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Rehabilitation of Tono Irrigation Project begins
Navrongo (U/E), March 16, Ghanadot/GNA - Minister of Food
and Agriculture Ernest Debrah the weekend cut the sod for
the rehabilitation of the Tono Irrigation Project in the
Kassena-Nankana District of the Upper East Region to make it
more efficient in food production.
Since its inception 29 years ago, the facility had not seen
any major rehabilitation.
Mr Debrah said government voted GH¢7.9 million for the
rehabilitation work which entails reshaping of the main
access road and dam walls to control erosion, replacement of
lining concrete of the main and lateral canals, construction
of washing bays, culverts, water control gates, and clearing
of main drains.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of this
year.
Mr Debrah noted that rehabilitation of the Tono facility, in
addition to other projects such as revamping the Bontanga
Irrigation in the Northern Region and the provision of pumps
at Pwalugu in the Upper East Region, would bolster the
economic prosperity of the three northern regions and also
mitigate the flood and drought that hit the areas last year.
He stressed the need for harvesting of rain water to enable
farmers do all year-round farming.
Mr Debrah said his Ministry intends to turn about 1,000
hectares of arable land in the Fumbisi Valley into rice
farms as part of plans to increase production and cut down
drastically on rice imports.
He entreated farmers to improve on soil fertility through
the use of organic matter, including organic manure, poultry
droppings, cow dung and compost, adding that they should
cultivate crops of high value and marketable.
Mr Issah Bukari, Managing Director the Irrigation Company of
the Upper East Region, managers of the Tono project, said
management would ensure that farmers make maximum use of the
facility to generate more food and employment for the
well-being of the nation, particularly the people in the
area.
He appealed to government to consider rehabilitating the
workers’ accommodation facilities and offices and to also
help maintain their vehicles to help facility their work.
GNA
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