rural infrastructure such as roads, bridge, dams, irrigation equipment and warehouses while the IFAD money took care of agriculture production and marketing support.
The farmers are expected to pay 10 per cent of the cost, which is GHc 8,750 Ghana Cedis per pump, which attracts a subsidy by 40 per cent, whilst the rest of the 50 per cent would be given as loan to be paid for a three- year period.
Each pump can irrigate up to six hectares. The total cost of the 150=
pumps and installation is GHc 1.3 million. “With the pumps, two crops can be grown in the long dry season. Farm= ers harvest tomatoes and onions by January-March and plant maize as a follow up crop to be harvested before the onset of rains”, The Deputy Minister observed. Mr. Roy Ayariga, Project Co-ordinator, NRGP, said due to perennial l= ow prices of agricultural products, the programme had adopted the Value Chai= n Approach where producers and marketers are linked in mutually beneficial business relationships. This facilitates the marketing of particular commodities ahead of production.
Mr. Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister said the region had=
embarked on a green revolution, dry season cultivation of maize and othe= r crops, that is fast improving production rate and has eliminated the annu= al hunger period amongst families with access to irrigation facilities. “It was unusual to find fresh maize in the dry season but as you go round, you will be treated to fresh maize even at this time of the year a= nd there is continuous supply until the next harvest”, he noted. Mr. Woyongo observed that rain- fed agriculture has become risky due= to unreliable climatic changes and called for the expansion of irrigable facilities and support for small ruminant and guinea fowl production.
Source: GhanaWeb
