This year’s celebration is the fourth in the series since the creation of the Banda District four years ago and the 32nd in the national calendar.

Addressing the gathering at the durbar grounds at Nyire, the District Chief Executive for Banda, Hon. Jacob Boateng enumerated some government interventions in the Agricultural sector to boost the sector.

He said the government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has over the years through the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) supported the youth to venture into the Agricultural sector.

He added that the government’s policy of reviving collapsed industries most of which are agro-based will not only create ready market for the sector but will also add value to the country’s raw materials to propel economic growth in line with this year’s theme for the farmers day celebrations. 

The Distirct Chief Executive said President Mahama’s second term in office will see more investment in the sector with the introduction of the Farmer Service Centers in all farming Districts across the country.
“These centers will not only provide tractor services to farmers at affordable rates but will also offer loans to farmers to finance their farming activities and pay later during the harvesting season”. The District Chief Executive added.

Further, government as rolled out an institutional framework as a basis for a long-term engagement and supplementary financing for scaling up investment in a private sector led-pro-poor agricultural value chain development through the Ghana Sector Investment Programme (GASSIP) which is benefiting thousands of farmers.

On the cashew sector, Hon. Jacob Boateng said cabinet has approved the cashew board which will regulate the sector to ensure sanity. This according to him will enhance the livelihood of cashew farmers.

On his part, the Banda District Director of the Department of Agriculture, Mr. Willam Biah said the theme for this year’s celebrations “Agriculture: A Business Approach to Economic Growth” was a wakeup call for farmers to treat farming as a business enterprise so as to reduce poverty and enhance economic growth.

The Chairman of the occasion, Nana Tuduhene challenged the youth to go into agriculture since has the potential to solve the unemployment challenges of the country.

The overall best farmer of the District took home a “motor king” a spraying machine among others. In all, seventeen farmers were awarded.