Satirical Look at Farmers' Day in The Republic of Hoe & Cutlass

Farmers’ Day celebrations in Ghana have become largely symbolic, failing to address the real needs of the country’s agricultural workforce, according to Anane Boateng, President of the Ghana National Cocoa Farmers Association.

Mr. Boateng stated that farmers are consistently excluded from the planning stages of the annual event meant to honour them. “We are the reason for the party, but nobody invites us to plan the party,” he remarked, highlighting the disconnect between the celebration and the lived realities of those it intends to recognize.

He further lamented that promises made to farmers often amount to little more than political rhetoric. “Most promises made to farmers are mere political talk,” he said, adding in a distinctly Ghanaian expression, “The promises are so hollow that even an empty sack is jealous.”

The critique comes as Farmers’ Day, initially established in 1985 during a period of national hardship, has evolved into a spectacle of tractors, speeches, and awards – often including items like refrigerators that exceed the value of a farmer’s home. The current approach, Mr. Boateng suggests, prioritizes optics over genuine support.

He pointed to the irony of Ghana being a major cocoa producer while its farmers struggle to afford the chocolate they help create. Agricultural policies, he noted, frequently launch with fanfare but quickly fade, much like subsidized fertilizer during election cycles.

The situation is compounded by challenges such as poor road infrastructure, unreliable weighing scales, fertilizer shortages, the activities of land guards, and a lack of effective irrigation systems. These issues, Mr. Boateng implied, contribute to a cycle of poverty for many small-scale farmers.

He proposed a reimagined Farmers’ Day where farmers themselves lead the planning, awards are based on actual needs, and tangible improvements are made to infrastructure and support systems. “Farmers—not politicians—would plan the celebration,” he asserted. “Roads would be farmable, not philosophical questions.”

Mr. Boateng’s call for a more meaningful Farmers’ Day underscores a broader need for Ghana to move beyond symbolic gestures and prioritize the voices and well-being of its agricultural community. He believes Ghana needs “louder farmers” rather than louder celebrations.

Image Source: MYJOYONLINE