Ghana is holdingh its 39th annual National Farmers’ Day celebrations across the country on Friday, December 2nd, 2023.
The day, which marks the end of a five days intensive celebration, recognises the vital role farmers and fishers play in Ghana’s economic development by contributing to national food security and export revenues.
This year’s national celebration was hosted 2023, at the University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, Western Region, on the theme ” ‘Delivering Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience”.
Officials describe the theme as appropriate and relevant to achieving food security in Ghana within the context of an increase in population growth and its accompanying food system issues.
Ghana, like many developing countries, faces challenges in ensuring sustainable food security. The country has to grapple with low agricultural productivity, limited market access, and a changing climate. As a result, it is critical to identify and deliver smart solutions that can enhance the food system’s resilience and ensure sustainable food security.
Mode of Celebration for 2023
The National Farmers’ Day at the National Level in many years was celebrated in one day; however, this has been revised to a 5-Day Agricultural Fair and a Grand Durbar.
The essence was to allow farmers to network with industry players and learn and adopt new technologies, machinery, and research innovations in agriculture.
The fair also offered a business platform for various stakeholders to link up and form partnerships that will ensure the overall benefit of their farm enterprises.
Mode of Celebration: 2023
Prior to the National Farmers Day, were a 5-Day National Agricultural Festival, Agrifest Ghana 2023 which began from Monday, 27th November to Friday, 1st December 2023. Agrifest Ghana 2023 was held on the principal streets of the Ministerial enclave in Accra. The last day of Agrifest which marks the first Friday of December will be celebrated with an Awards Night Ceremony at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Auditorium where H E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana will confer national honours on best-performing farmers and fishers. A total of fifteen award categories will receive recognition at the Award Night in Tarkwa, namely:
- Overall National Best Farmer
- 1st Runner-Up National Best Farmer,
- 2nd Runner-Up National Best Farmer
- National Best Livestock Farmer
- National Best Female Farmer
- National Best Physically Challenged
- Farmer Overall National Best Fisher
- National Best Marine Fisher
- National Best Inland Fisher
- National Best Fisher Farmer
- National Best Fish Processor
- National Best Cocoa Farmer
- National Best Most Promising Young Cocoa Farmer
- National Best Most Enterprising Cocoa
- Female Farmer and National Best Shea Nut Picker.
Regional-Level Celebration
Regional Farmers’ Day celebration will continue to be held in all sixteen (16) regions. Accordingly, Honourable Regional Ministers will confer regional honors on the best-performing farmers in their region on behalf of His Excellency the President. There would be five (5) regional award categories per region, namely: The Regional Best Farmer, Regional Best Livestock Farmer, Regional Best Female Farmer, Regional Best Fisher, and Regional Physically Challenged Farmer.
District-level celebration
District-level celebrations are expected to be held in the Two Hundred and Sixty-One Districts (261). District award categories will be three (3) per district, namely: District Best Farmer, District Best Livestock Farmer, and District Best Crop Farmer.
