A total of 190 exhibitors in the agricultural value chain from across the country are displaying assorted agricultural products including food crops, agricultural machinery and agric imports in Accra as part of activities to mark this year’s National Farmers’ Day.
The five-day event which began yesterday at Efua Sutherland Park (Children’s Park) has on display locally produced yoghurts, cereals, cash crop powder, mushroom and soda pastries, palm, groundnut and coconut oil, legumes, manure, fertilisers, weedicides, tractors, African fabrics, cocoa and shea products.
Dubbed: “Agrifest 2024”, it is being organised by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) in partnership with Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) and Ghana Cocoa Board as part of activities to mark the 40th anniversary of National Farmer’s Day celebrations.
It will be climaxed on Friday with a grand awards ceremony, where President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will present national awards to distinguished farmers from across various commodity categories.
The 40th edition of the National Farmers’ Day is on the theme; “Building climate-resilient agriculture for sustainable food security”.
Opening the event, the Acting Chief Director, MoFA, Mr Paul Siameh, said the exhibition was providing a platform for farmers and agriculture value chain companies from different regions to showcase their produce and also network by sharing ideas and experiences.
Touching on the theme for the celebration; he emphasised the nation’s commitment to adapting agricultural practices in response to climate change challenges.
This, Mr Siameh said Ghana could only attain food security and resilience through the hard work of farmers, hence it was very important to honour and encourage them to do more for the economy.
He assured stakeholders that the government was working to help farmers and prevent food shortages despite obstacles like the near-drought conditions in eight important grain-producing regions.
“We have seen positive rainfall patterns, particularly in the Upper East Region, which gives hope for late-planted crops. In addition, the ministry is aiding farmers with fertilisers and resources to ensure productivity.
“MoFA, alongside partners and stakeholders, remains committed to ensuring food security and boosting productivity across the sector,” he added.
Speaking on the situation of poultry farming, Mr Siameh said that output was still not meeting the country’s needs but described continuous initiatives to improve the industry.
The Chief Director at MoFAD, Ms Mirian Kpakpah, said the event would offer opportunity for stakeholders within the agriculture and fisheries sectors to showcase their products.
She added that the Ministry has also mainstream climate change issues in current fisheries and policy frameworks as part of measures to address the impact of climate change on the sector.
“The goal is to make the sector more resilient to climate change through the incorporation of adaptation and mitigation measures within fisheries management and aquaculture development,” she said.
BY CECILIA LAGBA YADA