<<Print>>

The 2009 National Best Farmers awards have been held with a call by the President to all those in the Agricultural sector to uphold their worthy services they are offering the nation and always have it at the back of their mind that his government will give the necessary assistance within its capacity to help in achieving the country�s goals. Speaking at the Jubilee Park in Tamale where the event was held, he also made a passionate call on all officers in charge of the school feeding programme to make it an effort to make cocoa products available to school children where it is possible. �I advise those in charge of the school feeding programme that where it is possible each child must be given a drink of cocoa everyday together with the meal. I will therefore charge the cocoa captains to ensure that we increase local consumption of cocoa products.� he stated. However, President Mills added that Agricultural could not succeed unless as a country we recognized the valuable contribution our farmers and fisherman made to the development of the nation. Due to this, he urged farmers especially cocoa farmers and processors to improve their marketing strategies by giving dispensers to vendors so that they will be able sell cold and hot chocolate to Ghanaians. He further stated that, his government took pride in Agriculture and for that matter our farmers, as a nation that could not feed itself was a nation in distress .This he said was revealed by the recent budget read in parliament which showed clearly that we are prepared to support our farmers inspite of the rising cost of agricultural inputs. �Atta Mills government is serious about agric because agric is the pivot around which our economic plan will revolve and everybody can attest to the fact that we have already embarked on a course which is going to ensure success to us�, he said. Meanwhile, he disclosed that he has been reliably informed that a special truck is being imported to carry fingerlings from the places of production to our fish ponds to boost our fish production as this is also a visible indication that as country, we are on the right path and moving forward but in the right direction. Prof Mills pleaded to all that there was great need to appreciate whatever anyone had to offer to contribute his or her quota to the development of the nation as being discriminate will bring division in our works. He used the occasion to congratulate the sector minister, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, for recognizing the good works done by the past Agricultural minister who were all commended in the awards ceremony. �My brothers and sisters, this is to underscore the fact that governments come and go, and when it is your turn, you do what you can then you leave for others to follow. This recognition given to them is ample testimony of the level of appreciation that we have for the contributions that they have made. Give credit where it is due. That is the only way that people who have the necessary impetus, the necessary fillip will contribute to the development of their dear nation.� he added. �Atta Mills government will give you every assistance because we know that agric carries great potentials for the development and progress of our dear nation�he assured all.