Pulima: Mr Sufyan Dinmua Moro, a 44-year-old artisan from Sissala West, has appealed for help to acquire essential machinery to aid in ramping up the production of farm implements to boost agricultural mechanisation.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Sufyan expressed worry in an interview about the lack of vital tools like a lathe machine, bending, key cutting, welding, and gas cutter machines, which 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, Mr Sufyan has manufactured threshers of various sizes for both smallholder farms and larger agricultural operations. He has also trained several youths who are now producing threshers and other farming implements in several communities for farmers. He expressed his aim to create a planter capable of sowing up to 30 acres of grains in a single day and 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. Mr Sufyan pointed out that many farmers often depended on hired labour from parts of the Upper East Region and beyond for sowing and harvesting. He expressed hope that the situation would improve with his innovative designs.
Mr 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.
He 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. Mr Sufyan also mentioned his collaboration with the Virtue Foundation in the manufacture of community ambulance tricycles, which are helping to transport sick persons from hard-to-reach communities to health centres.
