The department said the absence of a local facility to repair and maintain farm machinery has become a major challenge for farmers who invest in tractors and other mechanised equipment.

According to the department, farmers are often forced to transport faulty machinery to distant locations for repairs, resulting in delays and additional costs. When equipment remains out of service, farmers have little option but to rely on manual labour, which slows down critical farming activities such as land preparation, planting and harvesting.

Asante Akim North is recognised as a major farming hub, producing significant quantities of maize, yam, plantain, cassava, rice and vegetables. The department believes that improving access to mechanisation services would therefore have a direct impact on food production in the municipality.

The proposed mechanisation centre would provide farmers with access to equipment maintenance and repair services, reducing the amount of time machinery remains out of operation.

The department said a functional centre would also help farmers complete farm operations more efficiently, reduce reliance on manual labour and improve productivity.

It further noted that strengthening agricultural mechanisation in the municipality would contribute to Ghana’s broader efforts to increase domestic food production and support initiatives such as the Feed Ghana Programme.

The Agricultural Department therefore urged the government to consider the establishment of the centre as a matter of urgency, stressing that reliable mechanisation support is essential to unlocking the full agricultural potential of Asante Akim North.