Assessment of mechanization status for some major crop value chains in Ghana

Abstract

Mechanization of agriculture is widely accepted as a means to raise agricultural output and ensure sufficient food supplies. Previous failed attempts to mechanize Ghana's agriculture have been linked to a failure on the part of policymakers to recognize the unique mechanization needs of major value chains and staple crops.The study assessedthe status of mechanization for some major crop value chains in Ghana to provide useful recommendations to sustainably improve the level of mechanization. The study gathered mechanization and production data on six crop commodity value chains, including maize, rice, cassava, tomato, cowpea, and groundnut, from all 16 regions of the country. Pre-production, production, post-harvest/storage, processing, and marketing for six (6) major staple crops, namely maize, rice, cassava, tomato, groundnut, and cowpea, were identified as relevant value chains across Ghana's 16administrativeregions. Levels of mechanization ranged from21.3% in the Volta area for rice to 2.5% in the Western North and Western regions for cassava. Rice had the highest amount of mechanization across all regions, whereas cassava had the lowest. According to the findings, manual laboraccounts for more than 78%of all farm operations under the most optimistic scenario. It should not come as a surprise, then, that young people are turning away from the agricultural industry, leaving it to be dominated by the elderly population. Investing in the development ofindigenous competency in demand-driven agricultural technology is a much sustainable strategy for elevating agricultural mechanization and modernizing agriculture in Ghana.