Government has been asked to support farmer-based organisations (FBOs) in the country to enable them function very well. The President of National Farmers and Fishermen Award Winners Association of Ghana (NFFAWAG), who made the call when speaking at this year’s National Farmers' Day at Abokobi in Accra on Friday mentioned lack of access to agro-inputs, credit, markets, technical and training support as some of the challenges bedeviling the FBOs in the country. Mr Abayori said even though many attempts have been made by the state to revamp FBOs, political interference has always been a threat. “To see a total transformation of the agricultural sector, emphasis should be geared towards promoting vibrant private sector led FBOs, driven by farmers and fishers themselves,” he stated. Meanwhile, a-thirty-eight (38) year old Lemuel Kwashie Martey of Mannah Farms Limited in Accra, was adjudged the 2012 National Best Farmer. For his prize, he will have a three-bedroom fully furnished house and a pick-up vehicle. Earlier, President John Dramani Mahama pledged the next NDC government would prioritize agricultural modernization, which he believes holds the key to transforming the country’s economy and the pillar to Ghana’s development. The president also promised the commitment of his government, when re-elected, to sustain the achievements chalked by the NDC administration since it took over power in 2009. “In the second term of our administration ... our economic transformation would be hinged on agricultural modernization as a major pillar for economic advancement.” He said the policy would be propelled by two main strategies, thus the implementation of food and agriculture development policy and the corresponding investment plan as detailed in government’s medium term agricultural sector investment plan. The president further stated that the key element in the above strategies would include the transformation of the agricultural sector from a resource based to a technology based industry with emphases on irrigation agriculture, provision of subsidies for improved seed, breeders, stocks, pesticides , fertilizers machinery and other farm inputs. He also talked about the promotion of promotion of selected crops, as well as equitable distribution of resources. Support for farmer based organizations would also be encouraged, he said. President Mahama promised that the government would construct storage facilities, provide modern markets at strategic locations to minimize post harvest lose. The president maintained that agriculture holds the key to reduce rural poverty, and increasing development in the country and Africa as a whole. He said studies and empirical evidence have shown that increase in agricultural production by 1 percent leads to a corresponding 0.72 percent reduction in rural poverty as compare to 0.04 in other sectors of the economy. The theme for this year’s Farmers Day is: “Grow more food: strengthening farmer based organizations for market place bargaining power”.