The Ghanaian government plans to roll out 50 Farmer Service Centres in various districts during the initial year of its Feed Ghana program. This is part of the Agriculture for Economic Transformation agenda. According to Mr. Peter Nuhu, Coordinator of the Farmer Service Centres, these facilities will increase gradually to achieve coverage in all districts by the end of 2028.
Mr. Nuhu, speaking in Bolgatanga, explained that regional representation and historical agricultural data were key in selecting the initial districts. "In the Upper East Region, for instance, the top two or three agriculturally productive districts will be selected first to benefit from this pilot," he said.
The Farmer Service Centres are designed as hubs for farming services, offering mechanisation, inputs, support, credit, and market linkages. The pilot scheme prioritizes regions with historical agricultural performance.
The initiative seeks to boost productivity, job creation, and deter input smuggling. While large-scale farms may not need cooperative affiliation, the focus remains on aiding smallholder farmers by providing resources and deterring issues like input smuggling, as seen in previous projects. "In the past, we supported individual farmers and could not trace them. Fertilisers and other inputs ended up in neighbouring countries like Burkina Faso," he stated.
Mr. Nuhu emphasized efficient deployment of inputs, such as tractors, under this cooperative model to ensure effective resource use.
Source: GBN
