It is a pleasure to be part of the Municipal version of the 41st Edition of the National Farmers’ Day Celebration being held here at Nyagli. This day as we are all aware is rightly set aside by the State since 1985 with the primary aim of boosting the morale of our dear farmers and fishers to strive for higher agricultural productivity and production especially in the midst of this current climate change challenges.
Let me first of all, thank all farmers and fishers for the sacrifices made, and to let you know that Ghana appreciates and values your profession. permit me to also express our profound gratitude to Nyagli-naa and his people for accepting to host the event and turning up in your numbers to make it memorable. I know this would not have been possible but for the support of the Planning Committee.
Naa Chairman, I sent you greetings and well wishes from H.E. the President of the Republic of Ghana John Dramani Mahama. I wish to inform you that the President has appreciated your efforts in the agricultural sector and to congratulate you all for your immerse contribution to nation building. This year production season has been particularly good as compared to last year as farmers getting bumper harvest which is going to improve our food sovereignty however, getting access to market remains a challenge. This situation can have a devastating impact on our farmers business going forward it is in the light of this, that government has carefully selected the theme: “FEED GHANA, EAT GHANA, SECURE THE FUTURE” which in no doubt is apt and timely.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is a well-known fact that, without you, there would be no food on our tables, no exports to drive growth, and no rural livelihoods to anchor our communities. We celebrate not just your sweat and labour, but your resilience, your innovation, and your enduring commitment to this noble profession.
You are all well aware that, Climate change is real with long intermittent dry spells which affects food production within Wa Municipality and the Country as a whole hence, the need to build Resilience for Sustainable Food security going into the future. With our high dependency on rain-fed Agriculture, the cropping seasons have been challenging for farmers, the Department of Agriculture, its collaborating partners and other agribusiness and organizations. This therefore calls for a paradigm shift from traditional method of cultivation and the way we do things, especially in this challenging times hence the introduction of Urban agriculture which involves household irrigation.
Distinguished Invited Guest, with this in mind, the Government introduced several policies to improve and increase crop cultivation in the Country so as to ensure that, we have enough food to eat and also provide raw materials for the agro based industries.
In this direction, the Department of Agriculture partnered with relevant stakeholders executed some key activities, projects and programmes as follows:
- Feed Ghana programme – which have several components in the agricultural value chain.
- General extension services delivery
- Animal Health and Production Service delivery
They also received some support from collaborating partners in the Agriculture sector:
- Savannah Agriculture Value Development project -SADEP
- Savannah Investment Programme-SIP
- Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme-GAFSP
- GIZ REACH Project
- MEDA Grow 2 Project
- MOFA (Veterinary Services and Plant Protection and Regulatory Service Directorate) PPRSD
Naa Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, under the Feed Ghana Programme (FGP), a total of 6,545 (3,878males, 2,664females) individual farmers were put into groups to benefit from direct government support and any other projects that are in line with the government initiative:
- Seeds and fertilizers for crop production
- Poultry birds (Nkoko Nkitinkitin Broilers) for meat production
- Pumping machines for vegetable production all year round are just a few.
Under the drought relief and Recovery intervention, the municipality supported 2,293 farmers with quality improved inputs (Maize seed-400 bags of 50kg), fertilizers (NPK-2000 bags and UREA-2,663 bags-) to help boost production. This noble initiative was implemented through the Department of Agriculture, with inputs seeds and fertilizers received and distributed same to farmers under the supervision of the Municipal Assembly.
Our Gallant Farmers, through collaboration with SADEP, a total of 347 (120Males, 227Females) Farmers were supported with 5,750 Guinea Keets and medications (10 per farmer) to boost the poultry industry and Twenty (20) women trained on Layer production awaiting receipt of Layer birds and cages to help boost egg production.
Our Friends From the Media, under the Global Agriculture and Food Security Project-GAFSP 8 boreholes were drilled for 4 groups and 4 Schools for irrigation farming purposes to boost vegetable production and 1,504 Smallholder farmers supported with Maize, Rice, Ground nut and Soybean seeds and fertilizers (NPK-3,600 bags ) to boost production of Cereals and Legumes in the municipality.
The EU-GAP GIZ-REACH – Project also supported our Extension Agents and farmers with capacity building Training on CA and its services.
The Department equally benefited from MEDA-GROW 2 PROJECT through the following:
- Capacity building for staff and women farmers
- Demonstrations establishment on Ground nut and soybean
- Improved seeds (Groundnuts and Soybeans) were subsidized/discounted for women smallholder farmers to boost legume production in the Municipality.
Naa chairman, it is worth mentioning that rearing of livestock serves as a buffer against crop failure either due to drought, floods, pests and diseases effects. In line with the above, Ladies and Gentlemen, the Veterinary Services Unit of MOFA in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture carried out the interventions some within the year and these are, vaccination against rabies, CBPP, PPR and New Castle diseases
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, reflecting on the theme for this year’s celebrations “FEED GHANA, EAT GHANA, SECURE THE FUTURE” the Municipality is highly Urbanized with its land space challenges, the Department is promoting Urban Agriculture such as household irrigation, conservation farming, Value addition, Confined rearing of livestock /Poultry and water use efficiency for vegetable production which normally does not requires vast land space for setting up.
Also, the Municipality is currently the hub of agro-processing and agribusinesses in the Region. These are Antika Company Limited, Lamdi Farm Chicken, Agriaccess, Agrilink, Unity & Progressive Rice milling centre, HAKA’S groundnut Processing center, AUB Dassan Ventures, Mara foods, and many more who are the major distributors, aggregators and processors that help in the supply of inputs to farmers, aggregate produce from farmers and add value to the raw materials produced for higher returns.
Distinguished Invited guest, the dry season is here with us and regrettable the annual bush burning will soon start and farmers produce as well as the environment such as fauna and flora will be destroyed, the Municipal Assembly will support and resource Ghana National Fire Service to collaborate with other Security Services to up their game in the fight against bush fires.
I therefore wish to appeal to our Revered Traditional Authorities to join the advocacy, sensitization and entreat residents to construct fire belts around their homes, businesses and farms in order for them to remain safe.
In conclusion Naa chairman, let me use this platform to congratulate all our validated award winners. You deserve it! Please accept the prizes as our recognition of your hard work, and edge them to strive harder for more success.
To those who were not fortunate to win any award this year, just remember that next year is around the corner and it is our hope that you work harder to be part of the best in 2026 awards in the Municipality or beyond.
Ladies and gentlemen, let me use this opportunity to express sincere gratitude to our sponsors, without their sponsorship this occasion would not have been celebrated, may the good lord richly bless our sponsors, replenish whatever contributions they have made to this great day, and let their businesses and endeavours flourish beyond leaps and bounce.
Once again, on behalf of H. E. President John Dramani Mahama and on behalf of the chiefs and people of the Municipality, I congratulate all our gallant farmers and fishers for their continuous sacrifice. I wish all of you a joyous and happy Farmers’ Day Celebrations.
Long live Wa Municipality
Long live Department of Agriculture
Long live all farmers in the municipality
Many thanks for your audience and God bless us all!!!
