The Government, through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, has begun development of the 175-hectare Anunuso Water Conservation Scheme near Brofoyedru in the Sekyere East District of the Ashanti Region.
The project, being delivered under the West Africa Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP), will expand Ghana’s irrigable farmland and is expected to benefit at least 220 members of the Anunuso Rice Farmers’ Cooperative.
At the sod-cutting and site possession ceremony, Minister for Food and Agriculture Eric Opoku said the scheme would help reduce farmers’ reliance on unpredictable rainfall and support year-round food production.
It forms part of the Feed Ghana Programme’s Irrigation for Wealth module, which is designed to improve water management and enable farmers to use their land more productively.
Technical estimates suggest the scheme could double rice yields from about 2.5 metric tonnes per hectare to 5 metric tonnes per hectare, Mr Opoku said.
With the potential for two cropping seasons each year, the developed area is expected to produce about 1,750 metric tonnes of paddy. That would yield approximately 1,100 metric tonnes of milled rice annually.
The project is also forecast to provide around 100 jobs during construction and about 2,500 employment opportunities throughout the rice value chain once it is fully operational.
Those jobs are expected to cover land preparation, cultivation, harvesting, milling, transportation, the supply of inputs and trading.
Mr Opoku urged the Anunuso Rice Farmers’ Cooperative to coordinate with agricultural extension officers and potential buyers so that production reflects market demand.
He said the competitiveness of locally produced rice would depend on maintaining quality, harvesting at the right time, effective drying and storage, and efficient milling.
Technical teams were instructed to give farmers support in the use of improved seeds, soil fertility management, pest control and efficient water use.
The minister also called for continued discussions between traditional authorities and other stakeholders over the land agreements for the project.
He said the Ministry’s legal team was examining concerns raised by traditional authorities about the draft agreement, adding that consultation would remain an important part of the process.
Mr Opoku directed the contractor, Nathawo Investment Properties and Investment Limited, to deliver quality work and follow the approved specifications. He also asked the contractor and supervising teams to promote local participation and address concerns from nearby communities quickly.
The District Assembly, traditional authorities and farmers were urged to protect the water resources and catchment areas supporting the scheme from encroachment, pollution and erosion.
Under the wider FSRP intervention, the Government plans to rehabilitate or develop 4,800 hectares. This includes 3,700 hectares across four irrigation systems and 1,100 hectares covering four inland valley enclaves.
The irrigation systems are Kpong, Tanoso, Vea and Weta. The inland valley developments are Anunuso, Odaho/Odamu, Waamu/Kumi and Kawampe.
Mr Opoku thanked the traditional authorities for releasing land and commended farmers in Brofoyedru, Anunuso, Nkwankwanua and Awaham for their cooperation.
He said the investment would ultimately be judged by whether farmers could plan with greater certainty, increase their harvests and achieve sustainable improvements in income.
He later cut the sod to formally commence construction of the Anunuso Water Conservation Scheme.
