The Feed Ghana Programme, an ambitious government initiative, is gaining momentum in the Bono East Region. Bono East Regional Minister Francis Owusu Antwi led a high-powered delegation to inspect the ongoing construction of a Farmer Service Centre (FSC) in Kintampo. This facility is one of the pilot projects among the first batch of 11 centres nationwide, out of a total of 50 planned under the programme. The initiative aims to lower production costs and improve access to agricultural mechanization for farmers.
The Kintampo Farmer Service Centre will serve as a comprehensive agricultural hub, providing farmers with on-demand access to tractors, combine harvesters, threshers, planters, ploughs, and harrows. This will eliminate the need for individual farmers to purchase expensive machinery. The facility will also house soil testing laboratories, maintenance units, crop storage warehouses, and silos to help reduce post-harvest losses. Farmers will have direct access to fertilizers, improved seeds, seedlings, and modern farming techniques, supported by specialized commodity extension officers.
According to Hon. Eto Bonde, Special Adviser to the Minister for Agriculture, over 1,800 pieces of farming equipment are being imported from Belarus to stock the various service centres across the country. He explained that farmers will be the biggest beneficiaries of the initiative, with registered farmers having free access to services, including inputs on credit. This will enable them to get their produce bought and then pay for the services later.
Bono East Regional Minister Francis Owusu Antwi expressed excitement about the progress of work during the inspection. He noted that the facility will significantly help farmers in the area and the entire agricultural value chain. The first ground for the nationwide project was broken in March 2026 at Takoratwene in the Kwahu Afram Plains South District. The first 11 centres are expected to serve as a blueprint for the remaining 39.
The completion of the Kintampo centre will mark a significant shift for farmers in Kintampo North and its surrounding communities. It will reduce their reliance on manual labour and costly equipment rentals. The pay-later model, where produce is bought and services are paid for afterward, will ease cash flow challenges. Additionally, access to soil testing, improved seeds, and extension services will lead to better crop yields.
The Feed Ghana Programme also aims to improve crop productivity through soil testing and efficient fertilizer use. The government has distributed 40,000 bags of fertilizer and drones to farmers under the programme. Furthermore, 5,000 agric graduates will be deployed under the Feed Ghana Programme to support farmers.
As construction continues in Kintampo, the government says the Feed Ghana Programme remains on track to modernize the agricultural sector and ensure food security for the nation. The programme is expected to drive transformation in the agricultural sector, with a focus on improving yields, reducing post-harvest losses, and increasing access to mechanization for smallholder farmers.
Key points
- The Feed Ghana Programme aims to lower production costs and improve access to agricultural mechanization for farmers across the country.
- The Kintampo Farmer Service Centre will serve as a comprehensive agricultural hub, providing farmers with on-demand access to tractors and other machinery.
- The programme is expected to drive transformation in the agricultural sector, with a focus on improving yields, reducing post-harvest losses, and increasing access to mechanization for smallholder farmers.
