The Government of Ghana is set to roll out 1,840 pieces of agricultural machinery across the country in what has been described as the largest single investment in farm mechanisation aimed at transforming the agricultural sector and improving food production.
Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, disclosed the ambitious plan while responding to questions at Parliament’s Government Assurance Committee, saying the equipment will be deployed through the government’s planned Farmer Service Centres to make mechanised farming accessible and affordable for farmers, particularly smallholder producers.
According to the Minister, the initiative forms a key pillar of the government’s Feed Ghana Programme, which seeks to increase agricultural productivity, improve food security and encourage commercial farming.
Also read: Dennis Miracles Aboagye granted GH¢50m bail in EOCO investigation
“About 80 percent of Ghana’s farmers are smallholder farmers. Most of them do not have the financial capacity to own or even rent modern farm equipment. Government is therefore investing heavily in mechanisation to bridge that gap,” Mr Opoku told Parliament.
Farm machinery
Mr Opoku revealed that government has completed the procurement process and is at the contract-signing stage for the supply of 1,840 agricultural machines, describing it as the biggest acquisition of farm equipment in Ghana’s history.
The consignment will include more than 400 tractors, ploughs, harrows, combined harvesters and several other specialised machines for cultivating and harvesting crops such as rice, maize and soya beans.
He noted that President John Dramani Mahama personally inspected the equipment during an official visit abroad, highlighting the government’s commitment to modernising agriculture.
Farmer Service Centres
The machinery will be stationed at Farmer Service Centres, which are currently under construction in selected agricultural districts across the country.
According to the Minister, the centres will allow farmers to access tractors and other machinery at affordable rates without having to purchase the equipment themselves.
He explained that farmers who are unable to make immediate payments will still be able to access the services and settle the cost after harvesting, a move expected to ease financial pressure on small-scale producers.
Government is also encouraging farmers to join cooperatives to improve access to mechanisation services and other
Beyond mechanisation, the Farmer Service Centres will serve as one-stop agricultural support hubs.
Each centre will provide: Agricultural extension services; fertiliser and input distribution; farmer registration and digital record management; storage and post-harvest support; and agro-processing facilities through private-sector partnerships.
The government, he said, has acquired 10 acres of land for each centre, with two acres earmarked for operational facilities. In contrast, the remaining land will accommodate agro-processing factories to add value to produce and reduce post-harvest losses.
Food security
Mr Opoku said the investment is expected to improve efficiency, reduce production costs and increase yields across major farming communities.
He added that the ministry has already distributed 1,500 bags of fertiliser to every constituency, while allocations to peasant farmers have increased from 15,000 bags last year to 40,000 bags this year.
The Minister expressed confidence that the mechanisation programme would accelerate Ghana’s transition from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture while creating jobs and strengthening national food security.