Revamp Wenchi Irrigation Project to boost youth Employment-MP urges Govt
The Member of Parliament for Wenchi in the Bono Region, Hon Haruna Seidu has called on the government and the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) to revamp the irrigation project in Wenchi to ensure a competitive and productive agricultural sector and to as well boost youth employment.
According to him, Irrigated agriculture plays an important role as a significant contributor to our gross domestic product (GDP), rural development, the economies of farm families and rural communities.
He added that it also has the potential of employing several youths in the Constituency and its catchment area and as well boost the local economy.
Hon Haruna disclosed this during an interview with EXPRESSNEWSGHANA, in parliament after he has visited the irrigation project site in Wenchi, on Tuesday, November 2, 2021.
He said agriculture has become “the most important sector to our development”, noting that it is the area that will provide food security and “drive us forward”
The Wenchi Irrigation Project, the MP said has been abandoned for years though all machines and other equipment that would make it work are in good condition.
He, therefore, appealed to the government and the Irrigation Authority to consider revamping the facility to boost dry season farming and boost youth employment.
“I don’t know what is holding onto the Irrigation authority and the government from operating the project. Everything that is needed for the facility to work is in good condition. I recently visited the facility and all pumps, machines, generators, and channels to supply water are in good condition. The Dam is full of water, and I don’t know why is not in operation,” the MP said.
“I will therefore appeal to the government, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Irrigation Authority to work out for the project to be revamped. This project can employ thousands of people of Wenchi, especially farmers and the youth. If this project is working, some of us will acquire lands to operate dry season farming for extra income. The youth will no longer travel to Accra or outside the country to look for jobs that do not even exist,” he added.
Irrigated agriculture is estimated to contribute 50 per cent to national food production and has played a major role in generating employment opportunities in rural areas and providing for the rural poor.
Hon Haruna argued that better management of the country’s water resources is essential for the continued productivity of the agricultural sector, noting that such a policy would help to provide a framework for the efficient use of water across all sectors.
The Wenchi Irrigation scheme project known as Asuninja Irrigation Scheme is a sprinkler type and was constructed in 1976 by the Government through the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) and rehabilitated in 2006.
The project takes its source of water from the Subin River and had a Weir built across the river as a source of pumping water for irrigation.
The length of the weir is 14.3 m, with a height of 1m and a width of 0.3m. Two diesel and four electric pumps are currently planted at the site.
It has a capacity pump of 45 horsepower (hp) with a voltage of 415-102 volts and an efficiency of 93%. PVC pipes are used with different sizes that are, 10 cm, 15 cm and 20 cm, as well as fifteen (15) hydrants. The laterals and the ten (10) sprinkler heads are at 5cm diameters.
The Irrigation potential area is about 121ha and the irrigable area is about 60ha which could benefit over 250 registered and non-registered farmers.
Source: expressnewsghana.com
Send your news stories and articles to expressnewsgh@gmail.com or via WhatsApp +233 0543 900 732
About Author
