Tolon MP Transforms Agriculture With Launch of Soyalana Mechanisation Scheme
For generations, agriculture has been the backbone of the Tolon economy in Ghana’s Northern Region. Yet local farmers have long struggled under the weight of manual labour and rain-fed production, leading to delayed planting, diminished yields, and avoidable losses. Now, a new initiative led by the constituency’s Member of Parliament aims to change that trajectory entirely.
Habib Iddrisu, the MP for Tolon, has launched the Soyalana Agricultural Mechanisation Centre (SAMC), an ambitious project that moves beyond simply distributing farming equipment. The centre offers a structured support system designed to make farming more accessible, affordable, and sustainable for thousands of smallholder farmers across the constituency.
At the heart of the initiative is a decentralised model that divides the constituency into five operational zones, each equipped with a dedicated tractor and a comprehensive suite of modern implements including ploughs, harrows, planters, harvesters, threshers, shellers, and sprayers. A stand-alone tractor and additional equipment are also housed at the central facility to provide backup support across all zones.
The five zones — Western Belt covering Lungbunga and Kasulyili, Northern Belt covering Yogg and Chirifoyili, Eastern Belt covering Tali and Gburimani, Central Belt covering Tolon, and Southern Belt covering Nyankpala and Worrebogu — are designed to minimise waiting times and maximise operational efficiency for farmers throughout the entire production cycle.
What sets the SAMC apart from previous mechanisation efforts is its integration of machinery with comprehensive advisory services. The project includes the “Soyalana Farm Radio” and television programming, along with mobile extension services that deliver guidance on climate-smart agriculture, soil fertility, water management, and the use of certified seeds — areas of growing importance as African nations push for more resilient farming practices in the face of shifting weather patterns. The approach reflects a broader continental push, as highlighted at recent international climate negotiations where Africa demanded faster climate action and fair finance to support adaptation on the ground.
The centre also connects farmers with agro-dealers, seed suppliers, and market aggregators, facilitating contract farming arrangements that can provide smallholders with more predictable incomes. Beyond production, the initiative prioritises skills training in agribusiness, promotes youth-led enterprises, and supports women through targeted programmes such as greenhouse vegetable production.
“Agriculture must be treated not merely as a survival activity but as a modern business capable of creating wealth and transforming communities,” Mr. Iddrisu said during the launch. “By providing the necessary systems and opportunities, local farmers — who possess the land, labour, and determination — can truly thrive.”
As the rainy season begins, the initiative is already showing tangible results. Farmers can register locally, access affordable mechanisation services, receive expert agronomic advice, and connect to markets through a single, coordinated system — eliminating the fragmented and often costly patchwork of support that has historically left many northern farmers behind.
Observers note that the integrated approach offers a compelling model for agricultural transformation across Northern Ghana, where poverty rates remain among the highest in the country and where the potential for increased agricultural productivity remains largely untapped. If successful, the Soyalana model could demonstrate what targeted leadership and practical investment can achieve in communities that have long been overlooked.
Image Source: STARR FM
