Regional News of Thursday, 11 October 2012

Source: GNA

More companies donate towards farmer's Day

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), on Wednesday received donations from six companies towards the 28th National Farmers Day celebration slated for November 2 at Abokobi in the Greater Accra Region.

This year’s celebration is on the theme: “Grow More Food: Strengthening Farmer Based Organizations for Market Place Bargaining Power”.

The companies include COCOBOD , which presented items worth GHC 126,609.70, a cash donation of GH¢ 10,000, to cocoa farmers, coffee farmers and sheanut pickers and other packages including the Board’s sponsorship of the 2012 National Best Cocoa Farmer and spouse to the United Kingdom to attend an Agricultural Show estimated at GHC 28, 000,00, totalling GHC 221,000,00.

Japan Motors, presented Bokto Seeder, which would accompany training in Korea and 70 bags of fertilizer and Suntel Electronics, 20 pieces of solar radio and torch lights with GH ¢1,000.

The rest are; Louis Dreyfus Commodities limited, assorted knapsack products and ADRA, presented 70 Knapsack spraying machine worth GH¢ 2, 100,00 for which 50 machines would be given to the national planning committee and 20 to the Greater Accra Regional farmers Day committee.

The presentations were the sixth in the series of donations towards the celebrations.

Receiving the items, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister of Food and Agriculture, expressed gratitude to the companies for the support to farmers. He said the Ministry was encouraged by the kind of support the private sector was extending to this year’s preparation to the National Best Farmer’s Day Celebrations.

According to him, the budget for the celebration which was estimated at 4 million cedis would be realised with the help of the private sector. He urged other corporate bodies to donate towards the celebration before October 19, since preparations towards the celebrations would be concluded by then.