The Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) PLC yesterday presented a cheque worth of GH₵1 million to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) as the cash prize to the National Best Farmer for the 2024 National Farmers’ Day celebration.
The Deputy Managing Director of ADB, Mrs Eno Ofori-Atta, presenting the money expressed the bank’s commitment to continue to enhance their investment in the agricultural sector, especially in areas that would help adapt farming systems to climate change, and improve food security.
She said that the bank would continue to invest in farming activities that would help provide raw materials to agro-based industries and create employment to the teaming youth in the country.
“We are excited to pledge our sponsorship of GH₵1,000,000.00 to the 2024 National Best Farmer,” she noted.
Receiving the cheque on behalf of the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Bryan Acheampong, the Deputy Minister of MoFA in charge of Crops, Mr Yaw Frimpong Addo, expressed his appreciation to ADB bank for their continuous support to farmers throughout the years.
He added that ADB bank had always been a “star player” in the celebrations of National Farmers’ Day since its inception and has always motivated farmers through their kind gestures.
“You have sustained this rule for 39 years, and it’s highly commendable.
So I will just say that our farmers are most grateful but looking around the table, the team that you presented and the roles individuals play in the agriculture space, it is no wonder that the agriculture business, especially is growing,” he said.
Touching on the National Farmers’ Day celebration, he announced that this year’s National Farmers’ Day celebrations would be held in the Greater Accra Region in November due to the elections in December on the theme, ‘Building climate resilient agriculture for sustainable food and security.’
According to the Minister, the theme brought attention to the difficulties farmers were facing as a result of climate change, and it would also assist in addressing the urgent issues the nation is currently facing.
“We are all just coming out of a near drought situation with about two and a half months of drought in the northern sector, the last eight regions from the transition zones and five northern regions of the country experiencing some near drought situation,” he stressed.
Moreover, he said the Farmers’ Day celebrations will climax a lot of activities leading to the awards day, adding that there would be an Agri-Fest celebration and Agri-Exhibition, where display of the various products in agriculture by research institutions, by stakeholders who were involved in food in the agricultural villages.
Relatedly, RMG Ghana, Broonest Company, Agriseed Limited, Chemico, Nanam Ventures Limited, Ingreen Irrigation Solutions from Interplast, also donated assorted items and a cheque for GH₵67,500 to the Ministry on Wednesday, as their contribution for this year’s National Farmers’ Day celebration.
BY CECILIA LAGBA YADA
