Many of the innovative agricultural tools developed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Ghana have remained in workshops due to limited resources for full development, farmer training and inadequate outreach, according to Ing. Dr. Shadrack Kwadwo Amponsah, Senior Research Scientist and Head of Agricultural Engineering at CSIR-Crops Research Institute.
In an interview with The High Street Journal, Dr. Amponsah raised concerns about the current approach to agricultural mechanization in Ghana, emphasizing the need for tailored solutions to meet the specific needs of small-scale farmers.
He highlighted that Ghana has the potential to achieve self-sufficiency in agricultural machinery, yet the focus has largely been on importing large, industrial-scale machinery that is unsuitable for the country’s many smallholder farmers. “Most farmers in Ghana work on small plots of land, averaging just one acre, which makes the use of large tractors and combine harvesters both costly and inefficient,” Dr. Amponsah explained. Instead, he advocates for “appropriate intermediate agricultural mechanization,” which would focus on small, affordable tools that improve productivity without requiring heavy infrastructure.
Countries such as China produce simple, effective farm implements that make farming more efficient, attractive, and productive for young people, while Ghanaian farmers continue to struggle with outdated, labour-intensive methods. This situation persists despite the presence of agricultural engineering training institutions and research centres in Ghana.
Ing. Dr. Amponsah emphasized the need for a coordinated effort to bridge the gap between innovation and end-user application. Without structured initiatives to introduce these tools to farmers, he warned, smallholders will continue to rely on rudimentary methods that limit productivity. He expressed hope that future government policies would prioritize local innovation and support the development of small-scale farming equipment, rather than relying on costly imports, which often come with maintenance challenges due to limited access to spare parts and technical support.
