Dr. Mrs. Rachel Cann, the Ledzokuku Municipal Director of Agriculture, has called on residents, farmers, and stakeholders nationwide to collaborate in feeding the population, generating wealth, and ensuring sustainable food security.
She said this would increase production of key commodities like grains, legumes, vegetables, poultry, and livestock to reduce Ghana’s dependence on food importation.
Dr Cann made this known during the municipality’s celebration of the 41st annual National Farmers Day celebration aimed at paying tribute to the hard-working Ghanaians in the agriculture sector whose sweat continued to feed the nation.
She said the municipal department of agriculture had trained farmers on improving biosecurity measures on their farms, climate-smart agriculture, and proper use of agrochemicals, as well as good husbandry practices, as a means of strengthening agriculture.
She added that the department had also collaborated with the Forestry Commission and Impact Assurance to plant about 200 coconut seedlings to help mitigate the impact of climate change along the Sangonaa coastal belt.
She said her outfit also partnered with the International Veterinary Students Association, the Ghana Private Veterinary Surgeons Association, and Koney’s Veterinary Clinic to embark on a free anti-rabies vaccination.
Dr Cann noted that a total of 387 dogs and cats received vaccinations across the municipality, underscoring the ongoing efforts to strengthen community-wide animal health and reduce the risk of preventable zoonotic diseases.
Speaking under the theme “Feed Ghana, Eat Ghana, Secure the Future”, she reminded Ghanaians that national security and prosperity were deeply rooted in togetherness, adding that feeding Ghana, therefore, was a national calling that demanded collective action and commitment, not just the duty of farmers.
She added that Ghana’s agricultural sector remained the backbone of the economy, and the government considers it highly significant; hence, using the day to celebrate farmers and other actors along the agricultural value chain.
She said the government launched the Feed Ghana Programme (FGP), a comprehensive four-year roadmap designed to fundamentally transform Ghana’s food system and eliminate dependency, saying that under the ‘nkoko nkitinkiti’ initiative, the government would procure three million birds for distribution, and each constituency would receive 10,000 birds, feed, vaccines, and technical guidance for free.
Dr Cann encouraged all farmers to participate fully in this flagship programme for the development of the agricultural sector and Ghana as a whole, while calling for government-private partnerships to support the farmers, promote locally manufactured products, and prioritise sustainable agriculture to secure a brighter future for Ledzokuku municipality and strengthen Ghana’s food security system.
Meanwhile, Mr Mac Adjetey Quaye, a livestock farmer, emerged as the overall best farmer for the municipality; Mrs Susanna Akweley Fio, the best fish processor; and Mr Amon Pele, the best poli-fisherman.
Other winners are Mr Abraham Abo Ago, best ali-fisherman; Mr Nicanor Mensah, best aquaculture farmer; and Mr Sethtock Ashaley, the best livestock farmer.
Mr Raphael Avadzi emerged as the best container gardener, while Mr Issah Fuseini was declared the best crop farmer.
The farmers received items including certificates, water tanks, fridges, machetes, knapsack sprayers, bar soaps, Wellington boots, wheelbarrows, and shovels.
Source: Access Agric
