Ghana will soon start assembling farm tractors imported from India with the brand name, FARMTRAC.

A stone laying ceremony for the construction of the assembly line was held at the free zones enclave in Tema Saturday. Performing the ceremony, President Kufour remarked that the decision by Escorts Limited of India to open an assembly line in Ghana at this time is almost like destiny meeting fortune.

This is because Ghana has since last year been privileged to access over half a billion dollars from the Millennium Challenge Account and has embarked on a vigorous programme to modernise her agriculture. This is being done through mechanisation and other interventions.

Access to cheaper tractors will therefore be a great boost to this programme. An enhanced access to mechanisation will help the farmers to expand the area under cultivation, reduce the drudgery and fatigue inherent in their work and also make farming appealing to the youth.

So far government has imported over 3,000 tractors for sale to farmers at highly subsidised rates amount other things. The Sector Ministry is in the process of establishing mechanisation service centres across the country to improve farmers access to tractors and other machinery.

President Kufuor said FARMTRAC tractor is not new to the country. About 1,281 farmtrac tractors have already been brought in at government's own expense.

He urged the company, Escorts which has chosen Ghana for its first assembly plant in Africa to ensure transfer of technology by engaging Ghanaians in position of responsibility.