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Former President John Dramani Mahama has observed that the best way to ensure value addition and wealth creation for persons in the agriculture sector is to engage in agro-processing and agri-business.
According to the 2020 National Democratic Congress party flagbearer, to make that possibility there is the need to consider ways to attract more youth into the agriculture value chain.
In a message on his Facebook page to mark the 37th Farmers’ Day celebration on Friday December 3, he noted that by so doing the wealth would particularly benefit farmers and fishers, and Ghana as a whole.
Mr. Mahama added “this way, we can get more young people into agriculture to employ more of Ghana’s youth and increase our food stock.”
Stressing on the possible gains, he is optimistic that once the government adverts its mind to the opportunities and comparative advantage as a country, achieving a common goal to befit people is high.
Describing Ghanaian farmers as “heroines and heroes” amid celebrating them on the Farmers Day, the former hinted that through their effort, “Agriculture continues to be the mainstay of our economy, employing most of our nation’s working population and being a leading contributor to GDP”.
He further highlighted that, the contributions of farmers does not only provide the country with food stuffs and nutritional needs but potentially ending hunger and poverty which aid towards rapid industrialization and shared prosperity through agribusiness.
Below is the former President’s full post:
Heartiest congratulations to our farmers and fishers on the occasion of this year’s National Farmers Day. You remain our heroines and heroes.
Through your effort, Agriculture continues to be the mainstay of our economy, employing most of our nation’s working population and being a leading contributor to GDP.
Not only do you provide our nation’s food and nutrition needs, you also wield the potential to eradicate hunger and poverty and lead our country toward rapid industrialization and shared prosperity through agribusiness.
As we commemorate this important day, we must diversify by delving into agro-processing and agri-business as ways of ensuring value addition and wealth creation for all persons in the agriculture value chain.
This wealth must particularly benefit our farmers and fishers, and also the country.
This way, we can get more young people into agriculture to employ more of Ghana’s youth and increase our food stock.
We will also earn foreign exchange through exports and, ultimately increase the income levels of our hardworking farmers and fishers.
Our world is fast changing, and we must find new ways of doing business, if we are to survive.
I believe once government averts its mind to the opportunities and comparative advantage we have as a country, we can achieve the goal of prosperity for our country and its people.
Happy Farmers Day!
