|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Ghanaians are celebrating Farmers’ Day 2025 today, Friday, December 5, honouring the farmers and fishers whose dedication continues to sustain national food security and drive rural economic growth.
This year’s celebration is themed “Feed Ghana, Eat Ghana, Secure the Future,” and marks the beginning of a week-long national showcase of agricultural innovation, modern technology, and strategic partnerships aimed at strengthening the country’s food systems.
Speaking ahead of the celebrations, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, said the past ten months have been a period of urgent action, bold reforms, and determined implementation within the agricultural sector.
He explained that under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, the Ministry has diagnosed long-standing structural challenges and laid the groundwork for a stronger, more resilient agricultural system.
He highlighted ongoing reforms in institutional farming, farmer cooperatives, irrigation and mechanisation expansion, value addition, and the deployment of weather prediction systems, describing them as critical steps toward building a productive and inclusive food economy.
However, the Minister noted that significant work remains.
“Ghana still imports what we can grow. Our rural youth continue to migrate in search of jobs that agriculture can provide. Our farmers still face risks that can be prevented with the right investment, tools and information,” he said.
He emphasised that the country’s vulnerability to external shocks underscores the need for a robust domestic food system.
Key Priorities for 2025–2026
During the Government Accountability Series, Mr. Opoku outlined the Ministry’s strategic priorities for the year ahead:
1. Consolidation and Expansion of Feed Ghana Interventions
-
Scaling up irrigation and mechanisation nationwide
-
Deepening the integration of farmer cooperatives into service delivery
-
Operationalising local seed production, certification, and distribution
2. Strengthening Agricultural Research and Innovation
-
Modernising research infrastructure in partnership with CSIR
-
Enhancing linkages between research and field application through resourced AEAs and digital platforms
3. Public-Private Partnerships for Agro-Industrialisation
-
Expanding investment pipelines under SIP, SADEP and similar frameworks
-
Promoting inclusive value chains with opportunities for women, youth, and smallholder farmers
4. Climate Resilience and Sustainable Land Use
-
Rolling out Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies across districts
-
Using digital tools and remote sensing for land restoration and resource planning
5. Job Creation and Youth Employment
-
Accelerating the National Service Agripreneur Track
-
Transitioning successful trainees into agribusiness ventures or public sector roles
6. Digitalisation of Agricultural Services
-
Operationalising agricultural data systems for registration, traceability, subsidy targeting, and market access
-
Enhancing real-time data sharing through digital dashboards and MIS platforms
As Farmers’ Day 2025 is commemorated nationwide, the government says the occasion serves not only to celebrate the country’s agricultural heroes, but also to renew national commitment to building a resilient food system capable of securing Ghana’s future.
Source: 3news
