The celebration of Famers Day every first Friday in the month of December has called for public concerns with many showing displeasures on how farmers are treated over the years.
Awake News reporter, Kofi Tamakloe took to the streets, farms and homes to find out more about this year’s celebration.
Most of the cocoa farmers revealed their disappointment in the recent happenings in the cocoa industry where the government has to purchase cocoa on credit among other issues. Mr. Abudu Kwadzo George, a teacher and a cocoa famer in Kadjebi District of the Volta region explained that the situation is worrying and overwhelming.
My whole family depends on the sales from the cocoa for our school fees and feeding including hiring of laborers. What is more disturbing is the fact that the government of the day has come to purchase our cocoa on credit, meanwhile we have hired laborers on credit to do the work with the intention that we shall pay them as soon as the cocoa is being sold. Also, fertilizers were supplied to farmers free by the erstwhile Mahama administration but the Nana Addo’s government insisted rather on a government subsidy on the fertilizer purchased. Due to the hardship amidst the economy crisis, farmers were unable to afford the price of the fertilizer. Government upon realizing the fertilizers were about two to three months to expire, decided to share the fertilizer on free basis.
With regards to the celebrations of farmers’ day and the selection of awardees, most of the citizen call on the government to reconsider the mode and processes involved as they believe only the rich and the party faithful become favorite awardees.
Madam Thomsia Mensah, a rice farmer
On the part of rice farmers, Madam Thomasia Mensah from Kwamikrom, a farming community in the Biakoye District of the Volta Region emphasis that the work has become tedious as she has not gotten any support from government for the past 20 years of rice farming. She also called on the government to support poor farmers who are hiding in the villages to yield high production and cut down importation of the product. She also called on all the citizenry to patronize local products as she believes the local rice is of quality.
The issue is that the government recognize the rich people on farmers’ day rather than the poor. The award is going to be given to the rich ones who are already blessed with modern technology. The poor who are struggling to become good farmers must be recognized but it won’t happen. This is a headache. Check the political background of the one who is going to be crowned best farmer and see. He is either a member of the political party in government or he sponsored the party during campaign times and they are rewarding him with goodness. The country is turning into something else. Mr. Prince Charles Adjah explained.
Farmer’s Day is worth celebrating. But my problem is when politicians leverage this day to read tall deceitful speeches without acting on it. It’s better not to be celebrated if they can’t act on their promises. Mr. Boamah Festus added his voice to the call.
National Farmers Day which was instituted in the year 1985 has really come to stay if the government’s planting for food and job program will employ more youths into the sector without playing politics. On this year’s occasion, a fish famer and a teacher, Evangelist Nelson Ahado call on all famers and all who are part of the agriculture sector to put their trust in only God for recognition and respect.
God will judge every one for his deeds, my advice to the hard working farmers is that they should continue with the hard work. Gaining God’s recognition is better than man’s own. Even if the government didn’t recognize them, God will bless them. For the blessings of the Lord makes riches and he adds no sorrow.
Kofi Tameklo, Awake News Reporter
By: Kofi Tamakloe
For more news contact Kofi Tamakloe on
0243583152
Kofitamkloe20@gmail.com