Ghc 2m not enough, Farmers’ Day deserves better – Agric Minister

The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, is pushing an increase in funding for this year’s National Farmers’ Day celebration.

“The constraints on the national budget have been a major drawback to this year’s preparations given that some budgetary allocation of GHc2 million approved for the fiscal year 2016/2017 was maintained from 2018,” he said in Parliament on Wednesday.

He was speaking ahead of the 34th edition of the National Farmers’ Day celebration on Friday.

Dr. Afriyie Akoto said the Ministry has had to rely “heavily” upon sponsorship from corporate Ghana and other partners.

But he feels the Farmers’ Day Celebration deserves better.

“Going forward, it is the hope that budget approved for the National Farmers’ Day will reflect the status of Agriculture as the lead sector for propelling Ghana’s economy to the height of prosperity that we all desire.”

“I trust therefore, that in reviewing the 2019 budget estimates for the Ministry of Agriculture, this matter will seriously engage the attention of the House and receive favourable consideration,” the Minister added.

The celebration of this year’s National Farmers’ Day will be held in Tamale, the capital of the Northern Region under the theme; ‘Agriculture: Moving Ghana Beyond Aid’.

The National Farmers’ Day is commemorated each year on the first Friday of December to honour farmers nationwide.

Prizes are awarded to deserving crop, livestock and fish farmers based on best practices and output.