Rehabilitation works on the Kpong Irrigation Scheme are about 75 per cent complete, with the total project cost estimated at US$22.5 million.
The intervention forms part of broader efforts under the West Africa Food System Resilience Project (FSRP) to strengthen Ghana’s food systems against climate change and climate variability through sustainable land management, climate-smart agriculture, improved extension services and digital agro-advisory systems.
The project, which is the largest and most productive irrigation scheme in the country, covers about 4,040 hectares downstream of the Kpong Hydroelectric Dam.
The scheme supports smallholder rice farmers, large-scale commercial banana production for export, aquaculture and several major industries, making it a critical economic asset for the country.
Key works include the rehabilitation and concrete lining of main and branch canals, the installation of underground piping to reduce water losses, the upgrading of pumping stations, the rehabilitation of drainage systems, the construction of night storage facilities and the improvement of over 150 kilometres of access roads within the scheme.
Modern instrumentation is also being installed to improve water measurement, management and accountability.
When completed, the rehabilitation will enable full and reliable irrigation of all 4,040 hectares, adding about 350 hectares that were previously unproductive due to water constraints.
Rice yields are expected to increase from an average of 4.5 metric tonnes per hectare to at least six metric tonnes, with total rice output projected to reach 30,000 metric tonnes annually.
The scheme will directly benefit about 7,020 people, including smallholder farmers and employees of large agribusinesses, while indirectly supporting over 21,000 household members. Across the value chain, the project is expected to sustain around 28,000 jobs.
Event
This was revealed by the Operations Manager for the West Africa Food System Resilience Project, Philip Daniel Laryea, during a working visit by the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, to the project site last Thursday.
The event brought together the acting CEO of the Ghana Irrigation Development Project (GIDA), Eric Samuel Adu-Dankwa, the Technical Supervisory Consultant at GIDA, Kofi Modzaka, the Marketing Manager of Top International Engineering Corporation, Jeff Wang, the Chief Director of MOFA, Paul Siameh, the Technical Adviser at MOFA, Kwasi Bonney and a section of farmers.
Mr Laryea explained that the rehabilitation of the Kpong Irrigation Scheme aligned with the government’s objective of expanding and strengthening irrigation infrastructure nationwide to improve resilience and food production.
He said the rehabilitation works had been carefully phased to allow farming activities to continue in most parts of the scheme, minimising disruption to livelihoods.
“Following completion of the physical works, the project will focus on strengthening farmer organisations, promoting climate-smart technologies, improving access to mechanisation services and linking farmers to reliable off-takers to guarantee markets for their produce,” he added.
Speaking at the event, Mr Opoku assured the contractors and farmers at the scheme at Asutsuare of immediate payment of outstanding certificates to enable the timely completion of rehabilitation works and the full utilisation of the scheme’s over 4,000 hectares for agricultural production.
Broader vision
The minister placed the Kpong Irrigation Scheme within the broader national vision outlined by President John Dramani Mahama’s Agriculture for Economic Transformation agenda, which seeks to use agriculture as a key driver of prosperity and economic growth.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh
