Asutsuare: Finance Minister Dr. Ato Forson, alongside senior officials from the World Bank and the West Africa Food System Resilience Project (FSRP), visited the Kpong Irrigation Scheme (KIS) and Golden Exotic Limited in the Eastern and Greater Accra Regions. This visit is part of a broader government strategy aimed at increasing irrigated agriculture and reducing Ghana's reliance on imported rice through targeted investments backed by the World Bank-funded FSRP.
According to Ghana Web, the FSRP is actively involved in rehabilitating and modernizing the Kpong Irrigation Scheme, crucial for the farming communities around Akuse and Asutsuare. The project encompasses several components, including the rehabilitation of irrigation and drainage infrastructure, implementation of automation and instrumentation systems for efficient water management, rehabilitation of access roads, and improved management systems for the scheme. The initiative is supported by a US$22.6 million fund from the World Bank, and rehabilitation works are reported to be 75 percent complete, with automation equipment installation at 30 percent. Once fully operational, the scheme is expected to irrigate approximately 4,040 hectares of farmland.
During the visit, Dr. Forson emphasized that the World Bank loan under the FSRP would significantly bolster Ghana's food security and tackle long-standing structural challenges in agriculture. He expressed gratitude to the World Bank for their assistance and funding allocation, highlighting the crucial role this support plays in developing the agricultural sector, which has faced persistent struggles.
Dr. Forson also addressed concerns from rice farmers regarding market access, assuring them that the School Feeding Programme would procure only locally produced food products. Additionally, he announced that the National Buffer Stock Company (NABCO) had been retooled, with plans for budgetary allocations to purchase produce from local farmers and construct new storage silos to minimize post-harvest losses. These measures aim to guarantee markets for farmers, encourage higher production, and reduce post-harvest losses.
World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, Robert Taliercio, reaffirmed the Bank's commitment to Ghana's agricultural transformation agenda. He noted the critical role of agriculture in Ghana's economy, contributing about 20 percent of GDP and providing employment for over one-third of the population. Taliercio acknowledged the infrastructure challenges but emphasized the World Bank's dedication to supporting Ghana in bridging these gaps.
Discussions are ongoing between the World Bank and the Ghanaian government regarding a US$1 billion agricultural support programme to expand irrigation, improve rural roads, support export-oriented crops, and enhance productivity. Under the FSRP rice self-sufficiency model, Ghana aims to develop at least 100,000 hectares of irrigated land, organized into large production enclaves.
The Kpong Irrigation Scheme currently benefits approximately 2,000 smallholder rice farmers and Golden Exotic Limited, Africa's largest organic banana producer and exporter. The scheme also provides water to aquaculture companies producing tilapia and catfish. The West Africa Food System Resilience Project (FSRP) is a Government of Ghana initiative funded by the World Bank, coordinated by ECOWAS, and implemented in eight West African countries, with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture overseeing its execution in Ghana.