FAO inspects work on Weija Irrigation Scheme Rehabilitation
The FAO Assistant Director General (ADG) and Regional Representative for Africa Mr. Bukar Tijani, and the FAO Representative to Ghana, Mr Abebe Haile Gabriel, have paid a working visit to an FAO supported project aimed at restoring productive capacities of flood affected agricultural household in the Greater Accra Region.
The visit afforded the ADG/Regional Representative for Africa, the FAO Representative to Ghana and some senior management, to be given on-the-site briefing of work done so far as well as to interact with the direct implementer of the works- Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) and the direct beneficiaries of the support.
In an interaction with the beneficiaries at the project site, Mr. Tijani encouraged them to fully own the project, which will contribute to its success. He suggested protecting the drains, clearing of weeds and collecting rubbish which could choke the drains as some continuous maintenance activities they could consistently carry out. These activities in turn could boost their farming activities such that they could start earning a fortune from their work.
Mr Tijani reiterated FAO’s commitment in building the resilience of farmers against such disasters and climate change.
Background
On June 3rd, 2015, heavy torrential rainfall led to severe flooding in the capital, Accra and its environs, resulting in the loss of lives, displacement of vulnerable persons and the destruction of key infrastructures. Specifically in the agricultural sector, the floods caused severe damages to food stocks, the loss of livestock, the destruction of farmlands as well as damage to the water supply, irrigation systems, food storage and processing facilities, throughout the region.
Following the devastating effect of the flood, the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture requested for financial and technical assistance from the FAO to restore the lost livelihood of smallholder farm households whose farming activities were destroyed by the severe floods in the region.
Accordingly, FAO is supporting the Government through a Technical Cooperation Programme to restore the productive capacities of the flood affected agricultural households. The rehabilitation of Weija Irrigation facility is part of the activities aimed at reducing risks and disasters caused by heavy rains to farms and destruction of properties along the canal. The activity will curb the perennial silting of the open canals of the Irrigation Facility and contribute to increased food production and improved income for the farmers.
The Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) is the executing partner carrying out the direct rehabilitation works and has designed the concrete pipes to be procured amongst other materials by FAO’s procurement Unit for the purpose of the rehabilitation works.
Progress of Work so far at the Weija Irrigation Scheme
The over 7.4 km stretch of canal embankment to the storage reservoir has been cleared and currently desilting of the canal which volume was over half covered has been completed using heavy earth moving machines and excavators. Beneficiaries have also been engaged to remove remaining silt the excavator bucket could not completely remove in the canals. In addition to these works, the GIDA surveyors are already pegging and checking levels for the subsequent laying of pipes.
In addition, the irrigation canal at Ashaiman has been desilted and seeds have been distributed to farmers
Trainers of Trainers for training of farmers in vegetable and crop production using approaches that reduces their vulnerabilities to disasters and climate change is being done