Canada has announced support for the Feed Ghana programme with 25 solar-powered boreholes in the Northern, Savannah and Upper West regions.
The borehole project seeks to promote all-year-round vegetable production, improve food security, empower women and youth, and strengthen agricultural value chains under the government’s flagship agricultural intervention programme.
This forms part of efforts to advance climate-smart farming and sustainable development.
Partnership
Speaking at a media engagement organised by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) in Accra last Thursday to provide an update on Canada’s support for the sector, the Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, Myriam Montrat, said the intervention formed part of Canada’s Africa Strategy to strengthen the agricultural value chains, promote inclusive trade and build resilience to climate change.
She explained that the irrigation facilities were consistent with Ghana’s development priorities and aligned with President John Dramani Mahama’s “Big Push” agenda for the expansion of irrigation infrastructure.
“These systems will allow farmers to cultivate during dry seasons, build resilience to climate change and increase their contribution to food security and local economies,” she said.
Ms Montrat said the irrigation systems would increase agricultural productivity, facilitate new harvest seasons in drought-prone areas, build resilience to climate change, raise incomes, and strengthen farmers’ contribution to value chains and trade opportunities.
She further stated that the mechanisation support for the Michel Camp Cooperative Women Farmers Society would reduce the manual labour associated with farming and strengthen women’s participation in the agricultural value chain.
Ms Montrat commended the Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) for supporting the initiative and reiterated Canada’s commitment to continue working with MoFA on the Feed Ghana programme.
“We are proud that these irrigation systems will increase productivity, create jobs and empower women and youth to play stronger roles in Ghana’s agricultural transformation,” she added.
Project
The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, said 10 of the 25 boreholes had already been completed and were in use in beneficiary communities.
The beneficiary communities are Tamalgu in the Karaga District, Salankpaang in Mion, Zhieng in Nanton, Bakundiba in Saboba, Kpanshegu in East Gonja, Jindabuo in Sawla-Tuna-Kalba, Chapuri in Jirapa, Domwine in the Lawra, Ketuo in Nandom and Sakai in Sissala East.
Mr Opoku said water from those facilities was used for irrigation to enable farmers, especially women and youth, to produce vegetables all year round.
He explained that feasibility studies and community engagements for the remaining 15 boreholes had been completed, and that the installations would take place between December this year and February 2026.
The next batch of beneficiary communities will include Yapalsi/Guno in the Nanton District, Moglaa and Bunglung in the Savelugu District, Gbandi in the Zabzugu, Bakpaba in Nanumba North, Nakpachee in Yendi, Dissah/Lingbinsi in North Gonja, and Bulenga in the Wa East Municipality.
In the Savannah Region, Disa Limbisi in the North Gonja District will benefit, while in the Upper West Region, Bulinga, Issa, Chum, Hachagagun, Serikpere, Simiompa, Yagron and Tanvari have been selected.
“These facilities will ensure reliable access to water for irrigation and empower farming households to increase productivity and incomes,” Mr Opoku said.
Mechanisation
The minister announced that the Michel Camp Cooperative Women Farmers Society in the Kpone-Katamanso Municipality had received mechanisation support from Canada following an appeal made to the Canadian Minister for International Development during a visit in June this year.
The package includes one tractor with accessories, three power tillers and five planters.
He said the equipment would reduce labour costs, increase efficiency and improve yields for the women farmers.
The cooperative, he added, had also put in place safety, maintenance and revenue plans to ensure the sustainability of the machines.
“The mechanisation package will significantly improve the efficiency of farming operations, reduce labour costs and increase yields,” he said.
