As part of this year’s annual Farmers Day Celebration, which celebrates Farmers across the country on the 1st December of every year, the Talenis District Assembly in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agricultural on Friday, 2rd December 2022, celebrated Farmers across the District at the Tongo-Beo School Park. The district also awarded some Farmers with farming equipment such as Knapsack Sprayers, Wellington Boots, cutlasses, Fertilizer, Motor Kings and many more.
This year’s Farmers Day celebration was on the theme “Accelerating Agricultural Development Through Value Addition”. The occasion was graced by dignitaries such as, Heads of Departments, The District Chief Executive for Talensi , Agencies and Civil Society Organizations, chiefs and Queen Mothers of the Talensi traditional area, Hon. Assembly men and women and Security Agencies.
Mr. Suleman Mathew, the Head of Agric Department for Talensi speaking at the occasion took time to appreciate all gallant farmers who work assiduously to make food available on the table. According to him, “Value addition is the process of changing or transferring a product from its original state to a more preferred valuable state and it is important to identify the value added activities that will support the necessary investment in research, processing and marketing of Agricultural products. \
He added that “we can economically add value to a product by changing its current place, time and from one set of characteristics to other physiognomies that are more preferred in the marketplace to satisfy the needs of consumers.”
Mr Suleman Mathew added that under the year of review key programs and projects like the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ?), Ghana Productive Safety Net Project (GPSNP II), Ghana Landscape Restoration and Small Scale Mining Project(GLRMP), Sahel Opportunities Project (SOP), Extension Farm and Home Visit’s, have been undertaken in promoting growth in food.
Mr Suleman Mathew said “Climate change is seriously intensifying and we all have a role to play in the fight against its intensification.”
The DCE for Talensi District, Hon. Thomas Pearson Dianab Wuni, elaborated on this year’s theme for the farmers day celebration, “Accelerating Agricultural Development Through Value Addition” by describing it as most appropriate because according to him, value addition in Agricultural produce has the propensity to increase farmers income locally and international. He went on to say, “We can not treat Agricultural today as in the last decade where farm products were consumed at their primary age. That value addition will influence tastes and preferences in the selection and consumption of Agricultural produce will inure to the benefit of the farmer.”
The DCE stated that “Due to the Russian and Ukraine conflict, the sector have been affected badly which with government’s inability to procure and supply the needed Agricultural inputs and implements to farmers at affordable costs for the 2022 crop season as was provided in the previous years”.
However, he appeal to the youth to take active part in Agricultural activities than in Galamsay which risky and life threatening. HON. Thomas Pearson Dianab Wuni stated that the celebration will single out some deserving farmers for awards, nonetheless, and it is a total recognition of all farmers in the District regardless of how small their individual contributions are. He added that the awards for the adjudged winners are to encourage all award winners to do more and inspire those who might not have been awarded to also work harder.
The Hon. DCE expressed appreciation to collaborators and Development partners such as Cardinal Namdini Mining Limited, Earl International Gold Grop(GH) Limited, Sahara Quarry and all other groups and individuals who supported the Assembly to make this year’s celebration a memorable one.
The Chief of Balungu Traditional Area, Naba John Atiah was adjudged the overall best district farmer for the 2022 farming season. He took home, 2 Knapsack Sprayers, 1 per of Wellington Boots, 1 cutlasses,1 bag of Fertilizer, 1 Apsonic Motor Kings and a certificate.
Naba John Atiah in an interview with our reporter, Emmanuel Kolog, said “it is true that some farmers did not get the Planting for Food and Job fertilizer but the small they got we were able to put it in good use. Framers can not go on strike so Government need to put in more effort in making sure that there is fertilizer yearly so that we can produce more.”
Naba Atia added that farmers are not able to get loans from banks to expand their farms. He used the opportunity to thank the District Assembly and Heads of Department for honoring him with such a great award and recognition.
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