Recent floods destroy hundreds of hectares of farmlands in Keta

Keta, July 5, GNA - Hundreds of hectares of farmlands were submerged in the Keta Municipality by the recent floods destroying food crops worth several thousands of Ghana cedis. About 100 acres of maize farms belonging to Farmer Based Organizations that received support under the Millennium Challenge Authority (MCA) Project at Anloga were among the crops affected. Togbe Azadagli III, Keta Municipal Director of Agriculture told members of the National Task Force on Floods during a visit to the area on Saturday.

The Task Force, which toured flooded areas in the Keta Municipality and Ketu-South District, was led by Mr Joseph Yileh Chireh, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development.

Togbe Azadagli said the farmers received GH¢76,525 of MCA support in terms of fertilizers, seeds and land preparation. Mr Kofi Portuphy, National Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) expressed the need for the development of appropriate infrastructure in support of projects.

He observed that the floods would have been prevented in the farms if drainage was considered at the planning stage of development. Mr Sylvester Tornyeava, Keta Municipal Chief Executive, called for the dredging of the Keta Lagoon to enable it to absorb more water to minimize the extent of floods in the Keta area. He called for more MCA support for the farmers to enable them to grow vegetables when the floods recede in August. The team also visited Vodza, Kedzi and Anyanui areas in the Keta Municipality and Adina Denu and Agbozume in the Ketu-South District. Mr Yileh Chireh noted that the devastation caused by floods in the area was extensive and had given new lessons in culvert designing and the height or thickness of roads. He said there was the need to revive communal spirit, which had died down in communities.