Mr Samuel Abiyaga from Bulsa Upper East Region, who won the National Lives Stock Farmer of the year, also got the second tractor donated by the Bank.  The Export Trade, Agricultural Investment Fund (EDAIF), Law was repealed, which led to the establishment of the EXIM Bank has been a key stake donor in supporting farmers and the celebration of farmer’s day over the years.

Dr Osei Baffour, the Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in an interview with GNA said, EDAIF started with a mandate on agriculture and agro processing, hence the need to reward farmers during the annual celebration.

Dr Baffour said the Bank would remain committed to its usual support to farmers and the agriculture sector. This year’s celebration was on the theme: “Agriculture; A Business Response to Economic Growth,” was in line with the promise of a mandate of EXIM Bank.

The CEO said there was a better and wider scope of support for farmers and other areas of its  mandate on entrepreneurial initiatives, technical as well as advisory services for farmers aimed at changing perceptions on farming.

In a related development, Dr Baffour said the EXIM Bank was not coming to compete with commercial banks but to fill those gaps that were left by commercial banks.  He said EXIM Bank could borrow from donors and other agencies that had interest in the businesses that they did.

This year’s farmer’s day marks the 32nd celebrations of Farmers day in the history of the country. President John Dramani Mahama encouraged farmers to practice farming as a business, saying “farming is a business and must be approached in a business manner”.

The President said Cabinet had approved the establishments of Farmers Service Centres to be done in all assemblies across Ghana beginning with 50 to provide services including ploughing, hallowing, and harvesting among others to farmers who needed supports.

He encouraged supporting agencies in agriculture to continue their support in collaboration with governments to help improve the countries agriculture challenges and also make Ghana an agriculture export country in the sub-region.

President Mahama said supporting agencies and programmes like EXIM has Sponsored Rice Project and the Rice Sector Support programme has helped increase rice production to more than  60 per cent.