Deputy Minister for Fisheries and Aqua Culture, Moses Anim, has called on well-meaning stakeholders to support farmers across the country ahead of the farmers day celebration nationwide.
Speaking at the commencement of the farmers day celebration week, he averred that in the midst of COVID when outdoor activities became a bit dangerous, the farmers and fisher folks in the midst of all that ignored the situation to feed the nation.
“Most importantly, this is one of the good times to celebrate these farmers and celebrate them more than before. From this we can say that we are not going hungry. You get your plantain; you get your fish and everything that you need. We need to show appreciation and recognize them the more. For now, we all know it [COVID] hasn’t ended and we don’t know if its going to be more ravaging or not”.
Moses Anim
Mr. Anim averred that since the nation doesn’t know what the COVID-19 virus has in store, this is the time to be encouraging the farmers and fisher folks to have the confidence of support from the country. He stated that despite the fact that farmers go risking their lives to feed the nation, they must have the nation’s full support.
“So, we implore everybody to come on board, sponsorship and all that because these are people who have done so much for the country. We even have to do more for our farmers and fisher folks than before”.
Moses Anim
Ministry ensuring fish farmers are motivated
Touching on fishing in the country, he averred that fish has become one of the top most commodities on the market and due to that the ministry is doing all it can to motivate the fish farmers involved.
“You know what fish does and we have developed the taste for fish. The west coast here, we have the highest per capita consumption that is 20-25 kilograms per anum. We have demonstrated fish to be one of the healthiest protein sources and therefore we need to do everything possible to motivate our fisher folks”.
Moses Anim
The deputy minister for Fisheries and Aqua Culture mentioned that government implemented the aqua culture in order to augment the depletion of the marine and also provide a source of livelihood. He posited that government wants the youth as well to participate in the farming activities.
“With planting for food and jobs, we piloted it in 2019 and now we are blowing it throughout the whole region as I speak. We’ve supported 180 ponds so far giving free fish feeds and also the needed things to support aqua culture”.
Moses Anim
Speaking on food security, he disclosed that previous situations have taught the nation the importance of food security and lauded the farmers for ensuring that the nation is always secured.
“Food security doesn’t mean feed yourself the entire year and forget posterity. Food security doesn’t mean that see to the day-to-day feeding of the individual at the detriment of the future. And it’s on that basis that we need to celebrate our fisher folks. At the end of the day, it is food that gives you strength and they have done so much”.
Moses Anim
