Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has announced a transformative initiative aimed at revolutionizing Ghana’s agricultural sector by establishing a mechanisation centre in every district across the country. Speaking at a campaign rally in Juapong, Volta Region, Bawumia outlined his vision to prioritize the needs of farmers if elected as president in the upcoming December 7 polls.
The initiative, he stressed, would provide much-needed support and resources for farmers, enabling them to scale up their operations and significantly boost agricultural productivity. According to Bawumia, the establishment of district mechanisation centres will serve as a key pillar of his administration’s efforts to address the long-standing challenges facing farmers in Ghana.
Dr. Bawumia pointed out that the agriculture sector plays a crucial role in the nation’s economy, providing employment for millions of Ghanaians. Despite its significance, farmers continue to face various difficulties, including limited access to essential farming equipment, inadequate irrigation systems, and unreliable weather patterns. These issues, he noted, have hindered the full potential of the agricultural sector, which he is determined to change.
“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy,” Bawumia remarked to the crowd. “Millions of Ghanaians depend on farming for their livelihoods, and yet, our farmers are still struggling with many challenges. These challenges have gone on for far too long, and it’s time to provide real solutions.”
The NPP flagbearer emphasized that one of the major problems farmers face is the lack of access to mechanised farming equipment, such as tractors, planters, combined harvesters, and other essential tools needed for modern farming. Many farmers, especially those in rural areas, rely on outdated manual tools, making it difficult to cultivate large areas of land efficiently. Bawumia pledged to resolve this issue by ensuring that every district in the country has a fully equipped mechanisation centre where farmers can access the tools they need to improve their productivity.
“I am going to set up a district mechanisation centre in every district in Ghana,” Bawumia declared. “Our farmers will have access to the equipment they need to farm. They need tractors, they need combined harvesters, they need planters, and we will make sure they have them. This is how we are going to transform agriculture in Ghana.”
In addition to mechanisation, Bawumia also highlighted the importance of irrigation systems in modernising agriculture and making it more resilient to climate change. He pointed out that a significant number of Ghanaian farmers depend heavily on rainfall to grow their crops, which makes their work highly vulnerable to inconsistent weather patterns, droughts, and the growing threat of climate change.
“Many of our farmers rely on rain to water their crops, and this makes farming very risky, especially with the changing weather patterns we are experiencing,” Bawumia explained. “We cannot allow our farmers to continue depending on rainfall. We need to invest in irrigation systems so that they can farm year-round, no matter the season.”
Bawumia promised to prioritise the development of irrigation infrastructure if elected, ensuring that farmers can continue to cultivate their crops throughout the year, even during the dry season. He argued that this investment would not only increase agricultural productivity but also help stabilize food supply and prices across the country, contributing to overall food security.
“We need to move away from rain-fed agriculture and focus on providing our farmers with reliable irrigation systems,” Bawumia stated. “This will allow them to grow more food, improve their incomes, and reduce the risks associated with climate change.”
In his speech, Bawumia reiterated his commitment to focusing on agriculture as a key driver of economic growth in Ghana. He acknowledged that while various sectors of the economy, such as industry and services, are important, the success of the agricultural sector is essential for ensuring that the majority of Ghanaians, particularly those in rural areas, can thrive.
“Our farmers are the backbone of this country, and we cannot talk about development without talking about agriculture,” he said. “If we want to reduce poverty and create jobs, we must focus on helping our farmers succeed. That’s why my administration will put agriculture front and center of our development agenda.”
Dr. Bawumia’s message resonated with the crowd in Juapong, many of whom are farmers and have long called for more government support to address their challenges. The NPP’s presidential candidate reassured them that under his leadership, farmers’ concerns would be heard and addressed, with concrete policies aimed at improving their lives.
In closing, Bawumia called on Ghanaians to support his vision for a transformed agricultural sector by voting for the NPP in the upcoming elections. He emphasized that his plans for mechanisation centres and irrigation infrastructure would not only benefit farmers but also have a ripple effect on the entire economy, leading to job creation, increased food production, and overall national development.
“We are going to help the farmers,” Bawumia said in his concluding remarks. “Our farmers need help. They need the right tools and resources to succeed. If you give us your mandate, we will deliver on this promise. Together, we will transform agriculture in Ghana and build a better future for all of us.”
As the December 7 elections approach, Bawumia’s pledge to focus on agriculture has positioned him as a candidate with a clear plan to address one of the most critical sectors in Ghana’s economy. His proposal for district mechanisation centres, coupled with investments in irrigation, promises to provide farmers with the support they need to overcome longstanding challenges and drive the country towards greater prosperity.
