Ghana-Gov’t To Rehabilitate 22 Irrigation Projects
The Deputy Chief Executive of the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA), Mr Daniel Ohemeng, has announced that the government plans to rehabilitate 22 irrigation projects throughout the country with support from the donor community.
The project would be undertaken this year. The Dawhenya irrigation facility has already been rehabilitated to provide an opportunity for practical training to farmers from various parts of the country. He said before the completion of the projects, it was important to equip the farmers with the necessary skills to enable them to manage the facilities effectively.
Speaking at a workshop on participation of farmers in irrigation management (FAPIM) in Accra on Tuesday, Mr Ohemeng said the problem with irrigation projects in the country which were established under the Legislative Instrument (LI 1350) made the government the only body responsible for the maintenance of the facilities. He said it was therefore important to get the farmers involved in the management of the facilities.
“If we want to reduce the burden on government and compel farmers to be responsible for the mentainance of the projects, then there is the need for an amendment of some of the related laws to make the operation of the irrigation scheme easier,” he said.
Mr Ohemeng also called for mechanised and vigorous marketing systems for the country’s agriculture sector to help farmers to market their produce. “If we are able to put in place a modern technology that is required in contemporary agricultural practice, it will go a long way in creating wealth for the development of the country,” he said.
Mr Ohemeng said irrigation was a very expensive venture and should be targeted at crops that could not be produced all the year round and were in high demand locally and internationally. He explained that the irrigation systems were less expensive and that it would have been beneficial if there were factories to consume products that would come from the irrigation systems.
Mr Ohemeng said the expensive nature of irrigation was due to the lack of ready market for agricultural produce in the country. He cited the Pwalugu Tomato Factory and other areas where tomato factories were located, saying that “because these plants need rain all year round attention was directed at irrigation projects to enable farmers there to produce to feed the factory.”
Speaking at a workshop on participation of farmers in irrigation management (FAPIM) in Accra on Tuesday, Mr Ohemeng said the problem with irrigation projects in the country which were established under the Legislative Instrument (LI 1350) made the government the only body responsible for the maintenance of the facilities. He said it was therefore important to get the farmers involved in the management of the facilities.
“If we want to reduce the burden on government and compel farmers to be responsible for the mentainance of the projects, then there is the need for an amendment of some of the related laws to make the operation of the irrigation scheme easier,” he said.
Mr Ohemeng also called for mechanised and vigorous marketing systems for the country’s agriculture sector to help farmers to market their produce. “If we are able to put in place a modern technology that is required in contemporary agricultural practice, it will go a long way in creating wealth for the development of the country,” he said.
Mr Ohemeng said irrigation was a very expensive venture and should be targeted at crops that could not be produced all the year round and were in high demand locally and internationally. He explained that the irrigation systems were less expensive and that it would have been beneficial if there were factories to consume products that would come from the irrigation systems.
Mr Ohemeng said the expensive nature of irrigation was due to the lack of ready market for agricultural produce in the country. He cited the Pwalugu Tomato Factory and other areas where tomato factories were located, saying that “because these plants need rain all year round attention was directed at irrigation projects to enable farmers there to produce to feed the factory.”
