The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Eric Opoku, has led a delegation to Anumso in the Sekyere East District of the Ashanti Region for the sod-cutting and site possession ceremony for the construction of a modernised irrigation facility.
The project forms part of the Feed Ghana Programme’s “Irrigation for Wealth Creation” module and is being implemented under the West Africa Food System Resilience Project (FSRP).
The initiative is aimed at providing reliable water infrastructure to rice farmers, enabling them to cultivate throughout the year and increase agricultural productivity.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Eric Opoku said the investment demonstrates government’s commitment to strengthening food security, improving rural livelihoods and creating opportunities for farmers through year-round farming.
Upon completion, the Anumso irrigation facility is expected to add 175 hectares of irrigable land, significantly expanding the area available for rice production.
Other sites earmarked for irrigation development include Pong, Tano, Bia and Wietha.
Dr Opoku said the government’s broader objective is to significantly increase domestic rice production and position Ghana to achieve greater self-sufficiency while creating opportunities for the country to participate more competitively in continental and global markets.
The ceremony was attended by the Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, the Chief Director, local leaders from the Sekyere East District and traditional authorities from Anumso.
