificates for their outstanding support towards the Farmer’s Day event, including Ghana Cocoa Board, Yara Ghana Limited, Wienco Ghana Limited, Stanbic Bank Ghana, Export Development and Investment Fund and the agricultural development bank.

This year’s event is on the theme “Eat What You Grow.”

Mr Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, Minister of Food and Agriculture, said the successes of the events would not had been possible without the support of the sponsors, and that the ceremony was to express appreciation for their enormous support and commitment to the event.

Mr Kwetey said government alone cannot support the event and as such needs the support of all to complement the success of the awards.

He, therefore, encouraged other agencies to come on board to support the event, and ensure food security and also encouraged the youth to venture into Agriculture.

He added that every first Friday of December is set aside to celebrate the contributions of farmers in the country, and stressed that the agricultural sector produced not only food but also jobs and high income to farmers.

Mrs Benita Sena Okity-Duah, Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, said the theme is significant and in line with the current policy of the Ministry, to pursue measures to bridge the gap between fish production and consumption level.

She stated that the demand for fish in 2013 was estimated at over 968,000 metric tonnes, but local production was about 50 per cent, and that the gap was filled by fish imports of 50 per cent of the country’s fish demand.

Mrs Okity-Duah also encouraged fishermen in the marine and inland fishing sectors to do safe and quality fishing, and avoid the use of unauthorized materials in fishing, stressing that the Ministry has set up the Fisheries Enforcement Unit to enforce the laws to ensure sustainability.