Eight regions have been selected as beneficiaries to start phase one of a government initiative dubbed, “Irrigation for wealth creation”for the next 1 year.
Regional ministers of the regions namely; Volta, Oti, Central, North East, Northern, Savannah, Upper West and Upper East have been tasked to lead the initiative with subsequent engagement with stakeholders in their areas for a smooth implementation.
Food and Agric minister, Eric Opoku announced at a meeting with some selected regional ministers that ten thousand hectares of land would be needed under the phase one of the project.
He further explained that the initiative is in line with government’s Agric for economic transformation agenda. According to the sector minister, there are assurances that the identified areas have been earmarked for irrigation long ago, and they only had to finalize or formalize the discussions with the chiefs.
The nature of irrigation facility expected to be put in place will however be determined after a field visit by the experts to determine what each region requires.
That is because each region has an expected land area needed for the project which seeks to increase food production in the country.
Mr Opoku explained that, ”Farming in Ghana is seasonal. It’s seasonal because it is rainfall we depend solely on. The weather is not that favorable. You see, our farmers will be the beneficiaries of all the investment. And we want to reset their culture. And as we speak, from the records of the Ministry and from the handing over that was given to us by our predecessors, they’ve indicated clearly that only 1.6% of the 1.9 million hectares is under irrigation.
He added that, “I want to look at the West African average. It is 13.9 and Ghana is doing 1.6 so we are far, far, far below the West African average. And we have to push a lot of resources into irrigation so that you can ensure all your production. And when you look at the programs we have, we are giving you opportunity, we are providing the infrastructure of irrigation for you to farm. Our concern is to increase food production so that every one of you can be fed. We want to produce food to feed our country and the rest of West Africa. We can do it.”
Mr Opoku wondered why the government should be importing food to feed Ghanaians.
“Why are we importing food at a bill of over $2 billion every year, creating needless exchange rate challenges that is affecting businesses and worsening the unemployment situation of our country. This can be changed,” he explained.
He was however unable to disclose the cost of the initiative, assuring that it will be made known during the budget 2025 statement.
“We have now commissioned the team to go to the field to finalize the designs, it will be out of place for me to indicate what it will cost. But when they are done, it is the quantities that will lead to the determination of the cost. So, after the designs are done, I should be in a capacity to determine the actual cost for you to disseminate. Immediately after the approval of the budgets, the contractors will have to be engaged for them to move to the field. So as soon as the budget is approved, we then start the processes of awarding the contract for the contractors to move to site,” he explained.
