Plans are far advanced towards the establishment of a tractor manufacturing farm in Ghana, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said at the Farmers’ Day celebration in the Eastern Region on Friday (2 December).
Speaking at the 38th national Farmers’ Day celebration, Akufo-Addo said the initiative will help reduce unemployment and cost of tractors.
“Currently, I am happy to report that processes have been concluded towards the establishment of a tractor assembling plant in Ghana,” the president said in Koforidua.
“This will go a long way to reduce the cost of tractors and improve access to tractor parts and create jobs,” Akufo-Addo said.
This year, the celebrations at the regional level have been restored as a cost-cutting strategy to ease the financial burden on the 16 regional coordinating councils, which hitherto bore the cost of travel expenses, accommodation and lodging of regional award winners and other accompanying officials to participate in the celebration at the national level.
There will be five regional award categories per region-: Regional Best Farmer; Regional Best Livestock Farmer; Regional Best Crop Farmer; Regional Best Fisher and Regional Best Agricultural Extension Agent.
The district award categories have been revised from six to three per district, namely: District Best Farmer; District Best Livestock Farmer and District Best Crop Farmer.
Districts which have the financial wherewithal to cater for additional award categories are, however, advised to do so at their own expense.