Parliamentarian commends innovative irrigation project

Binduri(UER), Feb. 22, GNA - Mr Mark Anthony Awuni, Member of Parliament for Binduri has commended authorities of Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) and International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) for establishing an innovative irrigation project in the area.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is funding the project.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after the inauguration on Thursday, Mr Awuni said the project would help improve the economic and social status of the people.

It would also help reduce migration of the youth from the area leaving the aged.

Mr Awuni noted that the drip irrigation system was the best method of managing and conserving water to enable the people undertake all year farming.

He said the system would in addition, help address the erratic rainfall pattern in the area, which usually affected agriculture production.

Mr Awuni urged the people to take advantage of the project and work hard to fend for their families.

He pledged to negotiate with the Government, NGOs, donor partners and other organisations to assist the farmers with loans and other logistics.

Twenty farmers have so far been engaged on the pilot project undertaking a hectare of onion. Other vegetables such as tomatoes, pepper, and lettuce could be cultivated.

Some of the farmers speaking to the GNA, expressed appreciation for the project that they would no longer rely on erratic rainfall that often disappointed them.

Mrs Adeline Ofori-Bah, a representative of USAID, said fruits were being patronised on both domestic and international markets and the farmers would benefit indulging in horticulture. She said it was against this background that USAID sponsored the project and appealed to the farmers to take advantage of the project to cultivate fruits and export them to earn foreign exchange. 22 Feb. 07