100 tractors in to boost agriculture

Page 47, October 13/2008

Story: Charles Benoni Okine

THE first batch of about 100 tractors ordered by the government to boost its agricultural modernisation programme have arrived in the country.
The remaining 400 tractors, imported through Technik Agricultural and Equipment Company Limited, sole distributor of John Deere equipment, are expected in the country by the end of the year for onward distribution to farmers in the country at affordable prices to help them improve their yield.
This came to light when the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of John Deere International, Mr Robert W. Lane, paid a courtesy call on the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, at his office at the Castle, Osu, last Friday.
He was accompanied by Mr Kingsley Osei-Amankwah, Executive Director of Technik Agriculture and Equipment Company Limited and other senior officials of the company.
Alhaji Mahama said the government was paying great attention to the agricultural sector as part of its quest to make the country self-sufficient in food production.
He said although the international food crisis had not hit Ghana, “we are not taking anything for granted”.
The Vice President said many farmers in the country were not using modern farm equipment to increase their yield and noted that it was for that reason and others that the government decided to order the tractors for them.
“We express the hope that the prices of the tractors would be something that would meet the pockets of the farmers,” he added.
Alhaji Mahama said the government believed in the make of the tractors, saying “we have known the John Deere brand of tractors for long and we are happy to have them in the system once again”.
Mr Lane, on his part, thanked the government for the confidence it had in the tractors, which are being used in over 130 countries across the world and had a track record of success.
Mr Lane said the tractors were well built to be able to work in any terrain and till the most stubborn soil to increase agricultural yields.
Mr Osei-Amankwah, who worked as a senior technician of John Deere many years ago, said the necessary parts of the tractors were also available.
He expressed the hope that the final consignment would be delivered by the end of the year to enable the farmers who would have access to them to start work immediately.