The government has unveiled plans to establish Farmer Services Centres across the country as part of a renewed push to modernise agriculture, reduce labour bottlenecks, and increase food production.
The initiative, announced by the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, will see at least 50 centres rolled out in the first phase to provide farmers with access to mechanised services and critical support systems.
Speaking at a sod-cutting ceremony for the first centre at Takoratwene in the Kwahu Afram Plains South District, Mr Opoku said the programme was designed to transform farming into a viable and sustainable economic activity while improving livelihoods.
He explained that the centres would ease farmers’ dependence on manual labour by offering machinery and technical services, ultimately enhancing productivity and efficiency across the agricultural value chain.
The move forms part of a broader government strategy to strengthen the sector through data-driven planning and targeted interventions. As part of this effort, farmers are being encouraged to register on the ‘Akuafo Anidaso’ platform to enable authorities to build a comprehensive database for fair and efficient distribution of services.
“We are collating data on every farmer into a centralized system… to ensure fair and efficient distribution of services,” the Minister stated.
In addition to mechanisation, the government is also investing in irrigation infrastructure to support all-year-round farming, particularly in the Afram Plains. Two irrigation projects are currently underway, including one at Kunadu expected to cover about 900 hectares of farmland within seven to nine months.
Authorities say the combined interventions are aimed not only at increasing production but also addressing long-standing challenges such as post-harvest losses and limited market access.
To strengthen value addition, the government is collaborating with a UK-based firm, African Golden Foods, to establish a processing factory in the area. The facility is expected to create a ready market for farmers by purchasing and processing their produce.
On food security concerns, particularly maize supply, Mr Opoku stressed that the government had not issued any import permits and would prioritise the purchase of locally produced maize.
He also addressed challenges in the poultry sector, revealing that President John Dramani Mahama had directed the inclusion of eggs in the School Feeding Programme to help absorb excess production and stabilise the market.
The Ministry says the integrated approach—combining mechanisation, irrigation, data systems, and market expansion—will significantly improve productivity and resilience within Ghana’s agricultural sector.
