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Thank the farmer if you have food on the table- OAD

Fri, 4 Dec 2015 Source: Emmanuel A. Asieme

Have you thought of that day when you were hungry without food? That day the millions of Cedis in your drawer meant nothing to your ‘unsatisfied tummy’. Can you imagine what will happen should farmers embark on a strike action!!!?

The effort of the farmer to make food available no matter the conditions is worth recognizing. Tomorrow, Ghana, will again celebrate its farmers. The initiative was instituted by Government in 1985 to gratify farmers and fishermen for playing a pivotal role in the economy.

This year’s National Farmers’ Day, is scheduled to take place on December 4, 2015, at Bolgatanga in Upper East Region on the theme, “Transform Ghana: Invest in Agriculture”.

Speaking on the relevance of the celebration, Mr. Bonaventure Aguissi, the founder and donor member of the Organization for African Development (OAD), said, “honouring farmers is the least we could do as a people to appreciate the immeasurable contributions of agriculture to the country’s Gross domestic Product GDP”. He said; OAD strives to use Scientific Agriculture to foster growth and development in Ghana and across Africa. Indeed “agriculture is the salvation for Africa” he stressed.

He disclosed this in an interview in his office at Abelemkpe when he responded to questions pertaining to his position on farmers’ day as the Leader of OAD an organization that has been applying a unique approach in making agriculture easy and attractive to the youth and sundry.

According to him, “the growing unemployment that continues to hit the country can be salvaged if government and stakeholders could invest to make agriculture more ‘pretty’”. He added that, OAD’s commitment to ending extreme poverty, unemployment, hunger, malnutrition, social vices, youth extremism and youth migration could only be possible with agriculture playing an instrumental role.

He however called on key players in the sector to support farmers, institutions and organizations that are committed to developing and maintaining the fortunes of agriculture as a means of ensuring food security.

Columnist: Emmanuel A. Asieme