By Muyid Deen Suleman, GNA
Anunuso-Brofoyedu (Ash), Oct 06, GNA – Mr Eric Opoku, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, has broken the ground for the construction of the 175-hectare Anunuso Water Conservation Scheme (AWCS) project at Brofoyedu, near Asokore, in the Sekyere East District of the Ashanti Region.
The project is a key component of the West Africa Food System Resilience Program (FSRP) – LOT 1, which aims to bolster agricultural resilience and enhance food security through the development of selected inland valley irrigation projects in the Ashanti Region.
The West Africa Food System Resilience Program (FSRP) is a comprehensive initiative by the government of Ghana, developed in collaboration with ECOWAS and funded by the World Bank, and is concurrently being implemented across eight other West African nations.
Within Ghana, the project’s interventions span 57 districts across ten regions.
They are the Upper East, North East, Northern, Bono East, Bono, Ashanti, Eastern, Central, Volta, and Greater Accra Regions.
The Brofoyedu project upon completion, is expected to provide sustainable water resources, enabling year-round farming and benefiting 220 farmers in Brofoyedu and its surrounding communities.
Mr Opoku speaking at the ceremony, explained that the project was an integral part of the government’s ‘Feed Ghana Program,’ specifically under the ‘Irrigation for Wealth Creation’ initiative, designed to ensure a more reliable water supply for rice farmers.
He stated that, once completed, the new facility would empower farmers to cultivate crops year-round, significantly reducing their reliance on seasonal rainfall and thereby boosting both the volume and consistency of rice production in the area.
Mr Opoku emphasized that irrigation stood as a crucial pillar within the ‘Feed Ghana Program,’ which recognized enhanced irrigation access as fundamental to increasing crop productivity.
He added that, the overarching objective of these efforts was to elevate domestic agricultural production, diminish import dependence, fortify food security, create employment opportunities, and generate wealth through the agricultural sector.
Rice, he noted, was among the priority commodities targeted by the program, particularly in Anunuso.
He also mentioned that other sites designated for similar development include Kpong, Tano, Bia, among others, as the government intensifies its efforts to expand the nation’s irrigated farming capacity.
According to the Minister, recent data released by the ‘Feed Ghana Program’ indicated a significant rise in Ghana’s rice self-sufficiency rate, climbing from 42% to 56% since the program’s introduction in April 2025.
Despite this progress, officials acknowledge that challenges such as storage, transportation, processing, and market access continue to impede the initiative’s full potential.
Mr. Opoku explained that the government’s ambition was to build upon these gains by substantially increasing rice production, thereby, positioning Ghana to move beyond merely meeting domestic consumption needs and venturing into continental and global rice markets.
He stated that the project holds particular significance for a country where agriculture remains heavily reliant on rainfall.
Mr Opoku highlighted that the expansion of irrigation would, therefore, not only boost agricultural output but also significantly enhance the resilience of farming communities by granting farmers greater control over their crops.
He further added that the Ministry would be actively engaging with farmer associations and coordinating the formation of a Water Users Association.
This association will be crucial in ensuring the facility’s proper maintenance and its sustained profitability for all users well beyond the project’s completion.
He was accompanied by Mr. John Dumelo, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, some officials from the Ministry and traditional stakeholders.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Benjamin Mensah