By Muniratu Akweley Issah\u00a0<\/p>\n
Accra, Sept. 19, GNA-Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Minister of Food and Agriculture, says the government has spent GHC 2.6 billion on subsidies on cocoa seed and fertilizer, which generated GHC 50 billion\u202fworth of farm produce\u202ffor the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u202fHe said Ghana\u2019s agriculture had risen tall due to the support given to farmers and the reciprocal benefit adding, that it had made the sector perform extraordinarily as compared to other sectors.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u202fGhana\u2019s agricultural sector recorded an accelerated growth of 8.4 per cent in 2021, as compared to the 7.4 per cent recorded in 2020, the Minister stated.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Speaking at the launch of the 38th edition of the farmers\u2019 day celebration in Accra, Dr Akoto said farmers needed to be commended for the achievement.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe growth has been accelerating due to the commitment of our farmers. So, we need to commend our farmers for producing in these very difficult global circumstances.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ms Mavis Hawa Koomson, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, in a speech read on her behalf, noted that the concept of value addition in agriculture, especially fisheries and aquaculture presented an exceptionally good opportunity for additional revenue generation, job creation, foreign exchange earnings and effective post-harvest management.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ms Koomson disclosed that in 2021 total fish production stood at some 658,617.53 tonnes estimated at 11.04 billion Ghana cedis, which contributed to about 1.04 per cent of GDP and 20.99 per cent of agriculture, adding that the benefit would have been more if the value additions were included.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n
She said the Ministry was promoting new products such as fish powder, fish khebab and fish sausage in collaboration with the council for scientific and industrial research, food research institute specifically, products such as fish balls have been developed while up takers are being encouraged to commercialise such products.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n
She said the ministry had taken a keen interest in pursuing various activities to improve value addition, which included strengthening the capacities\u202fof actors in the fish value chain to ensure the production of safe and quality fish products.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n
To this effect, 994 fish farmers have so far been trained in hygienic fish handling, fish processing and marketing strategies, while 200 fish processors have been also trained in best practices.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u202fThe 2022 National Farmers\u2019 Day celebration would be held in the Eastern Region on the theme: Accelerating Agricultural Development through value addition.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n Mr Seth Kwame Acheampong, Eastern Regional Minister, acknowledged that agriculture could not be left out of the nation\u2019s developmental\u202fagenda.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n He said: \u201d Our basic survival\u202fand progress as a nation\u202fdepends on the produce this sector provides. The contribution of this sector to our GDP continues to remain significant and the employment opportunities that exist in this sector cannot be overemphasized\u201d.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n He said the Eastern Region\u202fwas endowed with\u202fa unique diversity in\u202fterms of culture, ethnicity,\u202fand vegetation\u202fand contributed to\u202fthe food basket of the nation.\u00a0<\/p>\n He commended the National Organizing Committee for the honour bestowed on them to host this year\u2019s National Farmers\u2019 Day celebration and affirmed an effective collaboration to make the celebration a success.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cLet me assure all of you that we will collaborate effectively with the organisers and stakeholders to ensure this year\u2019s celebration will be one of the greatest ever held, if not the best\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n Major sponsors for this year\u2019s farmers\u2019 day celebration include Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), Stanbic Bank and Exim Bank.\u00a0<\/p>\n GNA\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Economics-Farmers-Day-Launch-1.jpg\")
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