The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has disclosed that the government has commenced construction of 50 Farmer Service Centres across the country as part of efforts to modernise agriculture, improve mechanisation and increase food production under the Feed Ghana Programme.
The Minister described the initiative as one of the most important components of the government’s agricultural transformation agenda, stressing that the centres will provide critical support to the country’s predominantly smallholder farmers.
Speaking during Parliament’s Government Assurance Committee sitting last Thursday, he indicated that about 80 percent of Ghana’s farmers are smallholders, many of whom lack the financial capacity to purchase or hire modern agricultural machinery.
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“We are encouraging commercial farming through mechanisation, but since many smallholder farmers cannot afford farm equipment, government has decided to establish Farmer Service Centres in agricultural districts across the country,” he said.
The sitting of the Committee, chaired by the MP for Bimbilla and former Minister for Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, was intended to assess the extent to which pledges and promises made by ministers on the floor of Parliament during question time had been fulfilled.
Mr Opoku disclosed that contractors have already moved to project sites for the farmer service centres following the release of funds through the Common Fund, with construction progressing steadily.
He said inspections conducted during a recent visit to the Afram Plains confirmed that work is advancing according to schedule, adding that while some projects may not be completed by December, several centres are expected to become operational early next year.
1,840 farm equipment
The Minister revealed that government has concluded the procurement process for 1,840 pieces of agricultural equipment, the largest single acquisition of farm machinery in Ghana’s history.
The equipment package includes more than 400 tractors, ploughs, harrows, combined harvesters and other essential machinery for crops including rice and soya beans.
He noted that President John Dramani Mahama personally participated in the inspection of the equipment abroad, underscoring the government’s commitment to transforming the agricultural sector.
Processing facilities
Beyond mechanisation, Mr Opoku explained that each Farmer Service Centre will sit on 10 acres of land, with two acres allocated for the operational facility and the remaining eight acres reserved for private investment in agro-processing.
The processing plants, he said, will enable farmers to process, store and add value to their produce closer to farming communities, reducing post-harvest losses and improving incomes.
According to the Minister, all farmers using the centres will be registered in a digital database, allowing authorities to determine farm sizes and distribute inputs more efficiently.
The centres will also house agricultural extension officers who will provide technical advice and other support services to farmers.
Mr Opoku encouraged farmers to join cooperatives, saying organised groups would enjoy easier access to mechanisation services and flexible payment arrangements.
He disclosed that the ministry is piloting a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model with a private investor for the construction and management of a Farmer Service Centre in one district before considering nationwide implementation.
He expressed confidence that the initiative would significantly improve agricultural productivity, strengthen food security and accelerate the country’s transition towards commercial agriculture.