Ghana only engaged in farming on paper – National Best Female Cocoa Farmer

The 2021 Most Enterprising Female Cocoa Farmer, Adwoa Sintim is urging stakeholders in the agricultural sector to up the game with support for farmers in the country.

Speaking ahead of the 2022 National Farmers Day, the 70-year-old best cocoa farmer was unhappy with the lip service given to the sector without real investment that can turn the agricultural sector in the country around.

Sharing her concerns on Ultimate 106.9 FM, Mrs. Sintim bemoaned the fact there are vast arable land in the country while agriculture has failed to gain the push it deserves.

“Unlike elsewhere, we need to do the right things to make farming attractive, the system and structure of our farming needs to change. As much as the government comes in to support, there is still room for improvement , what we do here is paper farming  whereby there is too much book and paper here and paper there but no practical approach” she said.

“Even though we have a day to celebrate farmers, the challenges of farmers go beyond a day’s celebrations”, she noted

Mrs. Sintim believes there is more to be done to change the narrative.

“When you get the chance to travel like I have, you get to understand the importance others attach to the agric sector. I once told a cocoa seminar in Brussels that they should come support us with more farm implements so they can continue to enjoy the cocoa for their chocolate. I was looking for partnership for the sector and that is the way to go”, she revealed.

This year’s farmers day began on November 29th with an exhibition by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and is expected to be climaxed with a grand durbar and awards ceremony on Friday 2nd December.

The 38th National Farmers’ Day celebration is ongoing at the Jubilee Park of the Eastern Regional capital, Koforidua.

It is with the theme “Accelerating Agriculture Development through Value Addition”.

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, will be the Special Guest of Honour.