The 'Planting for Food and Jobs’ Programme has generated ¢50 billion cedis worth of farm produce since its inception, Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has pointed out.

Speaking at the launch of the 38th Farmers’ Day Celebration, Dr. Akoto emphasised that the ¢2.6 billion investment made by the government has yielded the expected results.

“In the five years of sPlanting for Food and Jobs’, government has invested ¢2.6 billion to subsidise just two inputs; improved seeds and fertilisers. If you convert this at the exchange rate existing at the time, it should be about $450 million. And what did we get out of the farmers from this?”

“If you multiply the prices with the quantities, this $2.6-billion investment generated ¢50 billion worth of farm produce for this country”.

This year’s Farmers’ Day Celebration will be held in the Eastern region.

Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong, said his outfit is honoured to host the event as the region is one of the largest producers of staple crops in the country.

“We in the Eastern Region are strategically positioned to grow, develop and lead the industrialisation agenda. The theme for this year’s Farmers’ Day Celebration, “Accelerating Agricultural Development through Value Addition” has all the essential ingredients in our Eastern Commodity Satellite Market Fair and our concept will seriously be outdoor in this event”.

“On behalf of the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council, the Chiefs and people of the region, we wholeheartedly accept to host this year’s Farmers’ Day Celebration,” he pointed out.

Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Yaw Frimpong Addo highlighted some benefits sponsors of the Farmers’ Day will enjoy.

“In the platinum package, sponsor get to enjoy these; acknowledgement in the media, advertisement of company’s logo at the durbar ground for telecast, advertisement of company’s logo in event brochure, full page print company advert with felicitation messages to farmers and fishers in the National Farmers’ Day brochure and branding some of the sections of the principal route and outside perimeter of the durbar ground,” he listed.