About this module
This module trains women to operate a farm tractor safely and well. You learn by doing: most of the time you are on and around the tractor, with an instructor beside you. Every unit ends with a practical task and homework.
Who it is for. Women with no formal certificate, aged 18 or over. The level is National Proficiency I, where a trainee does routine tasks under close supervision. Ghana's Children's Act sets 18 as the minimum age for hazardous work, which includes work where machines are used.
Why women operators
In Ghana, men usually make the deals for mechanisation services and control the money for them, and the lack of women operators has discouraged young women from the work. Women also face stereotypes and the difficulty of working in a male-dominated field.
Things are changing. MoFA's "Women in the Driving Seat" programme (2018–2019) was Ghana's first women-only tractor training; it covered operation, maintenance, business and bookkeeping, with a three-month placement on commercial farms. By May 2019 it had trained 122 women, who received a DVLA licence to operate tractors. Women operators in Ghana report a new sense of themselves and have formed an association. When Hikima Kadiri became the first woman in her region to get a tractor licence, people laughed; she became a farm project manager, and five more young women followed her.
CTVET has an Agriculture Mechanisation programme. CTVET lists Agriculture Mechanisation at National Proficiency I among its approved competency-based programmes. Its units were not available online, so this module is not that curriculum. Ask CTVET for the standard and match this module to it.
How the module works
Each unit has learning outcomes, performance criteria, the range and the evidence your assessor needs. You are judged Competent or Not Yet Competent by being watched at work, answering questions, and showing your logbook. About 70% of the time is practical, following CTVET's Oil Palm programme, which uses about 30% in school and 70% at the workplace.
Unit 1 · Work safely around tractors
Tractors kill more farm workers than anything else in many countries, mostly when they roll over. Nearly all of these deaths can be prevented.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 1.1 Dress safely | wears close-fitting clothes, tied-back hair, no jewellery, boots and ear protection |
| 1.2 Prevent rollovers | always wears the seat belt with ROPS; explains rollover causes |
| 1.3 Stay clear of the PTO | never steps over a turning shaft; checks shields |
| 1.4 Keep others safe | carries no riders; keeps people away from the working tractor |
Range. Tractors with ROPS; field work; PTO implements. Evidence. Observation every session; oral questions.
Rollovers
- In the United States, tractors caused 37% of farm work deaths in 1992–2005, and about half of tractor deaths were overturns.
- A roll-over protection frame (ROPS) plus a seat belt is about 99% effective in preventing death or injury in an overturn; ROPS without the belt is about 70% effective. Always wear the seat belt on a tractor with ROPS.
- A rear overturn takes about 1.5 seconds: too fast to jump clear.
- To prevent overturns: lock the brake pedals together for road speed, go slowly, don't drive across steep slopes (back up them instead), keep away from ditch edges, hitch loads only to the drawbar, and don't stop or change gear on a slope.
The PTO (power take-off)
A PTO shaft turning at 540 rpm spins 9 times a second; your reaction time is about half a second, so you are wrapped before you can react. Keep all shields on; no loose clothing, long hair or jewellery; never step over a turning shaft. Stop the PTO before getting off.
No riders
"One seat, one rider": no one rides on a tractor except the driver, and children must never ride.
Noise, heat and fuel
- A tractor without a cab can reach 100 decibels; above 85 decibels damages hearing over time. Wear ear protection.
- Drink water often and rest in the shade.
- Refuel with the engine off and cool, outdoors, no smoking or flames, and wipe up spills.
Safe or unsafe?
Your trainer describes eight scenes. For each, say safe or unsafe and why.
Safety walk-round
- Dress for the job; your partner checks you.
- With the engine off and key out, find the ROPS, seat belt, PTO shield, drawbar and fire extinguisher.
- Practise getting on and off facing the tractor, with three points of contact.
- Practise fastening and releasing the seat belt.
- Record the session.
Tell the story
Explain to your family why the seat belt and ROPS matter, and why no one should ride on a tractor. Write what they asked.
Unit 2 · Know the tractor
Know every part and control before the engine starts.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 2.1 Name the parts | names the main parts and the three-point linkage |
| 2.2 Name the controls | finds and explains each control and gauge on the dashboard |
| 2.3 Adjust for comfort | adjusts the seat so pedals are reached without stretching |
Range. The training tractor and its manual. Evidence. Observation; oral questions; labelled sketch.
Tractors in Ghana
Ghana's government has imported tractors of many brands, including Massey Ferguson, Valtra, New Holland and John Deere; most privately sold tractors are second-hand, and the mix of brands makes spare parts hard to find. Learn your tractor from its own manual.
The three-point linkage and PTO
The three-point linkage has an upper (top) link, two lower links and lift arms. The PTO turns at 540 rpm on small and medium tractors, 1,000 rpm on bigger ones; the dashboard marks the engine speed that gives the right PTO speed.
Safety features
A tractor should have ROPS, a seat belt, PTO shields, mudguards, a working silencer, steps and a handrail, and emergency stop controls.
Reaching the pedals
Pedals should be within the strength of the weakest operator, and a better pedal position gives a much better posture for little loss of push. Adjust the seat for your height before every drive. Good seat springs halve the shaking your body takes.
Parts and controls
- With the engine off, point to and name: ROPS, seat belt, steering, clutch, brakes, throttle, gear levers, PTO lever, hydraulic lift lever, lights, gauges.
- Point to the three-point linkage: top link, lower links, lift arms, PTO shaft and shield.
- Adjust the seat so you can press the clutch fully with a slightly bent knee.
- Draw and label the dashboard in your logbook.
Read the manual
Read one section of the tractor's operator manual (or a photocopy) at home. Write three things you learned.
Unit 3 · Do the daily checks
Five minutes of checks every morning prevent breakdowns and accidents.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 3.1 Check fluids | checks engine oil, coolant, hydraulic oil and fuel correctly |
| 3.2 Check the machine | checks tyres, belts, battery, lights, leaks, ROPS and seat belt |
| 3.3 Record and report | records checks and reports faults before driving |
Range. Every working day. Evidence. Daily check sheet; observation.
The walk-round
Check: fuel and engine oil (milky brown oil means water in the oil); battery terminals; tyre pressure, wheel nuts and tread; loose or worn parts such as a frayed fan belt; leaks under the tractor; coolant, engine oil and hydraulic oil levels; a clear platform; ROPS in place; seat belt working; fire extinguisher charged; lights working.
Checking engine oil
Park on level ground, wait after stopping the engine, pull the dipstick, wipe it, put it back, and read it: the oil should be between the marks. Dark, sooty oil is due for a change.
Tyres without a gauge
When parked, about three ridges of the tread should touch the ground on large tyres (two on small ones). Too little air causes wear and poor grip. Use the manual for exact pressures.
Morning checks
- Using a check sheet, do the full walk-round every practical day.
- Tick each item OK or Fault; write any fault and tell the instructor.
- Do not start the tractor until the instructor signs the sheet.
Your check sheet
Design a one-page daily check sheet you could pin in a tractor shed.
Unit 4 · Drive and turn safely
Smooth, slow and steady. Most mistakes happen when rushing, turning, or on slopes.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 4.1 Start and stop | starts and stops by the manual's procedure, seat belt on, in neutral |
| 4.2 Drive and turn | drives straight, turns and reverses smoothly at safe speed |
| 4.3 Handle slopes and ditches | approaches slopes and ditches safely |
| 4.4 Park safely | lowers implements, sets the brake, stops the engine, removes the key |
Range. Practice field with cones; gentle slope; no public roads. Evidence. Observation of each skill; driving log.
Starting and stopping
Follow your tractor's manual: seat belt on, gear in neutral, PTO off, then start. After starting, check the oil pressure gauge. Release the clutch slowly: jerking the clutch can lift the front of the tractor.
Driving rules
- Go slowly, especially when turning.
- Keep a distance from a ditch at least as wide as the ditch is deep.
- Back up steep slopes; never drive across them.
- When turning sharply with an implement, switch off the PTO.
Parking
Lower implements to the ground, stop the PTO, set the parking brake, stop the engine and remove the key.
Driving course
- Do the daily checks (Unit 3).
- With the instructor, start the tractor correctly.
- Drive a straight line between cones at walking speed; stop smoothly.
- Turn left and right around cones.
- Reverse in a straight line.
- Approach a gentle slope correctly.
- Park safely.
- Record each session: date, hours, skills practised.
Watch an operator
Watch a tractor operator at work (from a safe distance). Note three safe and any unsafe things you saw.
Unit 5 · Hitch and use implements
A tractor earns money through its implements. Hitch them right, set them right, use them right.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 5.1 Hitch | attaches a three-point implement in the right order, with pins fitted |
| 5.2 Level and set | levels the implement and sets the depth |
| 5.3 Work a field | ploughs or ridges a field in a planned pattern |
Range. Disc plough, harrow, ridger, trailer. Evidence. Observation; a worked field.
Hitching (FAO)
- Reverse until the lower links line up with the implement.
- Attach the lower links and fit the safety pins.
- Attach the top link.
- Adjust the top link until the implement is level.
- Connect the PTO shaft last, checking its length and that it locks.
Level side to side by making the adjustable lift arm match the fixed one. Trailers and loads hitch only to the drawbar.
Ploughing and ridging
Ridgers are probably the most common tractor implements. Mark out the headlands first and leave at least 3 m to turn. Set a disc plough so its frame is parallel to the ground.
Plough or not? Ploughing and harrowing are the main tractor jobs in Ghana: ploughing is about 90% of tractor hire income. FAO warns that disc ploughs, harrows and rotavators damage soil organic matter and form a hard pan, and recommends conservation agriculture with less tillage. Learn to plough well, but plough only when needed and never too deep or too often.
Hitch and plough
- With the instructor, hitch a disc plough or ridger step by step; fit all pins.
- Level it and set the depth.
- Mark the headlands; plough or ridge a practice plot in straight passes.
- Unhitch in reverse order and park safely.
- Record the area worked and the time taken.
Ask a farmer
Ask a farmer which tractor jobs they hire and what they pay per acre. Record the answers.
Unit 6 · Maintain the tractor
Good maintenance keeps a tractor working and earning. A broken tractor in planting season loses the whole season's income.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 6.1 Grease | greases all points on the chart |
| 6.2 Clean filters and change oil | cleans the air filter; helps change engine oil and filter |
| 6.3 Keep the logbook | records hours, services and repairs |
Range. The training tractor and its manual. Evidence. Observation; maintenance logbook.
Service intervals
Follow your tractor's own manual. For example, John Deere's 5E tractors change the engine oil filter after the first 100 hours, then every 250 hours, and the air filters every 1,000 hours or once a year.
How often to change engine oil? John Deere 5E: filter every 250 hours after the first 100. FAO: change it when the oil is dark or sooty. Other brands differ. Always use your tractor's manual, and change sooner in dusty work.
Greasing and air filter
Use multi-purpose lithium grease on bearings and moving parts, and check them before each job. Clean the air filter by blowing air from the inside outwards, and replace it if it stays dirty. In dusty work, check the air cleaner every day.
Oil change
Park level, engine off, drain the oil, refit the plug, change the filter (oil the new seal), refill, and check the dipstick.
Keep a logbook
Keep a record of each tractor and its safety features, set a strict maintenance plan, and keep the manual with the tractor.
Service day
- With the engine off and cool, find every grease point on the chart and grease them.
- Remove and clean the air filter.
- Help the instructor change the engine oil and filter.
- Record the hour-meter reading and what was done in the logbook.
Find the parts
Find where tractor filters and oil can be bought near you, and their prices.
Unit 7 · Licence, records and hire business
A licensed, careful operator can earn from tractor hire. Know the rules and keep the numbers.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 7.1 Know the licence rules | states that public-road driving needs a DVLA licence and insurance |
| 7.2 Keep job records | records each job: farmer, acres, hours, fuel, charge |
| 7.3 Plan a hire business | works out costs and charges per acre |
Range. Tractor hire services. Evidence. Job records; a simple business plan.
Licence
- Graduates of MoFA's women's programme and of a 2026 youth training received DVLA licence class E for tractors.
- Ghana's road regulations require a learner driver to be at least 18, pass oral, theory and practical tests, and drive only with a qualified driver.
What is the minimum age for a tractor licence? The Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180), as published online, say a person under 25 may not hold a licence to drive an agricultural tractor. But recent programmes have licensed young women and youth. Ask the DVLA before applying. Working on a private farm under supervision is different from driving on a public road.
Insurance
Third-party motor insurance is compulsory for vehicles on Ghana's roads.
Tractor hire
| Where and when | Ploughing price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern regions, 2016 | GH¢60–80 an acre | IFPRI Tractors Ghana 2016 |
| Tumu, 2021 → 2022 | GH¢100 → 200 an acre (diesel doubled) | GNA Tumu Tractors 2022 |
Ploughing is about 90% of tractor hire income; private tractors average about 450 acres a season; a tractor uses about 1.5 gallons of fuel per acre ploughed, and lubricants cost about 15% of fuel. Women agents booking tractor services elsewhere in Africa booked more jobs and repaid loans better.
Price an acre
Diesel costs GH¢16 a litre (about GH¢72 a gallon). Ploughing uses 1.5 gallons an acre, lubricants add 15% of fuel, your wage is GH¢40 an acre, and you set aside GH¢40 an acre for repairs and the tractor. (1) Fuel cost per acre? (2) Lubricants? (3) Total cost? (4) Price for a 30% margin?
Job records and plan
- For every practice job, record: date, field, acres, hours, fuel used, implement.
- Using the exercise method and local prices, write a one-page plan for a tractor-hire service: price per acre, acres per season, costs, profit.
- Present it to the class.
Ask the DVLA
Visit or call a DVLA office. Ask which licence class covers tractors, the minimum age, and what the test involves. Write the answers.
Glossary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Competent / Not Yet Competent | The two possible results of a CBT assessment |
| Drawbar | The bar at the back used for pulling trailers and loads |
| Headland | The strip at each end of a field where the tractor turns |
| PTO | Power take-off: a spinning shaft that drives implements |
| ROPS | Roll-over protection structure: the frame that protects the driver |
| Three-point linkage | The top link and two lower links that hold implements |
| Implement | A tool pulled or driven by the tractor (plough, harrow, ridger) |
Logbook
Copy these pages into an exercise book. Your logbook is part of your assessment evidence.
- Unit 1: safety walk-round
- Unit 2: labelled dashboard sketch
- Unit 3: daily check sheets, signed
- Unit 4: driving log (date, hours, skills)
- Unit 5: hitching and field work record
- Unit 6: maintenance logbook entries
- Unit 7: job records; hire business plan
- Every homework, dated
Self-check quiz
- What saves your life if a tractor overturns?
- Name three ways to prevent an overturn.
- Why must you never step over a turning PTO shaft?
- How many people may ride on a tractor?
- Name five daily checks.
- What does milky brown engine oil mean?
- Which part do you connect last when hitching?
- Where do you hitch a trailer or a load?
- How do you park a tractor safely?
- Why plough only when needed?
- What licence class have tractor trainees in Ghana received?
- How much fuel does ploughing use per acre?
Further reading and sources
Best next reads: your tractor's operator manual; FAO's training manual on farm machinery; the ILO code of practice on safety and health in agriculture.
What this module does not cover: major repairs, combine harvesters, road driving lessons for the DVLA test, and specific tyre pressures (see your manual).
Every source used in this manual is listed, with links, in the Teacher Copy.