Mr. Eric Opoku
The Government, through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, has cut sod for the development of the 175-hectare 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 the country’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, Eric Opoku, said the project forms part of government efforts to reduce farmers’ dependence on unreliable rainfall and ensure year-round food production.
He said the scheme is aligned with the Feed Ghana Programme’s Irrigation for Wealth module, which seeks to improve water management and create conditions for farmers to cultivate more productively.
According to the Minister, technical projections indicate the project could increase rice yields from about 2.5 metric tonnes per hectare to 5 metric tonnes per hectare.
With two cropping cycles annually, the developed area could produce about 1,750 metric tonnes of paddy, translating into about 1,100 metric tonnes of milled rice each year.
Mr. Opoku said the project is expected to create about 100 jobs during construction and approximately 2,500 employment opportunities across the rice value chain when fully operational, spanning land preparation, farming, harvesting, milling, transportation, input supply and trading.
He urged the Anunuso Rice Farmers’ Cooperative to work closely with agricultural extension officers and prospective buyers to ensure production is guided by market demand, stressing quality production, timely harvesting, proper drying, storage and efficient milling to enable local rice to compete effectively.
He also called on technical teams to provide extension support on improved seeds, soil fertility, pest management and efficient water use.Mr Opoku appealed to traditional authorities and other stakeholders to continue consultations on land agreements governing the project, noting that the Ministry’s legal team was considering concerns raised by traditional authorities regarding the draft agreement.
He directed the contractor, Nathawo Investment Properties and Investment Limited, to ensure quality workmanship and strict compliance with approved specifications and to encourage local participation.
He called on the District Assembly, traditional authorities and farmers to protect water resources and catchment areas 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 – Kpong, Tanoso, Vea and Weta – and 1,100 hectares across four inland valley enclaves including Anunuso, Odaho/Odamu, Waamu/Kumi and Kawampe.
Mr. Opoku expressed appreciation to traditional authorities for releasing land and commended farmers in Brofoyedru, Anunuso, Nkwankwanua and Awaham for their cooperation, saying the ultimate measure of the investment would be whether farmers could plan production with greater certainty, increase harvests and achieve sustainable income growth.
A Business Desk Report