150 hectares dry season farming takes off in the north

A Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) led dry season irrigation farming has taken off at various ecological zones of the Northern Region to produce crops for export to the European market.

Crops being cultivated under the I50- hectare project, estimated to cost GH¢2.7 million, include butternut squash, water melon, sweet potato, and seedless water melon.

SADA, which is facilitating the process, has engaged three companies, including Plus One Investments Limited, an indigenous company, to undertake the project, with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture as the lead implementer.

Alhaji Gilbert Iddi, Chief Executive of SADA, who briefed newsmen at the inauguration of the project at Yapei, one of the sites in the Region on Wednesday said the Authority had already secured market in Birmingham, United Kingdom, for the produce.

Alhaji Iddi said the project would be cyclical so that after the dry season, other crops would be cultivated.

Other areas where the project has taken off include Buipe, and Kukobila.

It will also be replicated at Diare, Pwalugu and Zebila in the Upper East Region and Lawra in the Upper West Region.

At all the project sites, pipelines have been laid tapping water from local water bodies including the White Volta and Nasia Rivers to irrigate the fields.

Alhaji Iddi said the project would provide employment to a number of people especially farmers along its catchment areas and help to stem the tide of rural-urban migration.

He said SADA recognised that rural-urban migration took place in the dry season hence the project.