The Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) has rehabilitated the Bontanga and Golinga irrigation schemes in the Northern Region under its Northern Agriculture Zone project at the cost of $3,296,283.
The scope of work involved the rehabilitation of the two irrigation facilities and 496 hectares of existing operational land, with the extension of 260 hectares by bulk water supply for anchor farmers to invest in the pilot irrigation scheme.
Mr Martin Eson-Benjamin, Chief Executive Officer of MiDA made this known at the inauguration of the two dams at Bontanga in the Tolon/Kumbungu District of the region on Wednesday.
He said the rehabilitation works also included the dredging of 23.8 kilometres of the drainage system, resurfacing of 16.9 kilometres of the main and lateral roads, and the renovation of six farm buildings as well as the provision of 33 new threshing floors and nine maintenance sheds.
Mr Eson-Benjamin said, all these facilities were provided to make it possible for farmers to farm all year round and increase their production in the cultivation of vegetables, rice, maize and cowpea.
He said the rehabilitation of the irrigation schemes would give a new lease of life to farmers as they can now enhance their incomes and also contribute to the growth of the national economy.
Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), said in a speech read on his behalf that the agricultural transformation component of MiDA and the rehabilitation of the two irrigation schemes was one of the interventions that was expected to provide a strategic approach to poverty reduction in the rural areas.
He explained that, it would increase the production and productivity of farmers in adding value to the crops they produce and enhance their competitiveness at the local and international levels.
He said besides the rehabilitation of the irrigation schemes, the project had also provided support to farmer based organisations in the form of logistics, including roads; post harvest infrastructure and financial services to enable them carry out farming as a business.
Mr Ahwoi therefore appealed to farmers to ensure that, they regularly fulfil their obligation to make payment of the irrigation service charge as a prime concern, since the sustenance of the scheme would depend on it.
He said the payment of the fees for the use of the facilities and other support services would facilitate their maintenance and making future rehabilitation works to be carried out possible.
“We need to move away from the cycle of build, operate, neglect and rehabilitate that has characterised irrigation schemes in the country,” he emphasised.**
