MP backs boycott of Farmers Day | Dayz Entertainment
 

Share This Post

Share This

New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Kwadaso, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has backed calls for a boycott of the National Farmers Day today at Sefwi Wiaso in the Western region.

According to him, government has over the years taken farmers for granted because it does not believe agriculture is the backbone of the economy.

A group of farmers calling themselves Concerned Farmers Association of Ghana have asked their colleagues to boycott the celebration.

The farmers made up of cocoa farmers, rice growers, poultry, livestock and vegetable farmers said the boycott is to protest of government neglect of the sector.

The National Farmers Day was instituted and first held in 1985 to help find solutions to the challenges confronting farmers through an award system that motivates and opens up opportunities for hardworking farmers.

Over the years national, regional and district durbars have been held to mark the occasion.

But the farmers who even called for the resignation of the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Fiifi Kwetey say they don’t see its relevance.

In support, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Thursday said the concerns of the farmers are legitimate.

He indicated that the Mahama-led administration has cheated to farmers for far too long thus its time they should it the red card.

“The Farmers Day Celebration is almost irrelevant; what is needed is more support to farmers not the pageantry” he stressed.

Dr. Afriyie Akoto said the Mahama-led administration is not committed to developing the Agric sector.

The Minority spokesperson for Agriculture cited the paltry one percent budget allocation to the Ministry of Agric and Fisheries to corroborate his claim.

“As I speak to you now, government still owes about GH? 100 million bonus to cocoa farmers” he bemoaned.

Dr. Afriyie Akoto urged government to pay serious attention to the Agric sector to make the Famers Day celebration relevant.


SOURCE: adomonline


Post a Comment

 
Top