Olam Agri donates GH¢100,000 for Farmers’ Day
Olam Agri has donated GH¢100,000 towards this year’s Farmers’ Day celebration, scheduled to take place in Sunyani, the Bono Regional capital, on December 4, 2026.
The donation, which forms part of Olam Agri’s commitment to supporting farmers and promoting the growth of Ghana’s agricultural sector, is to support preparations for the national celebration.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the government, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, said this year’s National Best Farmer would be sponsored, together with his spouse, on a seven-day trip to Italy to gain exposure to modern agricultural practices, with the cost of the trip to be borne by a private entity.
The Minister said the National Best Farmer would also receive a brand-new four-wheel-drive pickup vehicle, a tractor with accessories and agricultural inputs.
He noted that the government was committed to giving greater recognition to farmers for their contribution to national food security and economic development.
Mr Opoku stated that this year’s celebration was expected to be bigger because of the challenges faced by farmers in recent years, including the Akosombo Dam spillage and drought in parts of northern Ghana in 2024, which destroyed farms and affected livelihoods.
According to him, the broader objective was to transform agriculture from a subsistence activity into a well-paid enterprise capable of attracting more young people.
The Minister noted that bumper harvests could become a challenge for farmers when there were inadequate processing and marketing arrangements to absorb excess produce.
He expressed appreciation to Olam Agri for supporting the celebration, saying the Ministry would ensure that all donations received were channelled to the benefit of farmers.
Mr Opoku assured the company that the Ministry would publish accounts showing how every pesewa donated towards the celebration was used.
The Country Head of Olam Agri, Baibhav Biswas, commended Ghanaian farmers for their contribution to food security and economic growth.
He stated that farmers remained the backbone of the economy, stressing that increased local production was essential to reducing the country’s dependence on food imports.
Mr Biswas noted that Olam Agri had worked with farmers in Ghana for several years to improve their yields, provide access to fertilisers and promote efficiency in agricultural production.
The Country Head added that the company also supported farmers through processing and distribution, saying its operations covered various agricultural and food businesses, including cocoa, cashew, rice, flour processing, pasta, tomato paste and biscuit production.
BY PRINCE ADDO FRIMPONG
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