Nat’l Tymes News Desk
AT THE 41st National Farmers’ Day Grand Durbar in Ho in the Volta Region, Agriculture Minister Hon. Eric Opoku delivered an uplifting message of progress, gratitude and renewed commitment to the nation’s farmers and fishers.
Addressing a packed Ho Sports Stadium on Friday, he described this year’s celebration as historic — the first under President John Dramani Mahama’s renewed mandate and a moment that marks a new phase in Ghana’s agricultural transformation agenda.
The Minister praised the Volta Region for its rich agricultural heritage and thanked traditional leaders and regional authorities for their immense support. He said the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, guided by science and strong partnerships, has spent the past eleven months laying a solid foundation for modernising the sector.
Under the Feed Ghana Programme, he noted, significant progress is already being seen across the country, particularly in irrigation development, mechanisation, seed and fertiliser reforms, livestock improvement and strengthened value chains. These interventions, he emphasised, are improving rural livelihoods, raising productivity and opening opportunities for young people and women in agriculture.
Hon. Opoku expressed deep appreciation to private sector partners who contributed to this year’s celebrations and continue to invest in Ghana’s agricultural future. He acknowledged institutions such as ADB, EXIM Bank, Stanbic Bank, GLICO General, AGRA, Development Bank Ghana and various agro-input and machinery companies for their confidence in the sector.
He particularly commended GLICO for its Farmers’ Day Insurance Package, describing it as an essential safety net that recognises the risks farmers face daily.
He also saluted the Agrihouse Foundation for their effective coordination of the National Agricultural Fair. The partnership, which began in 2024, has now evolved into a sustainable model that allowed the fair to be organised this year at no cost to the state. The Minister described the collaboration as invaluable and one that the Ministry looks forward to strengthening.
Another key highlight of this year’s celebration, he explained, was the introduction of the two-day Innovation, Research and Development (IRD) Day — a national platform that showcased scientific innovations from Ghana’s leading universities and research institutions.
He said Ghana has long possessed enormous research potential that often remains untapped, but the IRD Day brought these innovations into the public domain through national live broadcasts.
With the Government’s Research Fund soon to be operational, he expressed confidence that these technologies would move from laboratories to farms, boosting Ghana’s agricultural transformation.
Hon. Opoku reiterated that Ghana has all it takes to become the “food nation of Africa” and stressed that every investment in agriculture brings exponential benefits in food security, job creation and national stability. He called on Corporate Ghana to deepen its collaboration with the Ministry to help scale innovations and honour the country’s hardworking farmers.
He reserved special praise for farmers and fishers across the country, describing them as the engine of Ghana’s sustainable and circular economy. Their resilience, innovation and dedication, he said, continue to inspire the Ministry’s work. He also thanked the National Farmers’ Day Planning Committee, regional authorities and partners for delivering a successful and well-organised celebration.
The Minister concluded by congratulating all award winners and acknowledging the indispensable role of farmers in Ghana’s development, ending with a heartfelt blessing: “May God bless our farmers, our fishers, and our homeland Ghana.”
Source: Nationaltymes.com
