The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has announced that the government will soon embark on a nationwide rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure as part of efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency.
Speaking at a groundbreaking ceremony for the rehabilitation of the Ashaiman Irrigation Scheme, Mr. Opoku said the project, in collaboration with development partners, is aimed at reviving defunct irrigation systems and constructing new ones to improve agricultural productivity.
He disclosed that although Ghana has over 1.9 million hectares of irrigable land, only about 226,000 hectares are currently in use. “As a matter of urgency, government will undertake a major rehabilitation exercise to revive defunct irrigation infrastructure and possibly build new ones to augment the existing infrastructure,” the minister said.
Highlighting the scope of the initiative, Mr. Opoku noted that 10 irrigation dams in the Northern Region would be rehabilitated, while eight new dams would also be constructed. He added that the Volta, Ahafo, and Ashanti Regions would also benefit under the project.
According to him, the move is designed to support year-round farming and reduce dependence on rain-fed agriculture. “This will ensure farmers have value for their input and make themselves self-sufficient,” he said.
The minister further revealed that about 250 solar-powered boreholes will be constructed to support vegetable farming, particularly for women and young people. “With farming, we can feed the entire country and even export to other places to create wealth for our people,” he added.
The Country Director of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Dorng Hyun Lee, reaffirmed the Korean Government’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s agricultural sector. He called for stronger collaboration to ensure farmers receive the necessary training and skills to increase yields.
Mr. Lee emphasised the need to adopt scientific and modern farming techniques, noting that this would not only boost food production but also create more job opportunities in the sector.
