The West Africa Agro-Tech Company Ghana Limited (WAATCO) has said that it would establish an assembly plant in the next five years in Ghana to deliver 5,000 tractors at a cheaper price to support the agriculture sector.

WAATCO would also train the youth in and outside Ghana on how to generate opportunities in various fields of technology and service to farmers.

Managing Director, WAATCO Ghana, Mr Akoliya Patel disclosed this during the inauguration of the company’s showroom in Accra, where the Indian made Sonalika tractors, farming machines, service centre, training centre and spare parts depot were displayed.

Patel said the company would soon commence mobile tractor service vans which would move across the country to offer after sale services, repair and maintenance to farmers as part of the package which comes with trading with them.

“This we believe will guarantee the lifespan of tractors and also reduce the long distances farmers have to travel to seek spare parts and technical supports in some cases,” he said.

Footprint to Africa gathered that there are plans to also invest US$200 million within the next five years in the agriculture sector if Government extends the needed support to agriculture in the form of subsidies, among others.

The company, he said, had commenced preparations to establish another showroom in Tamale to serve farmers in Northern Ghana as well as those in the Sahel region.

Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Fifi Kwetey, while inaugurating the facilities, appealed for investments in the agriculture sector as it employed more than 50 per cent of the total Ghanaian population, adding that the opening of WAATCO office in Ghana was a clear signal of the growing partnership between Ghana and India.

Kwetey affirmed that the use of technology in the agriculture sector would serve as a huge incentive to the youth who are not ready to venture into agriculture because they see it to be full of hassle and suffering.

He restated the Government’s commitment towards the agriculture sector, adding that the Executive is ready to support any private entity willing to invest in the sector.

He commended the President, Ghana Agriculture Chamber of Commerce, Mr Philip Abayori for the initiative and urged stakeholders to register with the chamber to serve as facilitators for their investment in the agriculture sector in the country.