President John Dramani Mahama has cut the sod for the construction of Ghana’s first Farmer Services Centre at Takoratwene in the Kwahu Afram Plains South District of the Eastern Region.
The initiative forms part of government efforts to boost agricultural productivity and strengthen food security nationwide.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Mahama announced plans to establish 50 Farmer Services Centres across Ghana’s major farming ecological zones.
“We are starting with 11 of these centres this year,” he revealed, describing the programme as a strategic national investment in agriculture.
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“This marks the beginning of a practical step towards building a more modern, productive, and resilient agricultural economy,” he stated.
The Farmer Services Centre is designed as an integrated facility providing a wide range of services to farmers within its catchment area.
These include:
- Mechanisation services for land preparation, harvesting, and processing
- Supply of inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, and agrochemicals
- Extension and advisory services
- Storage and post-harvest handling
- Market linkages and farmer training
The President explained that the centres would function as “one-stop service points” to improve efficiency and productivity in the sector.
President Mahama acknowledged the persistent challenges faced by farmers, including limited mechanisation, poor storage facilities, weak extension services, and inadequate market access.
“For far too long, many of our farmers have worked under very challenging conditions,” he said.
He stressed that transforming Ghana’s economy requires a deliberate focus on modernising agriculture.
“If we are committed to transforming Ghana’s economy, then we must be equally serious about transforming our agriculture.”
The President explained that the selection of Afram Plains for the first Centre was strategic due to its vast agricultural potential.
“The District is endowed with vast arable lands… strong potential for maize, rice, soybean and livestock production,” he noted.
He added that the area’s water resources and active farming population make it a critical agricultural growth corridor.
The Centre, to be built on approximately 12 acres of land, is expected to improve access to farm services, reduce post-harvest losses, and increase output.
“It will also create jobs, particularly for our youth. This is how we transform agriculture through practical, targeted investments,” President Mahama said.
As part of the broader initiative, the President announced a free fertilizer package for farmers to further support production.
He also revealed infrastructure plans, including:
- Construction of a bridge over the River Afram at Etse-Amanfrom
Development of the Adawso–Agordeke road - These projects are expected to improve connectivity and facilitate the movement of agricultural produce.
The Farmer Services Centre programme is a flagship initiative of the government’s broader agenda to transition Ghana’s agriculture from subsistence farming to a modern, commercial, and competitive sector.
The move signals renewed commitment to empowering farmers, enhancing productivity, and ensuring long-term food security for the country.