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Irrigation technology comes to
tomato farmers in Dormaa District
Anyinasu (B/A), Dec. 31, GNA - Tomato farmers in five
communities in the Dormaa District are benefiting from a
modern irrigation technology to enable them to meet consumer
demands throughout the year.
The intervention, which will also seek ready market for the
produce is a collaboration between the Trade and Investment
for Competitive Export Economy, a branch of the United
States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the
Ghana National Tomato Traders Association.
The beneficiary communities are Bebianeha, Gonokrom,
Yawbofokrom, Duasidan and Anyinasu.
A demonstration was held at Anyinasu to expose the tomato
farmers to the Family Drip Irrigation System, a cost
effective irrigation that employs the use of a generator to
transport water from dugouts through perforated water hose
onto the fields.
Mr Aaron Attafa Ampofo, food crop specialist, noted that
Ghana lost between 300 and 400 million cedis each dry season
to tomato farmers from Burkina Faso as their Ghanaian
counterparts usually went out of production during the
period.
He explained that the local farmers' plight was usually
attributed to the lack of efficient irrigation methods and
start-up capital.
Mr Ampofo said the two organizations had decided to adopt
the farmers, supervise their activities and propel them into
ready markets so that more of their colleagues would be
enticed into the industry.
The food specialist said apart from the provision of a
container for water storage on the farm and land
preparation, all other inputs into the technology and the
market search would be borne by the two organizations.
He appealed to the farmers to support the project and
co-operate with the tomato 'queens' to make the industry
viable and self-sustaining.
Nii Yemoh, Secretary of the Tomato Traders Association, gave
an assurance that the body was ready to promote workable
relations between the tomato farmers and operatives of the
market to pave the way for a compact business activity.
Mr Edward Badu, Dormaa District Director of the Ministry of
Food and Agriculture, lauded the project and commended the
two organizations for their choice to support the tomato
industry.
He noted that agricultural businesses in the District could
grow if government and other well-meaning agencies provided
them with the necessary assistance.
Mr Badu charged the farmers to comply with the basic
components of the new irrigation technology and make the
maximum profit out of their efforts.
GNA
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