BY VALENTIA TETTEH
The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, says the government has begun constructing 50 Farmer Service Centres across the country to improve mechanisation and modernise agricultural production.
Appearing before Parliament’s Assurance Committee on Thursday, July 9, Mr. Opoku said contractors are already on site in selected districts, with some centres expected to become operational early next year.
“Sod-cutting has been performed, and as we speak, contractors are on site executing the projects. If we are unable to complete a number of them by December, some of them will become operational early next year,” he told the Committee.
The Minister explained that the centres will provide tractors, combine harvesters, silos, storage facilities, farm inputs and extension services to farmers.
He disclosed that the government has concluded negotiations to procure 1,840 pieces of agricultural equipment, including more than 400 tractors, as part of the first phase of the project.
“The President himself visited Belarus because he is deeply interested in this initiative. We have settled on 1,840 pieces of equipment, the largest agricultural equipment acquisition in Ghana’s history,” he said.
According to Mr. Opoku, each centre will occupy 10 acres, with two acres designated for the service facility while the remaining land will accommodate private agro-processing industries.
He said farmers would be able to access mechanisation services even if they could not pay immediately.
“Even if you do not have the money, you can use the tractors and settle the cost after harvest,” he explained.