By Jones Anlimah
The Agbogbomefia of the Asogli, Togbe Afede XIV, has urged Ghanaians to recommit themselves to supporting the country’s agricultural sector, emphasizing that national growth and food security depend on collective action from government, farmers, and citizens alike.
Speaking as Chairman of the 41st National Farmers Day Grand Durbar in Ho, under the theme “Eat Ghana, Grow Ghana, Secure the Future.” The Asogli leader said the theme “truly captures the essence of the celebration,” stressing that eating locally produced food is key to empowering farmers and building a resilient economy.
“When we eat what we produce in Ghana, we encourage our farmers to produce more, and therefore we’ll see growth in our economy and greater security for Ghana going into the future,” he added. “So let’s remind ourselves that we have to eat Ghana so we can grow Ghana and secure the future of Ghana.”
Agriculture Employs 44% of Ghana’s Labour Force
Togbe Afede highlighted the crucial role farmers play in national development, noting that agriculture employs 44 percent of the national labour force. However, he warned that despite this high level of participation, Ghana continues to depend heavily on imported food.
“Countries with 4% of their population in agriculture are able to feed themselves. Why not we with 44%? It means we have a lot of work to do.”
He expressed concern about declining output in key cash crops, especially cocoa, which has dropped from over one million metric tonnes in past years to the current struggle to reach half a million.
“For a country that has produced more than a million tons of cocoa in a particular year to be currently struggling to do half a million, that’s not a good commentary,” he lamented.
He also pointed to declining performance in cotton and coffee, emphasising the need for new strategies and increased investment.
Commends Government’s ‘Big Push’ Agenda
The Paramount Chief commended government for major agricultural and infrastructural interventions aimed at revitalizing the sector.
“I am particularly excited about the government’s Big Push programme… I’m glad that so far $60 billion has been committed, and a lot of that is going into infrastructure and most probably into roads,” he said, adding that improved roads are essential for transporting farm produce and motivating farmers.
He further welcomed government’s planned investment of 10–13 billion dollars into the agriculture sector in the new budget.
Call for Mechanization and Plantation Agriculture
Togbe Afede urged stakeholders to embrace mechanization, plantation agriculture, and the cultivation of idle arable lands to boost production and make farming more attractive to the youth.
“Going forward, I believe we have to do more… especially in the area of mechanization and plantation agriculture,” he said. “We can do well by utilizing the idle hands available and putting under cultivation arable land that is still uncultivated.”
He emphasised that while government support is vital, citizens must play their part by patronizing local produce to ensure sustainable growth.
