Former President John Dramani Mahama has once again promised to help make life better for farmers in the Savannah Region, especially by solving problems with machines and food waste after the harvest. During a meeting at the Bukom Sports Arena, Mahama talked about the important issues facing farmers, pointing out that many cannot afford the basic machine services they need, which slows down their work.
In response to a question from someone from the same area as him, Mahama stressed the importance of making farming machines more available to help increase crop production. He said, “We’re helping farmers by making sure they can use machines for their work. Right now, if you want to rent a tractor to prepare your land, it costs 200 cedis for each acre. If you’re working on 10 acres, that’s 2,000 cedis. Many farmers can’t afford to spend 2,000 cedis to prepare 10 acres of land,” Mahama explained.
To tackle this issue, Mahama presented his strategy to create Farmer Service Centers that would have tractors, plows, harrows, and other necessary equipment. These centers would give farmers the opportunity to use these machines at a lower cost, helping them to farm bigger plots of land and produce more crops. “We plan to set up Farmer Service Centers. We’ll have tractors, plows, harrows, and all the needed tools there, so when farmers need help, we’ll be ready to assist them,” he promised.
Mahama, who comes from the Savannah Region, also recognized the personal importance of the issue. “This question is very relevant to me because I not only come from the Savannah Region, but I also have a large agricultural project in Busunu, where my mother is from. I’m managing about 200 acres of soybeans and 100 acres of yellow maize. So I understand exactly what you’re discussing,” he said, talking about his own farming experience.
Mahama talked about reducing waste after crops are harvested and emphasized the need to find buyers for the crops. He suggested putting more money into farming in the area, pointing out that there is a lot of land which could be used for big farms. “We are welcoming all investors to come and farm in the Savannah Region. Once we have enough food, we will find buyers for it, making sure our farmers can make a good living,” he said.
Mahama’s comments received praise from the crowd, and many people felt hopeful about how his suggested plans could help the farming industry in the Savannah Region. This public gathering, which is part of Mahama’s larger campaign, showed his commitment to solving the financial problems of rural areas, especially those where farming is important.
As the 2024 elections get closer, Mahama’s focus on basic community problems is still connecting with voters, especially in areas where farming is the main source of income for the local economy.
