By: Jennifer Frimpong Wiredu
The Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture and Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon, John Dumelo, has called for a bold transition from traditional farming practices to modern, technology-driven agriculture, as Ghana seeks to improve efficiency and boost food production.
According to him, Ghana can no longer rely heavily on the use of “hoe and cutlass,” stressing that the future of agriculture lies in innovation and mechanisation. He noted that improving productivity is not necessarily about expanding farmland, but rather maximizing output from available land through efficient systems.
He further highlighted the importance of strategic farming, particularly encouraging young people to venture into agriculture at the right time and in the right conditions. Citing recent challenges in tomato production, he explained that seasonal shortages especially during the dry season continue to affect supply and pricing due to insufficient production.
His remarks come in the wake of a new wave of agricultural innovation led by local startup 3Farmate, a Ghanaian agricultural robotics company developing autonomous solutions for large-scale farming.
Founded in 2021 by Clinton Anani and Elijah Ocupualor, 3Farmate has developed FAMA, an AI-powered autonomous robot capable of planting seeds, applying fertiliser, weeding, and spraying crops across real farm environments. The machine operates using a vision-based AI navigation system, allowing it to function effectively even in areas with limited GPS connectivity.
Designed for Ghana’s farming conditions, the robot runs on batteries charged by solar panels and can navigate uneven terrain, muddy soils, and varying weather conditions. Each unit can cover between 27 and 35 acres per day with high planting precision, while a single operator can manage multiple robots simultaneously.
The innovation is expected to significantly reduce farming costs by up to 60 percent, cut chemical usage by over 75 percent, and improve crop yields by up to 10 percent.
3Farmate is targeting large-scale producers of staple crops such as maize and soybeans and operates a service-based model, allowing farmers to pay per acre instead of purchasing the equipment outright. The company is currently in discussions with over 70 farmers and several agribusiness firms, with plans to begin commercial deployment in the 2026 planting season.
The company has so far raised approximately $200,000 in funding, supported by initiatives including the 776 Fellowship backed by Alexis Ohanian and the Kosmos Innovation Center. Through multiple design iterations and extensive field testing, the team has successfully built and refined its technology entirely within Ghana.
John Dumelo expressed strong support for such innovations, describing them as a step in the right direction. He indicated that the government is fully supportive of initiatives that enhance efficiency and modernize agriculture, adding that he looks forward to seeing such technologies widely adopted across farms in the country.
More Stories Here
Source:
www.gbcghanaonline.com