TANO SOUTH DISTRICT CELEBRATES FARMERS DAY

As part of the 25^th Farmers Day Celebration, farmers have been advised to desist from using children in duties that are hard for their age. This advice was contained in a speech delivered by the Tano South District Chief Executive, Honorable Bukari Zakari Anaba to mark the district farmers’ day, under the theme “Accelerated Agriculture Modernized for Food Security and Economic Transformation”. He stressed that it is about time children who are used as cheap labourers must be sent to school to become professionals who would in turn help modernize agriculture in the country.
Mr. Bukari Zakari Anaba stated that by critically analyzing the 2009 budget statement it could be deduced that a lot of resources have been given to agriculture sector thus the government is aimed at generating growth in the economy and reduce poverty in Ghana through agricultural production and productivity. He outlined technology of sustainable natural resource management, improve access to agricultural financial services and enhance human resource and institutional capacity as some of the priorities been put in place by the government to help modernize agriculture. The DCE promised the farmers better roads and with the help of the Government of Ghana establish a tomatoes factory to can tomatoes for future use in agricultural producing areas. He congratulated the farmers especially award winners and urged the people to patronize made in Ghana products to accelerated socio – economic development of the district.

Also in a speech, the Tano South District Director of Agriculture, Mr. Robert Asiedu, commended farmers for providing food for the district for over 25 years. He disclosed that due to the increasing population and civilization, the nation’s economy greatly depends on agriculture, because agriculture provides employment to at least sixty percent of the nation’s population and also earns around 35% foreign exchange for the nation. Mr. Asiedu revealed that it by the consideration of these factors that the chosen theme for this year’s farmer’s day’s celebration is deemed it. The Director hinted that for Agriculture to meet its target, modernization such as reduced fertilizers to farmers, use of viable planting materials, adoption of non – deterring land tenure system among others were to be encouraged to improve availability of food with significant reserves for storage and export.

On success of the Tano South District Agricultural Extension Directorate, Mr. Robert Asiedu disclosed that farmers have been educated on how to use herbicide to control weeds. He said farmers under Inland Valley Rice Development Bank Project are been assisted by the Directorate to access credit from the Agricultural Development Bank. The Director therefore used the occasion to entreat farmers who did not receive awards to work harder in order to be awarded next year.

The Omanhene of Bechem Traditional Council, Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II, who chaired the occasion in his remarks, congratulated the government of Ghana for annually organizing such programme to award farmers and fishermen in the country. Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II therefore expressed worry about how farmers find it difficult to get coupons to access government subsidized fertilizers and therefore charged sector heads in the Agriculture Ministry in the District to ensure that farmers who qualify get their share without any hustle.

The Tano South District overall best farmer went to Mr. Kwaku Martin from Dwomo. For his price he took home a table top fridge, four cutlasses, knapsack spraying machine, wax print and a pair of Wellington boot. Nineteen (19) other farmers received prices in various categories. Consolation prizes were also given to deserving farmers in the district. The celebration coincided with the presentation of bicycle to some officers in the district to enhance their programme in reducing child labour in the district.