Local artisans across northern Ghana are calling for urgent support to acquire modern machinery that will enable them to scale up the production of farm implements and advance agricultural mechanization.
The artisans, many of whom have spent years designing threshers, planters, harrows, and other tools, say limited access to essential machines, such as lathes, bending, welding, key-cutting, and gas-cutting equipment is slowing innovation and restricting production.
Among them is Mr. Sufyan Dinmua Moro, a 44-year-old artisan from Sissala West, who has spent more than a decade designing threshers, planters, and harrows to serve smallholder farmers.
He said that the absence of critical tools continues to stifle his creativity and limit his ability to expand.
“I aim to create a planter that can sow up to 30 acres of grains in a single day, and design a harvester that can handle both maize and soybeans,” Mr. Sufyan explained. “But without the right machines, progress is difficult.”
His implements are already helping smallholder farmers reduce reliance on manual labour, especially during planting and harvesting seasons.
Many farmers in the Upper West Region depend on migrant labour from other parts of Ghana, but artisans like Mr. Sufyan believe mechanisation can ease this burden, particularly for women, who shoulder much of the agricultural workload.
For many artisans, what began as a hobby has grown into a livelihood that also trains and employs young people in surrounding communities. Demand for locally made tools continues to rise, with farmers acknowledging that they are often more affordable and adaptable than imported machinery.
Beyond agriculture, some innovators are branching into health-related projects, such as producing community ambulance tricycles that transport sick persons from remote areas to health facilities.
The artisans are therefore urging government, development partners, and private stakeholders to support them with modern equipment and funding.
They argue that investment in local innovation is critical not only to boost mechanisation but also to enhance food security, create jobs, and reduce the country’s dependence on costly imports.
“Supporting local artisans with the right machinery will strengthen Ghana’s agricultural value chain,” he stressed. “We have the skills and ideas, what we lack are the tools to bring them to life.”
