Former President John Mahama has urged Ghanaians to eat what the country grows as the nation celebrates her farmers today, Friday, 6 December 2019.

“On the occasion of the 2019 National Farmers Day, let me also remind us all that we need to eat what we grow”, Mr Mahama said, adding: “Eating what we grow should not only be a social obligation to our farmers but also a patriotic duty to our nation”.

In the past few weeks, various stakeholders have been championing the consumption of home-grown rice, especially as the festive season approaches.

Find below Mr Mahama’s full statement on Farmers Day:

I celebrate our gallant farmers and fishers across the country on the occasion of the 2019 National Farmers Day.

To all farmers – small-, medium- and large-scale – including backyard garden owners and investors in agro-processing and agri-business, I assure you of better years ahead.

Investment in agri-business is the new level that we need to grow and expand in order to enhance agricultural development and transformation.

We can generate greater interest in agriculture, especially among young Ghanaians, when they have the assurance of affordable credit facilities, ready purchase, improved pricing and value addition.

This can happen when we have, among others, agro-processing set-ups around the farm gates.

This is why I established the Ghana EXIM Bank to fast-track value addition, import substitution and diversification of the economy through the provision of funds for agriculture production and agro-processing.

We must ensure that the Ghana EXIM Bank scales up investments in the sector.

On the occasion of the 2019 National Farmers Day, let me also remind us all that we need to eat what we grow. Eating what we grow should not only be a social obligation to our farmers but also a patriotic duty to our nation.

Happy Farmers Day!