The Government, through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, has cut sod for the development of the Anunuso Water Conservation Scheme at Anunuso Valley near Brofoyedru in the Sekyere East District of the Ashanti Region.
The project, being implemented under the West Africa Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP), is expected to add 175 hectares of irrigable land to Ghana’s agricultural capacity and benefit at least 220 farmers of the Anunuso Rice Farmers’ Cooperative.
Speaking at the sod-cutting and site-possession ceremony, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, said the project forms part of government’s efforts to reduce farmers’ dependence on unreliable rainfall and increase food production throughout the year.
He said the Anunuso scheme is also aligned with the Feed Ghana Programme’s Irrigation for Wealth module, which seeks to improve water management and create conditions for farmers to cultivate their land more productively.
According to the Minister, the technical projections indicate that the project could increase rice yields from about 2.5 metric tonnes per hectare to 5 metric tonnes per hectare.
With two successful cropping cycles annually, he said the developed area could produce approximately 1,750 metric tonnes of paddy, translating into about 1,100 metric tonnes of milled rice each year.
Mr. Opoku said the project is also expected to create about 100 jobs during construction and approximately 2,500 employment opportunities across the rice value chain when fully operational.
He noted that the employment opportunities would span land preparation, farming, harvesting, milling, transportation, input supply and trading.
The Minister urged the Anunuso Rice Farmers’ Cooperative to work closely with agricultural extension officers and prospective buyers to ensure that production is guided by market demand.
He stressed the importance of quality production, timely harvesting, proper drying, storage and efficient milling to enable locally produced rice to compete effectively in the domestic market.
Mr. Opoku further called on the technical teams to provide farmers with the necessary extension support, including guidance on improved seeds, soil fertility, pest management and efficient water use.
He also appealed to traditional authorities and other stakeholders to continue consultations on the land agreements governing the project.
The Minister said the Ministry’s legal team was considering concerns raised by the traditional authorities regarding the draft agreement, stressing that adequate consultation would remain central to the process.
He directed the contractor, Nathawo Investment Properties and Investment Limited, to ensure quality workmanship and strict compliance with the approved specifications.
Mr. Opoku also urged the contractor and supervising teams to encourage local participation and respond promptly to concerns from surrounding communities.
He called on the District Assembly, traditional authorities and farmers to protect the water resources and catchment areas supporting the project against encroachment, pollution and erosion.
The Minister said the broader FSRP intervention targets the rehabilitation or development of 4,800 hectares, comprising 3,700 hectares across four irrigation systems and 1,100 hectares across four inland valley enclaves.
The irrigation schemes are Kpong, Tanoso, Vea and Weta, while the inland valley developments include Anunuso, Odaho/Odamu, Waamu/Kumi and Kawampe.
Mr. Opoku expressed appreciation to the traditional authorities for releasing land for the project and commended farmers in Brofoyedru, Anunuso, Nkwankwanua and Awaham for their cooperation.
He said the ultimate measure of the investment would be whether farmers could plan their production with greater certainty, increase their harvests and achieve sustainable improvements in their incomes.
He subsequently performed the sod-cutting to officially commence the development of the Anunuso Water Conservation Scheme.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
