The Deputy Managing Director of the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), Mr. Alhassan Yakubu-Tali has reaffirmed ADB’s commitment towards the successful organization of the 2019 National Farmers’ Day Celebration.
The 35th edition comes off on Friday December 6, 2019 at Ho in the Volta Region.
Making a donation as the lead sponsor of the National Best Farmers’ Award, Mr. Alhassan Yakubu-Tali said the bank’s association and continuous sponsorship of the Welcome Cocktail, the Farmers’ Forum and also the Ultimate Prize were all targeted at attracting more people into agriculture.
“The sponsorship package by ADB for the past 35 editions remains the topmost award for our farmers and has also served as an incentive for our gallant farmers and fishermen to aim at the ultimate prize,” he said.
The bank presented a sponsorship cheque for five hundred and thirty six thousand Ghana cedis (GHS536,000.00), the cedi equivalent of (US$100,000.00) one hundred thousand US dollars to the Minister of State at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture & Chairman of the Planning Committee, Hon. Dr. Gyiele Nurah as the prize for the 2019 National Best farmer.
Mr. Yakubu-Tali said the sponsorship was a further indication of the bank’s desire to remain focused on its founding mandate to provide financial intermediation to players within the agricultural sector.
“On behalf of the Board and Management of ADB, I wish to inform the general public that since 2018, the bank has refocused and highlighted our agricultural financing strategy to encompass the complete Agricultural Value Chain,” he said.
The Deputy Managing Director further indicated that the bank hitherto provided past national best farmers with a fully furnished three bed room house at places of their choice but indicated that following strong advocacy and presentations by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and past National Best Farmers in 2017, a decision was taken to change the ultimate prize from a three bedroom house into a cash prize.
“The cash prize is to enable the award winner invest the cash award to expand their businesses and provide additional employment. So far the 2017 and 2018 best farmers have prudently utilized their prize monies in that direction.
The new initiative has yielded good results and we are hopeful it will continue since both the 2017 and 2018 winners have all employed more people and also expanded their various agribusinesses’, Mr. Yakubu Tali said.
Receiving the sponsorship on behalf of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Minister of State & Chairman of the Planning Committee, Hon. Dr. Gyiele Nurah commended the bank for its commitment to the National Farmers Day Celebration.
He said ADB’s commitment towards all 35 editions of the National farmers Day celebration by being the lead sponsor of the ultimate prize is a clear indication that the bank indeed has the welfare of Ghanaian farmers at heart.
Source: Ghana/starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Leticia Ohene-Asiedu