The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has praised Ghana’s farmers and fishers for their vital role in sustaining the nation’s food system and driving economic growth, describing them as the backbone of national development.

Speaking at the 41st National Farmers Day celebration in Ho, he said this year’s celebration is particularly significant, being the first Farmers Day under the President’s renewed mandate and being hosted in the Volta Region, a region renowned for its rich agricultural tradition and vast potential.

Reviewing the progress made within the past 11 months, the Minister said the Ministry of Food and Agriculture had built a strong foundation for agricultural transformation, guided by science and strengthened by partnerships with research institutions.

He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring food and nutrition security across the country.

He explained that under the Feed Ghana programme, government interventions were already yielding results through expanded irrigation facilities, increased mechanisation, reforms in seed and fertiliser distribution, livestock development, and strengthened value chains.

These efforts were enhancing rural livelihoods, boosting productivity, and creating opportunities for farmers, especially women and the youth, he said.

Mr Opoku expressed appreciation to private sector institutions that continued to invest in Ghana’s agriculture, including the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), HFC Bank, Stanbic Bank, Climate General, AGRA, Development Bank Ghana, BOM Agro, AMG Ghana, Sino Machinery, BEPT Agro, and High Farm Agro Machinery Limited.

Their support, through sponsorships, insurance packages, and value chain investments, reflected a strong vote of confidence in the sector, he said.

He highlighted RICO’s Family Day Insurance package as a significant layer of security for farmers, emphasising the importance of risk mitigation in modern agriculture.

The Minister also commended the Agri-House Foundation for its pivotal role in organising the National Agricultural Fair, indicating that the partnership between the Foundation and the Ministry had evolved into a model that enabled the five-day fair to be held at no cost to the state this year.

He revealed another breakthrough this year as the two-day Innovation, Research and Development Session, which provided a national platform for Universities and Research Institutions to showcase scientific breakthroughs and technological solutions.

Institutions such as the University of Ghana, KNUST, UDS, UCC, UENR, CSIR, and the African Agribusiness Consortium of the JACFA Group presented innovations in crop science, mechanisation, and irrigation that have long remained under-utilised by farmers.

He said the platform marked the beginning of a new chapter, moving research from the laboratory into the hands of farmers.

The establishment of a Government Research Fund, he added, will further accelerate the transfer of innovations to the field.

Mr Opoku reaffirmed that Ghana had immense agricultural potential and that with the right investments, was poised to become the food hub of Africa.

He called for continued national commitment to agriculture, stressing that investments in the sector could yield exponential returns in food security, job creation, industrialisation, and economic resilience.

He urged corporate Ghana to sustain its support through sponsorships, technical partnerships, and financial collaborations, saying such efforts are essential for celebrating farmers and scaling innovations for a robust, resilient food system.

The Minister paid tribute to farmers and fishers across the country, noting that their adoption of improved seeds, sustainable livestock practices, irrigation, mechanisation, and agro-processing demonstrates that agriculture remains a powerful engine for building a circular and resilient economy.

“We celebrate you today, and we will continue to invest in your progress,” he assured.

He commended the National Farmers Day Planning Committee, the Regional Coordinating Council, district agricultural departments, private sector partners, and agencies under the Ministry for delivering what he described as the “biggest celebration ever,” achieved with the lowest cost to the state.

As the ceremony advanced, Mr Opoku congratulated all award winners and called on Ghanaians to rally behind agriculture.

“Let us feed Ghana together. Let us eat Ghana together. And let us secure the future of our country,” he urged.

Farmer groups, including the National Farmers and Fishermen Award Winners Association (NFFAWAG), the Ghana Association of Female Agricultural and Fish Farming Award Winners (GAFAFAW), and the National Association of Farmers and Fishermen (GNAFF), delivered solidarity messages, praising government initiatives and advocating increased support to realise the theme: “Feed Ghana, Eat Ghana, and Secure the Future.”