World Bank extols resilience of drought-stricken farmers

The World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Robert Taliercio O’Brien, has acknowledged and applauded the resilience of farmers who were hit by this year’s drought in northern parts of Ghana, encouraging them to stay focused and not despair.

Mr. O’Brien was touring parts of the Upper Region to inspect FSRP (West Africa Food System Resilience Programme) project sites, where World Bank-funded projects are making strides.

The FSRP project is to augment Ghana and the sub-region’s food system resilience against climate-driven agricultural crises.

During segmented interactions with farmers and media personnel, Mr. Obrien stated: “As demoralising and heartbreaking as this is, I am highly motivated by the steely purpose and resolve of indefatigable farmers I have met to take it all in their stride and forge ahead.

“I have come to deliver one message only; and that is the World Bank stands with you in these trying times and we are committed to continue supporting Ghana and the sub-region to build and promote robust value chain systems to ensure we emerge steadfast and even stronger during and after unforeseen, unavoidable tests of nature.”

Mr. Obrien welcomed news that communities within World Bank-funded irrigation sites were not affected by the devastating brunt of the recent drought, as the irrigation systems enabled them to engage in dry-season farming.

Along with teams from the World Bank Ghana and FSRP, the Country Director inspected facilities within the Tono Irrigation Scheme which were rehabilitated on World Bank/Government of Ghana funding under the former Ghana Commercial Agriculture Project (GCAP).

Through GCAP, the World Bank and government of Ghana have committed substantial investments into the rehabilitation of notable irrigation systems.

The project selected 4 large public irrigation schemes for rehabilitation and expansion: the Kpong Irrigation Scheme (KIS), Kpong Left Bank Irrigation Scheme (KLBIS), Tono Irrigation Scheme (TIS) and Vea Irrigation Scheme (VIS).

Mr. Obrien emphasised that the World Bank and Ghana are set to build upon and further strengthen GCAP accomplishments through FSRP. Key among them will be completing work on the Vea Irrigation Scheme (VIS) and further interventions vis-a-vis the Tono Irrigation Scheme (TIS).

Through FSRP, the World Bank and Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) are supporting the intensification of production with a supply of input credit to the scheme’s farmers.

Under a Norwegian grant, farmers at Tono will be supported with inputs to cultivate 50 hectares of tomato using solar powered pumps in Zones B & O. FSRP is further activating on-farm demonstrations to promote proven CSA (climate smart agric) technologies in tomatoes and set up adaptive trials to evaluate suitability of locally released tomato seeds.

There is also logistical support to facilitate implementing FSRP activities for Agric Extension Agents to further FSRP activities on the scheme.

Mr. O’Brien assured farmers that the Bank will not stop at providing funding. “We will be with you on the ground every step of the way; and we shall not relent until our full objective of credible food security has been met.”

Ms. Ashwini Sebastian, Senior Agric Economist-World Bank Ghana and Task Team Leader of FSRP, said irrigation is just one strand in the agricultural value chain and does not on its own deliver the anticipated quality and yields in food production.

Other value chain interventions – including the adoption of innovative methods, use of climate-smart seeds and other value addition interventions – need to be integrated; and that’s exactly what the World Bank seeks to focus on and support going forward.

Project Coordinator-FSRP Osei Owusu-Agyeman announced that in view of the current level of climate variability, FSRP will sponsor a new national irrigation policy that redefines the country’s irrigation frontiers.