Growers Ask Ghana’s Government for Tractors

Farmers in the northern, upper east and upper west regions of Ghana are concerned that the country’s production might be decreased due to inefficient harvesting technology. As a result, the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) of the Trades Union Congress has beseeched government officials to provide tractor services to the farmers, or work with the cotton companies to discuss ways they can meet the expected production targets.

The issue came up during a workshop held in Tamale to educate cotton farmers about ways they can influence public policy, foster better group dynamics, and organize themselves to provide networking opportunities and increased productivity.

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Karim Saagbul, program officer of GAWU, said that while the government had taken steps to provide cotton growers with tractors, there aren’t enough of them–and the few that have been provided are located at agricultural mechanization centers, where only few farmers are able to use them.

He also said that, as part of government officials’ efforts to increase the country’s production, northern Ghana had been divided into three distinct regions, with each being developed by one of three cotton companies: Armajaro, Wienco and Olam.

Abdul-Rahman Mohammed, national president of GAWU’s Cotton Farmers Division, said that harvesting in all three zones is hampered by the lack of tractors, and petitioned the government to act quickly, emphasizing that cotton cultivation usually begins in June, and that delays beyond that time could negatively affect the crop yield.

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