The Upper East Region can significantly increase food production if its irrigation potential is fully utilised, according to ICOUR Managing Director Dr Dominic Anarigide.
He says Tono and Vea have enough water to support more intensive farming, including multiple production cycles for some crops.
“If we plan very well, we can even do three times a year for some crops in Vea and Tono because we have the water,” he said.
But Dr Anarigide says underutilised facilities, maintenance problems and challenges with parts of the Vea canal system continue to limit production.
ICOUR is targeting 500 hectares at Tono and Vea for tomato production, as it seeks to expand year-round farming.
At Tono, preliminary figures also show average rice yields have reached 6.9 tonnes per hectare, although farmers continue to face market challenges.
Dr Anarigide says the focus must now shift from simply having irrigation infrastructure to ensuring the facilities operate efficiently enough to keep farmers producing throughout the year.
The region’s irrigation potential, he argues, could boost food production, create jobs and reduce the vulnerability of farmers to erratic rainfall.
Source: Bolgafmonline.com| 102.7 MHz| Bolgatanga
