The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Oforikrom, Hon. Gloria Temmah Gambrah has advised especially the youth to desist from seeing farming as a punishment.

According to the MCE, gone are the days farming was mistaken to be a punishment rather than a job that could promote one from poverty to riches.

Speaking during the municipal’s maiden edition of farmers’ day celebration last Friday, Hon. Gambrah said it was wrong for farming to be seen as punishment when in actual sense can alleviate poverty. She seized the opportunity to educate farmers on how important their line of profession is to every individual in the country and therefore the need to be proud to be in that sector.

Also speaking on the theme, “enhancing small scale agriculture towards Agribusiness Development, she indicated it was very relevant and fits into the government’s agenda to achieve self-sufficiency in food and Ghana beyond aid.

“As we are all aware, Ghana’s Agriculture is predominantly done on small scale basis. It is in this regard that the NPP government under the abled leadership of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo places premium on the small scale farmer in his scheme of affairs and in his quest to revamp the agricultural sector in order to accelerate economic development and growth”. She said.

She revealed Agriculture and its related activities alone employ over 70% of the total workforce, out of which majority fall into the small scale bracket. She said the government of Ghana has rolled out a number of pragmatic measures to support farmers, especially the small scale farmer of which notable amongst them are Planting for Food and Jobs, Rearing for Food and Jobs, Modernization of Agriculture In Ghana (MAG), Planting for Export and Rural Development(PERD), Poultry for Food And Jobs, Investment for Food and Jobs, One District One Factory (1D1F), Fertilizer Subsidy, Infrastructure for Poverty Reduction Project, District Center for Agriculture, Commerce and Technology (DCAT) and Cocoa Disease and Pest Control Programme (CODAPEC)

The Oforikrom Municipal Assembly though an urban area and limited land for agriculture, has pockets of farmlands being used for the cultivation of varied crops and cereals. The government through the Municipal Agriculture Department facilitated the distribution of inputs to the farmers under the flagship programs in the municipality.

So far, 121 maize farmers have benefited from government’s Plantig

ng for Food and Jobs policy in the municipality. The assembly also trained and provided chemicals for the fall army worms to 229 farmers within the municipality. Also, an amount of 47,221.42ghc has been released to support MAG activities.

The MCE appealed to all farmers who were awarded to take good care of the items; maintain them in order to prolong their lifespan.

The Member of Parliament for Oforikrom, Hon. Emmanuel Marfo on his part, applauded the farmers and urged them to work harder for the country.

The chairperson for the occasion who happens to be the queen mother of Kotei, Nana Adumtwumwaa II also urged the youth to go into farming to help reduce the unemployment rate in the country.