According to the World Bank, Agriculture accounts for 4% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In Ghana. The agricultural wealth which accounts for about 20% of GDP contributes considerably to the socio-economic development of Ghana.
The agricultural sector is usually divided into 4 subsectors, which are crops (including cocoa), livestock, forestry, and logging & fishing. Ghana's agricultural land is estimated at 13.5 million hectares of which only about 50% is currently under cultivation and 222,978 hectares of land are under irrigation (out of an estimated 6.4 million hectares of cultivated area). It is the primary source of employment, livelihood, and food security for the majority of people living in rural areas.
Currently, Ghana is the second largest producer of Cocoa in the world. The country produces about 883,652 tons annually. The sector employs about 52 % of the labor force. So, the impact of farming in Ghana cannot be over-emphasized. The country celebrates National Farmers’ Day every year to honor farmers. The day is declared a statutory public holiday and it falls on the first Friday in December.
Under the auspices of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the 38th National Farmers’ Day Celebration is scheduled for Friday, December 2, 2022, under the theme “Accelerating Agricultural Development Through Value Addition”. The ministry holds the view that the concept of value addition in agriculture especially fisheries and aquaculture present a good opportunity for additional revenue generation, job creation, foreign exchange earnings, and effective post-harvest management.
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture’s mandate is to promote sustainable agriculture and thriving agribusiness through research and technology development, effective extension, and other support services to farmers, processors, and traders for improved livelihood.
In Ghana, most of our beneficiary communities are farming communities. In the Ashanti region, communities like Kumi and Boahenkwa are predominantly crop farmers. They are into the cultivation of cocoa, maize, plantain, cassava, and so on. Island communities in the Greater Accra region such as Aflive, Alorkpiem, and Adjim are all fisherfolks. We continue our mandate to reach out to more communities without electricity with clean potable water. Easy Water for Everyone wishes all farmers A happy Farmers’ Day.
