Reward peasant farmers – Mornah

General Secretary of the Peoples National Convention (PNC), Bernard Mornah is championing a crusade which is aimed at recognizing the contribution of peasant farmers to the country’s food security.

Mr. Mornah bemoaned the situation whereby farmers who are engaged in large-scale cultivation of crops, livestock and aquaculture, are recognized and awarded every year at the detriment of small-scale farmers.

The country marked the 30th National Farmers Day at Sefwi Wiawso in the Western Region, and 75 farmers were awarded at the ceremony.

Mr. George Asamoah-Amankwah, who emerged the 2014 National Best Farmer received a $100,000 three-bedroom house donated by the ADB Bank, to be sited at a place of his choice.

He has among others, 129 acres of maize, 600 hectares of tree plantation, 20 acres of pepper and okro farms, plantain intercrop of 6000 acres, 25,000 mounds of yam, 20 acres of oil palm, 147 cattle and three fish ponds with catfish and tilapia.

Speaking on Radio Gold’s current affairs programme, Alhaji and Alhaji on Saturday, Bernard Mornah downplayed the significance of the award to the National Best Farmer who, in his view, has the wealth to acquire the award.

According to the PNC General Secretary, small-scale farmers deserve recognition for their contribution towards the country’s food security.

He believes peasant farmers should also be awarded as a way of boosting their morale to cultivate more to feed the nation.

The peasant farmers, he observed, require low-interest loans, fertilizers, tractors, ploughs and other farming equipment in order to increase yield.

The PNC General Secretary is optimistic the country will be able to produce more to feed its citizenry and have surplus for export if peasant farmers are assisted and motivated.