Kassena Nankana West DCE lauds FAO and EU for supporting farmers with threshing machines

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for the Kassena-Nankana West District, Stephen Aeke Akurugo, has lauded the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the European Union (EU) for their continuous support to farmers through the provision of essential agricultural equipment and services aimed at strengthening food production in the area.

Akurugo made the commendation in Paga when he joined officials from the Department of Agriculture to hand over 12 multipurpose grain threshers, complete with spare parts, repair tool kits, and accessories, to 12 farmer groups drawn from selected communities across the district.

The donation forms part of the European Union Food Security Response in Northern Ghana Project, a collaboration between the FAO of the United Nations and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA). The initiative is designed to improve access to mechanized threshing services for smallholder farmers, enhance post-harvest management, and promote food security.

According to Akurugo, the equipment will help fast-track the threshing of staple crops such as maize, rice, and millet, which are widely cultivated in the district. He noted that without such support, many rural farmers would have struggled to acquire the machines due to high costs.

“These threshers will reduce post-harvest losses and enhance food security in the Kassena-Nankana West District. I urge all beneficiaries to ensure regular maintenance to prolong the lifespan of the machines and justify the trust of our development partners,” the DCE stated.

He emphasized that proper care of the equipment would not only sustain their usefulness but also encourage donor organizations to extend similar support to other farming communities in the future.

District Director of Agriculture, Mohammed Bukari, explained that under the current arrangement, the threshers will be hired out to farmers at a modest, in-kind service charge to fund maintenance and sustainability. The operations will be jointly supervised by farmer leaders, agricultural officers, and FAO field technicians.

“The success and expansion of this project depend on the discipline and cooperation of the beneficiaries. Lessons learned from this model will inform future strategies,” Bukari noted.

Each farmer group received a Multipurpose Grain Thresher, a Grain Moisture Meter, Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bags, a quick-fix toolbox, and assorted spare parts.

Bukari outlined guidelines for managing the machines, stating that the equipment will be kept by the Agric Extension Agent (AEA) in each community under the supervision of the FAO District Field Technician (DFT). The threshers, he added, must not be used without the consent of both officers.

Under the project’s cost-recovery arrangement, farmers will pay for threshing services with a portion of their grain instead of cash. For instance, a farmer threshing ten 100kg bags donates one bag, while threshing ten 50kg bags requires a donation of one 50kg bag. The model, he emphasized, strictly prohibits cash payments.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiary groups, Francis Asebuga from Kajelo-Biba thanked the EU for funding the initiative and the FAO and MoFA for implementing it. He said the threshers had come at an opportune time to relieve farmers of the high costs previously incurred when hiring private threshing services.

“We are very grateful for this intervention. We promise to adhere to all operational guidelines to ensure the success and sustainability of the project,” Asebuga pledged.

Beneficiary communities include Kazugu, Badunu, Katiu-Saa, Kajelo, Nabio-Batio, and Gumongo, among others.

The intervention is expected to improve post-harvest efficiency, boost food availability, and strengthen resilience among smallholder farmers in Kassena-Nankana West and beyond.

Mike 105.3 FM | Navrongo | Peter Atogewe Wedam, DIO.