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Government to set up Farmers’ Service Centers nationwide

One of the major challenges faced by Ghanaian farmers is the poor or lack of access to markets where they can sell their products at competitive prices. One of the major challenges faced by Ghanaian farmers is the poor or lack of access to markets where they can sell their products at competitive prices.

Other challenges faced by the farmers include the financial constraints, the use of outmoded technology amongst others.
To address such issues President John Dramani Mahama has indicated that his government has decided to set up what they are calling Farmers’ Service Centers.
The government plans to establish the first one by the end of 2016, President Mahama said on Radio Savannah in the Northern Region.
He explained that the first phase will see the opening of 50 of such centers.
Mahama said the farmers within the catchment area will be registered by the center.
The services to be provided by the center include the provision of fertilisers, improved seeds, pesticides, agricultural extension advice and mechanisation advice.
“They will plough for them, they will harrow for them, if it’s rice they will harvest for them, each center is going to have ten tractors, two harvesters, threshers, everything that the farmer needs,” Mahama said.
The service will also connect farmers to markets through the country.
When all these services are provided the farmers will also have loan facilities available from the center.
“It will even be a micro-finance center and so if a farmer needs 200gh he will go to his center and borrow it. When he harvests his crops he can pay the center back”.
The president described the setting up of the centers as “a huge revolution in agric” because for him a dedicated center to farmers is long overdue.
Farmers in Ghana over the years, have received support from the government in various forms, but most of them have not yielded much results. President Mahama was hopeful this new intervention will yield much results for both farmers and consumers.

Source: pulse.com.gh/

 

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