Farmers in the Eastern Region who were selected for recognition as part of the National Farmers Day celebration Friday have received rolls of toilet paper, 'Joy Daddy' bitters, cutlasses, wellington boots and bars of soap.

The farmers were deemed to have excelled in various farming activities such as poultry, piggery and other specific food or cash crops.

The farmers received two 'Key Soap' bars, three rolls of toilet paper, three bottles of 'Joy Daddy Bitters' (an alcoholic drink) and three cutlasses.

The items were presented at a ceremony to honour them at this year's Farmers' Day celebrations in Koforidua in the Eastern Region. 

Instituted in the early 1980s, the annual event celebrated on the first Friday of December is meant to honour the contributions of farmers to the development of the country.

The 2014 edition of the celebration is under the theme: "Eat what you grow."

In all, 71 farmers across the country are being awarded at the national event at Sefwi-Wiawso in the Western region.

The award categories include fisheries, research, extension services among others.

As a sign of showing greater respect for the profession; which employs about 60% of Ghana’s population, the day is observed as a national holiday and marked with gatherings at the district to the national level with best farmers selected to be awarded.

And it is in accordance with this tradition that farmers from the various districts of the Eastern region converged at the Regional capital, Koforidua to observe the day.

However, the farmers to be awarded were dismayed when they discovered that instead of items of value to be given them to compensate for their years of tilling the ground, they were only given three rolls of toilet paper and the alcoholic beverage, Joy Dadi bitters.

Adom FM reporter, Kofi Siaw, who was present at the event reported that the farmers who were to be awarded the commodities frowned upon seeing the items being given them, indicating their dislike for the awards.

According to him, the farmers became more disappointed after the Regional Minister, Antwi Boasiako Sekyere stated in his speech at the gathering that the government was more committed to the welfare of farmers.

The disappointed farmers were said to have questioned why a government which remained committed to the welfare of farmers would award them with pieces of toilet rolls and bottles of Joy Dadi bitters.

Some however described the award as an insult to the farmers.