Farmers across the country have been toiling each day to get food on our tables so that we have a lot to consume and sell. With agriculture serving as the backbone of the economy, farmers are on a number of times encouraged to work hard as several governments have attempted to revive the agricultural sector.

As a form of motivation, every first Friday in the month of December has been set aside to celebrate the diligent farmers and also award them for their contributions and efforts. On this note, December 2, 2011, has been declared public holiday in order to commemorate the hardwork of the farmers in ensuring that there is enough food produce to sustain the economy.

In line with the farmer¹s day, residents of the Dunkwa-Offin in the Western Region are engaging in a durbar today to appreciate their farmers and also ask them to continue with their good works. According to Samuel Amoako, a Ghanaian student based in South Africa and a resident of Dunkwa-Offin, the durbar would be graced with the presence of paramount Chiefs, government officials, farmers and the residents entirely.

He was speaking with Xfm 95.1 on the benefits of the farmers¹ day.

Samuel Amoako intimated that though inhabitants of Dunkwa-Offin are unhappy with the government¹s efforts towards boosting the agricultural sector, they however support the celebration of the farmers. Albeit it is prudent to celebrate Ghanaian farmers, he explained that successive governments have not done enough to better up the lives of the farmers. He said government¹s commitment towards food and crop farming does not reflect in the lives of the farmers.

He claimed that even though farmers¹ day is observed to honour farmers in the country, it only benefits the affluent since rich people are the ones who can afford to use sophisticated farm implements and as a result the farmers at the grass root are often abandoned.

³We should go beyond just celebrating a day. We should go beyond just awarding about 500 people or 500 farmers across the country and then do something more substantial. Something that would boost production, would encourage the poor farmer, and then would push the poor farmer out of poverty.² he opined.

He advised government to train more extension officers and qualified agricultural personnel to assist the small-scale farmers to expand their productivity. He called on government to provide a better incentive for the farmers saying farmers wish to have value for what they produce.

He however congratulated the farmers in Ghana and admonished government to formulate pragmatic policies to improve the lives of the farmers.

Story by Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/X fm 95.1/Accra/Ghana