Ghana has just celebrated the 40th National Farmers’ day. National, Regional and District best farmers across the country were recognized at various categories and sectors.
While some smiled with alacrity home some have also raised cocerns that will continue to be indelible in the history of the country if not tackled head-on.
Farmers are the backbone of Ghana’s economy, and their hard work and dedication have put food on the tables of millions of Ghanaians.
The National Farmers’ Day celebration is a well-deserved recognition of farmers’ contributions. As the country continues to grow and develop, it is essential to prioritize agriculture and support farmers in their endeavors.
History of Farmers’ Day
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture initiated the celebration in 1988, setting aside the first Friday in December to honor farmers and fishermen for their efforts in feeding the nation.
The day also acknowledges the vital contributions of a strong agricultural sector to the prosperity of the Ghanaian economy.
The first Farmers’ Day was celebrated in 1985 in Osino, which is located in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The day was instituted by the government after the farming and fishing industries showed a 30% growth in 1984 which was a significant improvement over the previous years, 1982 and 1983, when the country suffered a severe drought.
Significance of Farmers’ Day
National Farmer’s Day is a statutory public holiday in Ghana observed on the first Friday of December, but in election years, it is held on the first Friday of November.
The holiday aims to recognize the significance of agriculture and fishing in Ghana’s economic growth. Open gatherings are organized in all 16 regions across Ghana to award prizes to deserving farmers and fishers for their best practices and outputs.
Challenges and Concerns
Despite the significance of Farmers’ Day, some farmers have shown a low attitude towards the celebration.
This could be due to various reasons, including the lack of awareness about the importance of the day and the benefits that farmers can gain from participating in the celebration.
The root cause of the declining farmers’ interest in the celebration needs proactive steps to address them with the important of farmers in the economy so that they may not continue to feel disconnected from the impact of such great function.
Concerns
Farmers feel that their hard work and contributions to the agricultural sector are not adequately recognized or appreciated by the government and society at large as they are frustrated with the limited access to resources such as credit, inputs, and technology, which hinder their ability to improve their productivity and livelihoods.
The concerns highlight the need for the government and other stakeholders to listen to the voices of farmers and work towards addressing their challenges and concerns about what matters to the farmers.
Mr. Tabiri Mensah, a local farmer, farmer in a community of the Sunyani West Municipality has stated that he will not participate in this year’s Farmers Day celebration, after he attended the event 12 times in his farming practice but felt that it has not been beneficial to him.
In an interview, Mr. Mensah expressed his disappointment with the organizers of the event. “Last year, I took some of my farm produce to the celebration, and all I got was half a bar of key soap. I don’t see the point of wasting my time again,” he said.
Recommendations
To address these issues, the government and other stakeholders should intensify their efforts to educate farmers about the significance of Farmers’ Day and the benefits that they can gain from participating in the celebration, through various channels, including radio, television, and social media.
The government and other stakeholders should again ensure that the celebration is inclusive and that all farmers, regardless of their location and the size of their farms, are able to participate by providing transportation and accommodation for farmers who are unable to attend the celebration on their own.
Some other farmers expressed dissatisfaction with financial support for travel and accommodation for regional award winners and other accompanying officials whilst some feel that the award categories do not adequately represent the diversity of farmers in Ghana, particularly smallholder farmers and those in rural areas.
Many stakeholders, particularly banks and individual companies, have been supporting the celebration with the promise of the organisers that they would ensure the farmers get the needed awards, but at the end of the day, some receive only a machete while others get meagre awards like Wellington boots.”, he added:
Another farmer, who preferred to remain anonymous, shared similar sentiments. “The programme always starts late, and we end up getting hungry saying for those who are on medication, it’s a challenge which I think the organizers need to do better,” he said.
Conclusion
Farmers’ Day in Ghana has been a significant celebration that recognizes the hard work and dedication of farmers,however comes with various challenges and concerns that need to be addressed to ensure that the celebration is meaningful and beneficial to all farmers.
GNA Feature by Regina Benneh