The Bawku West District Chief Executive, James Ayamwego, says the construction of dugouts proposed by President John Dramani Mahama could help tackle the perennial impact of the Bagre Dam spillage while boosting dry-season farming in the district.
According to him, the proposed water-holding facilities will allow communities to harness excess water from the spillage for irrigation instead of allowing it to cause widespread destruction to farmlands, livestock and property.
Speaking on A1 Radio monitored by BolgaFM, Mr. Ayamwego said the annual spillage has over the years subjected farmers to repeated losses, with farmlands and animals destroyed and lives sometimes lost to flooding.
He said government’s plan to construct dugouts and reservoirs at strategic locations could turn the annual flooding challenge into an agricultural opportunity.
“We have seen how we could also not see just the spillage of the Bagre Dam to be a distraction or a worry to us, but an advantage.”
He explained that water stored in the dugouts could provide farmers with a reliable source of irrigation during the dry season, reducing their dependence on rainfall.
He further disclosed that engineers and technical experts have already toured parts of the lower White Volta basin to identify suitable locations for the proposed facilities.
The DCE said the initiative would also involve the private sector as government explores opportunities to promote commercial farming in the area.
While expressing optimism about the intervention, he stressed the need for immediate public education and relief support for communities affected by the current spillage.
Source: Bolgafmonline.com| 102. 7 MHz| Bolgatanga
