Olam Agri donates GH¢100,000 towards 42nd Farmers’ Day celebration

Olam Agri Ghana has donated GH¢100,000 towards the organisation of the 42nd National Farmers’ Day celebration scheduled to take place in Sunyani, the Bono Regional capital, on December 4, 2026.

The donation was presented to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) in Accra on Monday, September 28, as part of efforts to support the annual celebration and honour farmers for their contribution to Ghana’s economy and food security.

Presenting the donation, Country Head of Olam Agri Ghana, Bhaibhav Biswas, said the company considered it a privilege to support an event that recognises the contribution of farmers to national development.

He described farmers as the backbone of the economy, noting that their work was critical to food security and reducing the country’s dependence on imports. “Less production means more importation. I think that should be the mantra for good economy,” he said.

Mr Biswas said Olam Agri had worked with farmers in Ghana for many years, supporting them with initiatives aimed at improving yields, access to fertiliser, efficiency, processing and distribution.

He said the company, which has operated in Ghana for about 35 years, was involved in businesses including cocoa, cashew, rice, flour processing, pasta, tomato paste and biscuit production.

“We respect them. We honour what they’re doing, and we are truly very happy to be part of this celebration,” he said.

Receiving the donation on behalf of the government and Ghanaian farmers, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, expressed gratitude to Olam Agri and other partners supporting the celebration.

The Minister said Farmers’ Day was an important occasion to recognise the farmers whose labour sustained the country and contributed to food production and exports.

He said the Ministry expected all donations towards the celebration to directly benefit farmers and pledged that a public account would be provided for contributions received.

The Minister said the 2026 celebration was particularly significant following the challenges faced by farmers in 2024, including the Akosombo spillage and drought in northern Ghana, which resulted in the loss of farms and livelihoods.

He said measures under the government’s Feed Ghana Programme had since contributed to increased production of some major crops.

According to him, Ghana produced more than 4.6 million tonnes of maize in 2025, compared with a national demand of about 3.6 million tonnes.

He, however, noted that increased production could negatively affect farmers when there were inadequate processing and off-taking arrangements, resulting in lower farm-gate prices.

The Minister said the government had therefore introduced measures to make farming a more attractive and profitable enterprise, particularly for young people.

He disclosed that the 2026 National Best Farmer would receive a cash prize of GH¢1.2 million to support the construction of a three-bedroom house, in addition to a new four-wheel-drive pickup, a tractor with accessories and agricultural inputs.

The National Best Farmer and spouse would also be sponsored on a seven-day agricultural exposure trip to Italy, he added.

The Minister urged Olam Agri to participate in the Farmers’ Day celebration in Sunyani by exhibiting its products and showcasing its contribution to Ghana’s agricultural sector.

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