This followed observations by agriculturalists that some farming communities adopt wrong application of agricultural inputs in crop production, thereby posing health risks to consumers.

Consequently, the Development Actions Association, (DAA) a network of rural women farmer groups, organised a farmers’ rally here at Konko, near Tinkong, in the Akuapim North District of the Eastern Region on Friday, to educate the farmers on safe agricultural practices to ensure sustainable food production.

The event, which took the form of speeches, exhibition, and role play on both the  safe and bad  input applications, was attended by rural farmer groups spread cross  the Greater Accra  and Eastern regions.

It was organised on the theme “Say No to bad food: My role,” as  part of activities marking this year’s World Rural Women’s Day, an international  day set aside to recognise the role of women in the agricultural value chain  observed worldwide on October 15.

It formed part of the USAID- sponsored project to ensure sustainable fisheries and food production in Ghana and the event.

Addressing the farmers, Lydia Akuetey, the Akuapim South District Director of Food and Agriculture, advised the farmers to desist from colouring their gari and adopt best practices in processing their “agbelema” (corn dough) to make it safe for the consumption.

She also advised the farmers to keep away their agricultural inputs from their children, to avoid them coming into contact with it that would create health risk to them.

Mrs. Akuetey urged the farmers to ensure they provide a balanced diet containing all the essential nutrients to enable their children grow well and be healthy to help in national development.

For her part, Mrs Ophelia Oku, told the farmers that people depended on them for their source of food and urged them to protect public health by adopting safe methods in food production and processing.

Madam Sara Aryee, the DAA Vice President -elect in charge of Crops said the association would continue to dialogue with policymakers to highlight the issues affecting the agricultural sector and to find solutions to  help alleviate the plight of  rural farmers.

The District Chief Executive for Akuapim North, Opare Addo, in a speech read for him recognised the role of women in both the formal and informal sectors of the economy, stressing  that the government was committed  to empowering  them to contribute to the economic development.

Nana Asamoah Chartey, Amerhi Odikro, who chaired the function commended women for ensuring food security and urged them to adhere to best practices for continuous safe food production.

The Executive Director of DAA, Madam Lydia, underscored the role of DAA in mobilising and assisting rural women farmer groups in agricultural value chain toward sustainable food production in Ghana.

From Salifu Abdul-Rahaman, Konko