GFZB support 2013 Farmers Day

The Ghana Free Zones Board (GFZB) has presented a cheque of GHc20, 000 to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in support of this year’s Farmer's Day celebration slated for December.

The Board’s kind gesture was in recognition of the role farmer's play in the development of the country’s economy.

Presenting the cheque at a short ceremony in Accra on Friday, the Investor Support Services Manageress of GFZB, Hajia Hanatu Abubakar said, the Board was happy to be part of this year’s farmer's day celebration and will continue to support the annual event in the coming years.

She indicated that, the GFZB, which has oversight responsibility over 246 companies operating across the country, would ensure the Agric sector has the necessary investment in the coming years to bolster the country’s economy.

Hajia Hanatu revealed that a Brazilian company has shown interest in buying cashew nuts in Ghana, adding that, very soon the country will become a net exporter of cashew in the West African sub-region.

The Brazilian company, USIBRASE, she disclosed has acquired 11 acres of land at Prampram in the capital region and the GFZB has already granted a license to the company to start operation.

According to her, so far, lots of investors ‘trooping’ to the country have shown interest in the Agric Sector, adding “this will boost the confidence of famers to work hard and produce more to feed the nation”.

She urged farmers not to renege on their effort in ensuring the country benefit from the services.

Receiving the cheque on behalf of his Minister, the Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Alhassan Ahmed Yakubu, thanked the donors for their support and promised judicious use of the money.

The Deputy Minister said the NDC government would do its possible best to ensure farmers across the country benefited from the growth of the sector, and would also roll out programs and policies to bring respite to farmers.

Other organizations that have also donated towards the 2013 farmers day included, Yara Ghana, GHc10,000; ABL, 420 cartons of drinks; WEINCO Ghana, GHc15, 000 and products and souvenirs worth GHc70, 000; Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, GHc10,000 and Ghana Reinsurance Company donated GHc5000.