Director of Engineering Services at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Mr. A.K.B Deyang has advised tractor operators to “exit any unprepared land to save your time and energy”.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of a five-day training workshop (from Monday, August 6 to Friday August 10) for tractor operators, farm managers and supervisors, Mr. Deyang intimated that “to make the work of tractor operators much easier, it’s the responsibility of the farmer to get the land well prepared by clearing and uprooting stumps.”
The workshop took all 53 participants (2 females and 51 males) through the theoretical aspect comprising introduction to parts of tractor and farm machinery, maintenance and safety precautions, types of plough/harrowing and techniques.
Participants including amateurs had the opportunity on the 3rd-5th days to have hand-on practical with the various farm machinery.
Speaking to Fred Duhoe an Agriculture reporter, a first timer recounted her experience saying, “we most often think operation of tractors and some of these machines is a reserve for males and this is evident in the number of men participants, but I want to learn this and I am glad I came.
It’s been a very nice experience and I hope to put the skills acquired to good use,” the other female participant, Olivet Delasi Gleku said.
The Establishment of Agricultural Mechanization Training Centers (EAMTC) Project in Ghana is aimed at training operators to enhance their knowledge on the maintenance of their tractors so as to derive the most benefit out of the tractor’s useful life which according to the resource person, Mr. Alhassan is 8-10 years when all servicing and maintenance culture is adhered to.”
The two centers in Ghana were established in collaboration with the Japanese government through JiCA after it was identified that tractors break down more often than expected due to lack of knowledge on the part of tractor operators.
The Adidome and Wenchi centres in Volta and Brong Ahafo regions respectively, have since trained about 651 participants and still hope to increase the numbers to cover farmers in the near future.
The participants were awarded certificates of participation and encouraged to learn more at their own opportune time.
By: Fred Duhoe/voltaonlinegh.com