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AGRICULTURE

North Gonja District Assembly Celebrated Farmers' in Sinsina.

The North Gonja District Assembly yesterday Friday 03/12/2021 celebrated her esteemed and gallant farmers at SINSINA as part of the NATIONAL FARMERS' DAY (NFD) CELEBRATION, the 37TH FARMERS' DAY celebration had "PLANTING FOR FOOD AND JOBS - CONSOLIDATING FOOD SYSTEMS IN GHANA" as the THEME for the year 2021. The nationwide ceremony recognises and appreciates the contribution of the ever hardworking FARMERS and FISHER folks for their front line role in ensuring food security and development of mother Ghana.

Date Created : 12/3/2021 12:00:00 AM : Story Author : Ridwan Abubakari

The ceremony at Sinsina attracted people from all walks of life in that zone amid singing, dancing and showcasing of raw food stuff varieties in commemoration and excitement hosting such a national event for the first time. The programme kick started with the arrival of the Chief Executive Officer of the District Hon Adam Eliasu Red Bawa, Hon Alhaji Mahama Asei Seini (MP and Deputy Minister for Health), Presiding Member of the North Gonja District Mr. Salifu Musah and some NPP Daboya/Mankarigu constituency executives led by Mr. Yahaya Kassim. The District Director of Agriculture Mr. Sualey Abubakari and his team of officers were visible and busy throughout, Hon Assembly members, Chiefs and Imams of the community were all present.

Mr. Sualey Abubakari, the District Agriculture Director in his speech outlined a lot of interventions, services and challenges of his department. Key among them include;

1. Along the value chain, about 15,129 farmers (8,473 males, 6,656 females) have been reached by farm and home visits of agric extension agents through its improved agriculture technologies to farmers.

2. A 6.4 hectares of demonstration field comprising soybeans, maize, rice and conservative agriculture which was established last year 2020 was maintained.

3. Education on the observation of health protocols on Covid-19 to ensure full awareness and precautions by farmers.

4. Embarking on Radio sensitization and education on best agriculture practices in the Gonja, Mampruli, Dagbanli and Tampulima dialects.

The DCE, Hon Adam Eliasu was full of praise for the Ghanaian farmer especially from the North Gonja District. He provided a detailed account of the efforts of government so far in the last 4yrs to make farming an attractive and profitable business whiles feeding the nation, aside the laudable PfJ, PERD, RfJ, agric commodity market projects and interventions of the Akuffo Addo government, he mentioned the massive roadwork constructions going on and the rural electrification in the district as plans to help farmers in accessing market centres whiles making good use of the opportunities that electricity provides.

The categories and winners of the various awards are as follows;

1. OVERALL DISTRICT BEST FARMER - Mumuni Ibrahim from Sinsina.

PRIZE: Motor King Tricycle, 1 pair of Wellington Boot, 1 Cutlass, 1 Radio Set and Certificate.

2. 1st RUNNER UP - Langa Mohammed from Daboya.

PRIZE: Motorbike, 1 pair of Wellington Boot, 1 Cutlass, 2 fertilizer bags and Certificate.

3. DISTRICT BEST CROP FARMER - Alidu Mutala from Tidrope.

PRIZE: Bicycle, 1 pair of Wellington boots, 2 Cutlass, 1 knapsack sprayer, 2 bags of NKP fertilizer and Certificate.

4. DISTRICT BEST LIVESTOCK FARMER - Aseidu Yahaya from Anyanto.

PRIZE: 1 bicycle, 2 salt licks, 2 cutlasses, 1 knapsack sprayer, 1 pair of Wellington boots and certificate.

5. DISTRICT BEST PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED FARMER - Alex Diaboh from Singa.

6. DISTRICT BEST FISH FARMER - Wkebela Okpotigo from Tidrope fishing camp.

PRIZE: 1 ice chest, 1 fishing net and certificate.

7. BEST WOMEN FARMER BASED GROUP - Wimpini Farmers Group from Guo.

PRIZE: 30 polysacks, cutlasses and certificate.

8. BEST FARMER BASED ORGANISATION - Kanyiti-Waale Group

PRIZE: 3 Tarpulins, 10 kg of neem power, 11 boxes of soap solution, 6 boxes of of neem oil and certificate.

9. BEST COLLOBORATING ORGANISATION - Mango City Ltd.

PRIZE: certificate.

10. DISTRICT BEST AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AGENT - Mohammed Seidu Nafiu from Mankarigu.

PRIZE: 1 plasma Tv and certificate.

11. DISTRICT BEST WOMAN FARMER - Mariam Kwame from Sinsina.

PRIZE: 1 sewing machine, cloth, 1 knapsack sprayer and certificate.

"ADDRESS DELIVERED BY THE HON. DISTRICT CHIEF EXECUTIVE FOR NORTH GONJA DISTRICT ASSEMBLY, HON ADAM ELIASU ON THE OCCASION OF THE 37TH EDITION OF THE NATIONAL FARMERS' DAY CELEBRATION HELD AT THE SINSINA SCHOOL PARK ON FRIDAY 3RD DECEMBER, 2021.

MR. CHAIRMAN

HON. MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR THE DABOYA/MANKARIGU CONSTITUENCY

OUR REVERED CHIEFS PRESENT

HON. ASSEMBLY MEN AND WOMEN PRESENT

CHAIRPERSON OF THE VARIOUS PARTIES PRESENT

HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND INSTITUTIONS

OUR NOBLE FARMERS AND AWARDEES

THE MEDIA

DISTINGUISHED INVITED GUESTS

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

I feel exceedingly honoured to address you on the occasion of the 37th National Farmers' Day (NFD) celebration, which comes off on the first Friday of December every year, to recognize and appreciate the contributions of our gallant farmers and fisher folks to food security and economic development of the country. The National event is being held at Adisadel College School Park in the Central Region of which I was privileged to represent the Savannah Regional Minister.

Mr. Chairman, the Theme for this year's NFD celebration is; "PLANTING FOR FOOD AND JOBS - CONSOLIDATING FOOD SYSTEMS IN GHANA". The Theme could not have been more appropriate at the time Ghana, as a country has initiated and implemented the various Agricultural Modules that seek to improve food production and also improve the living standards of Farmers. At this stage of our modest gains as a country, it's only appropriate to effectively and efficiently consolidate the gains and the huge investment that has been sunk into the agricultural sector by this government, from the farm to the market, consolidating along the length of the value chains that together make the food system. The various activities that among other things include the Production, Processing, Transportation, and consumption make up the food systems. The governance and economics of food production are equally critical if the food systems are to be holistically consolidated.

The Planting for Food and Jobs (PfJ) has been hinged on the following five modules;

v FOOD CROPS

v PLANTING FOR EXPORT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (PERD)

v GREENHOUSE TECHNOLOGY VILLAGES

v REARING FOR FOOD AND JOBS (RFJ) AND

v AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION SERVICES (AMSECs).

The government has developed over 30 Agricultural Technologies through the West African Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP). In consolidating our food systems as a country, we have to adopt innovative research for development and in so doing, it's very critical to begin engaging the various stakeholders along the Agricultural value chain, including processors, traders, investors, and marketers.

The government would continue to ensure that, necessary farm inputs and materials would continue to be made available at the right time and accessible to all farmers at subsidized and affordable prices.

Mr. Chairman, in consolidating food systems, improvement of our infrastructures such as roads, irrigation, processing plants, efficient transportation, and health systems are very critical. In this regard, I am glad to indicate that the various major roads have been awarded and work is steadily progressing as the rest of the contractors would be back to the site to continue earnest work. I am also pleased to announce that, construction of a bridge over the white Volta has been awarded and the contractor is expected to be at the site for works to begin by the end of the first quarter of next year. Efforts are also made to open and link up our hinterlands to the commercial towns for easy carting of foodstuff to the markets.

Mr. Chairman, the government has initiated a program called GHANA PRODUCTIVE SAFETY NET PROGRAMME. This program is supported by the World Bank is aimed at alleviating the poverty predicament that our people are saddled with. This said program is into two areas, namely;

Productive Inclusion (PI) and Climate Change and Labour intensive public works (LIPW).

Mr. Chairman, the labor-intensive public works are to engage the beneficiary communities into the construction of dams and feeder roads during the lean or off the farming season and each beneficiary worker is paid GHC12.00 per day.

Beneficiary communities under this labour intensive public works are;

Lingbinsi (construction of a dam is ongoing)

Zeipe (construction of feeder road is ongoing) and

Singa (construction of a dam is ongoing).

Mr. Chairman, the productive inclusion (PI) on the other hand , encompasses both the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) and the labour intensive public works of the selected beneficiaries. These beneficiaries are given the opportunity to choose or select any income generating activity and are provided with money to enable them start their own businesses such as Shea butter processing, groundnut processing, bee keeping and guinea fowl rearing among others . It would interest you Mr. Chairman to note that, the first batch of beneficiaries of this empowerment programme have received their first tranche of money and will be receiving their second tranche next week. The three (3) beneficiary communities under this include; Lingbinsi, Gua and Zeipe. In all Mr. Chairman, a total of

v 48 people are benefiting from guinea fowl rearing

v 13 people are into rice parboiling

v 25 people are into Shea butter processing

v whilst 35 people are also into groundnut processing.

However Mr. Chairman, I must also add that, whilst Sinsina and Daboya have been selected under this programme as budge two (2) beneficiary communities, Jedukura and Sawaba have also been selected to benefit under budge three (3). Training for both budges would start on Tuesday, 7th December, 2021.

This government's agricultural flagship programmes such as planting for food and jobs (PfJ), Rearing for food and jobs (RfJ), and Planting for export and Rural Development (PERD), among others targets the small scale farmers, hence the theme for this year's 37th NFD celebration is awaking call for farmers to take advantage and derive maximum benefits of them to improve their livelihood.

On this note Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, join me to say a big thank you to our hardworking farmers for feeding the country and also significantly contributing to the economic development of the nation, And to our award winners, I say congratulations.

Mr. Chairman, distinguished invited guest, Ladies and Gentlemen, we are in the dry season now. Most farmers yet to cart their produce from their farms to safety. I therefore entreat all and sundry , especially bush hunters to put a stop to indiscriminate bush burning that turn out causing havoc and huge financial burden to innocent farmers. Please SAY NO TO BUSH BURNING.

I thank you all for participating in the 37th edition of the National Farmers' Day Celebration here in Sinsina.