Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana has said the continued political interference on the Farmers’ Day Celebration is worrying and could negate the relevance the celebration holds.
It said in recent times, the focus of the day has shifted from awarding deserving farmers to awarding party folks whose government is in power.
Speaking on Daybreak Upper East on A1 Radio regarding the day and the need to make farming activities attractive to emerging youth, Project Coordinator of the Association, Charles Nyaabah strongly advocated an end to such political involvement.
He said lately he has observed a trend where only those who work or are members of a governing party are recognized and awarded as farmers irrespective of their roles in the field.
He said, “I will continue to say this, last year, the National Best Farmer when he was asked to give his appreciation remarks to farmers after emerging the winner. The only thing this man said was, four more for Nana to do more. Who does that? Clearly, it was convincing enough that he was a party member. It is not only him. In times past, things like this happened. It is like when a political party is in power, it awards only its members and when the next party comes too, they will also focus on their members. This behaviour doesn’t speak well to hard-working farmers. It means that for one to be a winner on farmers’ day, one has to belong to a political party. So, I ask what are we doing to ourselves. We need to change this narrative and appreciate those who need to be appreciated.”
Mr Nyaabah explained that the money and other flourishing gifts that are usually given to the overall best farmers at the national level should change and rather be given to those at the district levels as they actually need such items the most.
“Those at the district levels need tractors, pickup cars, money to expand their farms, insurance covers for the farm produce and the rest not those who already have them. These farmers that year in and out, they keep awarding them with fat cheques and cars are already established, farmers. We need to change the way we celebrate this event”, he added.
Farmers’ Day celebration is a day set to appreciate farmers for their contributions to the country’s socio-economic growth.
The theme for this year’s event was “Planting for Food and Jobs-Consolidating Food Systems in Ghana.”
Alhaji Mashud Mohammed, from the Mion District in the Northern Region, was adjudged the National Best Farmer for 2021 and received GH₵600,000 from the Agricultural Development Bank, 500,000 worth of insurance cover from GLICO Insurance, and a study trip to Israel sponsored by Broadspectrum Limited.
He was also offered a two-bedroom flat at any location of his choice in the country.
The First Runner-up position also went to Suleman Yidana, from the North East Region. Suleman Yidana also took home a tractor, trailer, Disc Plough, a Boom Sprayer, and 300,000 worth of insurance covered by GLICO Insurance as well as a study trip to Israel.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1 MHz|Moses Apiah|Ghana
