Iddrisu Abubakar at his farm
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has provided farmers in the Northern Region with 75 solar-powered irrigation pumps.
About 78 farmers have benefitted from the UNDP project which reduces energy costs and enhances production each year.
The solar-powered irrigation pumps were installed in four communities to irrigate 15 hectares of land.
In most parts of Ghana, climate change has affected the ability of farmers to predict the rains which negatively affects planting and harvesting.
Without additional water sources for irrigation, farming usually lasts only one season.
The unfavourable climatic conditions adversely impact productivity and reduce farmers’ incomes.
Through the solar-powered irrigation project supported by the Energy Commission of Ghana and UNDP, smallholder farmers in the four communities of Tamalgu, Nakpanduri, Datoyili and Fooshegu can now irrigate their farm fields regularly.
A farmer, Iddrisu Abubakar told DAILY GUIDE that “previously we had difficulties as farmers, especially during the dry season, but with the help of the solar-powered irrigation pumps, we are able to expand our farms, as well as farm multiple times during dry season.”
“We are now in a group of 38, including women and we farm about 35 acres of land. I have been able to build a house, send my eight children to school, as well as take good care of my family through the UNDP project.”
He thanked UNDP for the support and encouraged it to do more to help farmers in deprived communities in terms of modern farming technology.
Buffer Zone
A buffer zone, also known as buffer strip, is piece of land with permanent vegetation 50 metres from protected water body.
It protects water bodies such as lakes and rivers from pollution.
Buffer zones promote water quality and reduce soil erosion.
From Eric Kombat, Tamale