The government of Ghana is to undertake a $105m rehabilitation project from next month on three irrigation schemes to boost agriculture production in the country.
The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, while inaugurating the Board of the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) made the announcement and said the efforts aim to enable farmers to easily access a water source for agricultural activities.
Dr Owusu said the Ministry had commercialised the use of the irrigation schemes to help in the repayment of funds secured for the rehabilitation works. Works will be done at VeaandTono Irrigation Schemes in the Upper East Region and Kpone Irrigation Scheme in the Eastern and Greater Accra Regions respectively. 14 companies have been enlisted and have taken up more than 3,000 hectares of land to be cultivated for commercial farming operations.
Increased food production
The Minister said the government was expecting increased food production as a consequence of the investments in the country’s irrigation schemes and support Ghana’s transformation agenda. Dr Akoto further asked the Board to take stock and repossess all assets of the Authority which were currently being used by former staff, and work towards making the Authority financially independent. He charged them to recruit the services of competent managers the schemes and institute strategies aimed at maximising expected outcomes.
In a related development, the Minister also inaugurated the National Seed Council and charged the members to spearhead efforts to sustain growth in seeds and food production to promote food security. With an increase in the availability of Extension Officers in the country, he asked the Council to take advantage of growing value chain of the seed industry to make Ghana a net exporter.
