President John Mahama is set to officially launch Farmer Service Centres across Ghana in August, an initiative aimed at modernizing agriculture and providing farmers with essential equipment and technology.
The announcement was made by Eric Opoku, Minister of Food and Agriculture, during an engagement with farmers and media practitioners in Kumasi, Ashanti Region. He revealed that the design and operational plans for the centres have been finalized, paving the way for their implementation.
According to Opoku, the initiative will ensure that every agricultural district has a fully equipped centre, offering farmers access to machines, inputs, and the latest farming technologies to enhance food production. The centres will serve as one-stop hubs for agricultural support, aligning with the Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)
International Collaboration and Infrastructure Development
To ensure the success of the initiative, Ghana has engaged with Brazil and Belarus to study best practices for agricultural support. A team from Belarus has already visited Ghana to test soil conditions and design specialized tractors suited for the country’s climate.
Additionally, the government is working on irrigation infrastructure, with €47 million in funding from the EU and the French government to construct new dams, rehabilitate existing ones, and install solar-powered boreholes to support farmers.
Opoku emphasized the importance of irrigation, stating that although 1.9 million hectares of land could be put under irrigation, only 226,000 hectares currently have irrigation facilities. He noted that 27 communities in the Ashanti Region have been earmarked for irrigation projects to enable farmers to engage in year-round farming
A Campaign Promise Fulfilled
The establishment of Farmer Service Centres was one of Mahama’s campaign promises during the 2024 elections. The initiative is expected to transform Ghana’s agricultural sector, ensuring farmers have the necessary resources to increase productivity and improve food security.
Speaking on the initiative, Opoku stated, “As a government, we will offer the required support to farmers to shore up the agricultural sector”
With the unveiling set for August, farmers across Ghana eagerly anticipate the positive impact these centres will have on their livelihoods and the nation’s food security.
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