Sufyan Dinmua Moro, a 44-year-old artisan from the Sissala West, has appealed for help to acquire essential machinery to aid in ramping up the production of farm implements to boost agricultural mechanisation.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Pulima, Sufyan expressed worry about the lack of vital tools like a lathe machine, bending, a key cutting, a welding and gas cutter machines was hindering his ability to innovate and grow his production capabilities.

Currently, he manufactures threshers, planters and harrows designed to alleviate the challenges farmers face when transitioning to mechanised farming.

Over the last 10 years, he has manufactured threshers of various sizes, for both smallholder farms and larger agricultural operations.

He has also trained several youth who are also producing threshers and other farming implements in several communities for farmers.

He said, “I aim to create a planter that can sow up to 30 acres of grains in a single day, and I also want to design a machine that can harvest both maize and soybeans.”

He emphasised his dedication to lightening the load for women in agriculture, particularly during the harvest season.

He pointed out that many farmers often depended on hired labour from parts of the Upper East Region and beyond for sowing and harvesting, and expressed hope that the situation would improve with his innovative designs.

Sufyan added that he started making simple farm tools as a teenager and that what began as a hobby quickly turned into a necessity when his first thresher machine gained popularity, exceeding his production capacity.

“I’ve travelled to other countries to share my knowledge and learn new techniques for designing tools that alleviate the struggles of farmers, especially women. If I had a lathe machine, I can accomplish so much more,” he pleaded.

Sufyan urged the government and stakeholders in the agricultural sector to support local artisans with the machinery and resources they need to boost innovation and strengthen mechanised farming.

He told the GNA that he is collaborating with the Virtue Foundation in the manufacture of community ambulances tricycles, which were helping to transport sick persons from hard-to-reach communities to health centres.