Farmers’ Service Centres to Tackle Low Productivity in Ghana
Deputy Feed Ghana Coordinator in charge of the Farmers’ Services Centre Initiative, Peter Nuhu, has highlighted deep-rooted challenges in Ghana’s agricultural sector, stressing that low productivity remains a major concern despite the sector’s importance to the national economy.
In an interview, Nuhu noted that inadequate access to inputs and mechanisation continues to limit output across the country. “Mainly in Ghana, we have our agricultural sector, though it is the most important when it comes to the economy, has been bedevilled with a couple of challenges,” he said.
He explained that yields in Ghana remain far below potential, citing a significant gap when compared to neighbouring countries. “In Ghana, we are doing an average of around four metric tons per hectare. The potential is about 40 metric tons,” he stated. “You go to our neighbours, Burkina Faso, and they are doing probably close to 20 metric tons per hectare, and you are doing four.”
According to Nuhu, this gap underscores the urgent need to bring critical services closer to farmers through the establishment of Farmers’ Services Centres, a key component of the National Democratic Congress manifesto.
He outlined that the centres will provide comprehensive mechanisation services. “When we say mechanisation services, we are looking at a centre where you can go to and if you need a tractor to go and plough and harrow your land, you can have it,” he said. “If you need a planter to plant your crop, you can have it… if you need a harvester to harvest, you can harvest.”
Beyond equipment, the centres will also ensure access to essential inputs. “You go to the centre and you want seeds to buy or to take on credit for your farm, you should be able to get it. You want fertiliser, you should go to get it,” he added.
Nuhu further revealed that extension and training services will be central to the initiative. “We will be attaching to each centre some extension officers… somebody will be there to guide you,” he said, noting that farmers will receive ongoing training to improve productivity and farming practices nationwide.
