President-elect John Mahama has pledged to address the struggles of farmers across Ghana, drawing from personal experience on his Savannah region farm.
During his visit, Mahama outlined his vision to tackle the systemic issues that hinder agricultural productivity, including the lack of irrigation, poor access to spare parts for machinery, and inadequate support services.
“One of the major problems we faced this year was the drought,” he said.
“The rains stopped after we planted, and after germination, the crops—maize and soybean—struggled to take root.
“This is why we’re transitioning to irrigation. We’ve drilled five boreholes, and by next year, we’ll install a pivot system to ensure we can grow two crops a year instead of one.”
Mahama stressed the need for modern agricultural practices and support systems.
“We need to standardise equipment and ensure anyone selling agricultural machinery in Ghana offers after-sales services.
“Right now, one of my combine harvesters is down, and I can’t get the parts locally. If we wait for parts to come from abroad, bushfires will destroy the crops,” he lamented.
Calling for the establishment of farmer service centres, Mahama proposed a system where specialized agencies handle machinery operations and repairs.
“Farmers should focus on farming. My headache today shouldn’t be about fixing a harvester. My job is to procure seeds, fertilizers, and grow crops,” he emphasized.
Reflecting on the broader challenges faced by farmers, Mahama expressed his determination to make agriculture more sustainable and rewarding.
“Agriculture is not just an economic activity; it’s the backbone of our nation. As president, I will ensure that farmers have the tools, infrastructure, and support they need to thrive.”
