The 2026 National Farmers’ Day, which is set aside to reward outstanding farmers and fishers across the country, has been launched in Accra.
The 42nd edition will be held in Sunyani, the capital of the Bono Region, on Friday, December 4, this year.
On the theme: "Our Farmers, our Food, our Future," key activities for the celebration will include a national agricultural fair, national farmers forum, innovation and research exhibitions, regional showcase events and the National Awards Ceremony.
Weeklong activities
The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, announced that the week-long activities would begin on November 29 with the arrival and medical screening of national award winners, followed by the official opening of the National Agricultural Fair on November 30.
He said the fair would provide a platform for agribusinesses, researchers, financial institutions and farmer-based organisations to showcase innovations, technologies and investment opportunities in the agriculture sector.
He said a National Farmers Forum would be held on December 3 to bring together farmers, policymakers, financial institutions, private sector actors and development partners to discuss challenges confronting the sector and improve farmers' welfare.
The celebration will climax on December 4 with a grand durbar and the National Awards Ceremony to honour outstanding farmers and other key contributors to Ghana's agricultural development.
Support
The minister urged corporate organisations, financial institutions, development partners and the media to support the celebration through sponsorships and strategic partnerships to ensure a successful event.
He stated that recognising farmers was a shared national responsibility because their contributions remained critical to the country's food security and economic growth.
"This year's theme, ‘Our Farmers, Our Food, Our Future,' must not end as a slogan. It must become a national attitude. It must become a call to action," he stressed.
He said the nation should honour its farmers by supporting local production and consumption,
"A country that honours its farmers honours its future," he added.
Readiness to host
The Bono Regional Minister, Joseph Addae Akwaboa, said the region was fully prepared to host a memorable National Farmers' Day celebration that would reflect the importance of agriculture to Ghana's economic development.
He said the region had accepted the responsibility with gratitude, humility and a firm commitment to deliver a celebration worthy of the nation's farmers.
"We receive this responsibility with gratitude, humility and a firm commitment to deliver a celebration worthy of our farmers and our nation," he said.
He explained that the Bono Region had consistently contributed to Ghana's food security through the production of food crops, cocoa, cashew, poultry, livestock, maize and yam across its municipalities and districts.
He added that hosting the National Farmers' Day for the first time since the creation of the Bono Region was a historic milestone that underscored the region's growing role in national agricultural development.
Deeper collaborations
The Chief Director of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD), Dr Afisah Zakariah, said farmers, fishers, fish processors, fish farmers, canoe owners and other actors along the agricultural and fisheries value chains continued to play a vital role in ensuring food security, creating jobs and driving national economic growth.
She explained that deeper collaboration among the government, farmers, fishers, the private sector, researchers, development partners and local communities was necessary to promote innovation, sustainability and responsible resource management in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.
She said the ministry was ready to work with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and other stakeholders to ensure a successful National Farmers' Day celebration, while congratulating prospective award winners and urging farmers and fishers to remain committed to supporting Ghana's development.
