Tractor assembly plant opened in Ghana

The Ghanaian government’s efforts at transforming the face of the country’s agriculture through mechanization has received a major boost with the inauguration by President John Kufuor of a tractor assembling plant and technology transfer centre in Kumasi.

It is a partnership between the Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Mahindra and Mahindra of India, reputed to be one of the topmost tractor manufacturing companies in the world, and the Garages Association of Ghana.

The Plant would have 70 per cent of the tractor parts assembled locally, with just 30 per cent imported from India. It is expected to initially provide jobs for more than 200 people including welders, steel benders, auto mechanics and apprentices from across the country.

Mechanization of agriculture from land preparation through planting, crop maintenance to harvesting, processing and storage is crucial to achieving the country’s goal of self-sufficiency and for export. It was for this reason that the Government has brought in about 3,000 agricultural tractors with matching accessories and varied equipment for processing and storage.

Mr Anand G. Mahindra, President of the Indian Company, said they were poised to deliver on the goal of making the project a success by producing quality and competitively priced tractors to aid Ghana’s drive towards increased agriculture production.

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