Congratulations to all Ghanaian farmers!!!

 Once again, the coun­try has celebrated its indefatigable farmers for their unrelenting efforts in contributing to food security in the nation.

It is not in doubt that vari­ous food items are imported to supplement the quantity of food produced in the country, but without the local efforts, the im­ports would have been nowhere near enough to feed the whole nation.

Since food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support and energy for growth, health, or pleasure, the expres­sion farmers as used in this piece include fishers too.

The Ghanaian Times therefore congratulates all farmers in the country, including even the subsistence ones, because it has taken the collective efforts of both them and large-scale or commercial farmers to see the people getting food to eat.

However, this paper extends special congratulations to 70-year-old Nana Owusu Achi­aw from the Sekeyere Central District of the Ashanti Region on getting crowned the overall National Best Farmer for 2024; Nassam Fuseini from the Yendi Municipality in the Northern Re­gion on emerging first runner-up and Ransford Kwaku Otopa Atiemo from Ayensuano District in the Eastern Region on being adjudged the second runner-up.

We cannot fail to mention Ernestina Osei Tutu from the Akwapim North Municipality in the Eastern Region for being ad­judged the National Best Female Farmer and the National Best Cocoa Farmer, Mr Alex Kwame.

For lack of space, we cannot mention everyone honoured on the Farmers’ Day last Friday, so we say a loud “Congratulations!” to all the other award winners at both the national and district (including metropolitan and mu­nicipal) levels.

The various prizes given to the award winners, even if are symbolic, their improvement over the years is a clear indication of how the whole nation values its farmers despite the fact that all is not well with them.

For instance, they usually encounter challenges regarding securing inputs like fertiliser and pre-mix fuel as well as getting crops like cocoa sprayed.

Besides, they suffer post-har­vest losses, especially in times of glut and also with regard to lack of good roads to convey farm produce to the marketing centres.

It is also true that not all farmers enjoy the services of agricultural extension officers, yet they do the best they can to produce food items commen­surate to their efforts and this is commendable.

The National Farmers’ Day, introduced in 1985, no doubt, has come to motivate Ghanaian farmers but it is also a fact that most Ghanaian farmers have mo­tivated themselves devoid of the annual farmers’ award scheme.

This is what the government must take cognisance of and do all it can to improve the farming sector to attract more people, including the well-educated.

The situation where the coun­try’s farmers are aging but the young ones and capable others are not being attracted to the sec­tor should engage the thoughts of stakeholders.

For now the best descrip­tion of the country is that it is agrarian and that means it should live up to that description until a significant change emerges that can provide the job opportunities and other benefits farming or agriculture provides.

Until then, let the state pro­vide the necessary assistance to motivate farmers in the country to put in more efforts to feed the country and provide excess produce for export.

Once again, a loud congratula­tions to all Ghanaian farmers.