The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has called on the country’s Minister-designate for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, to focus on developing irrigation systems to mitigate the impact of climate change on agriculture.

Wepia Adugwala, the National President of PFAG, stressed that Ghana’s food production cannot continue to rely on traditional rain-fed farming methods, particularly as climate change increasingly affects weather patterns. He pointed out the urgent need to transition to more resilient farming techniques, with irrigation systems playing a crucial role.

Adugwala specifically highlighted the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam, which has the potential to irrigate over 15,000 hectares of land in northern Ghana. He noted that while the dam could play a significant role in addressing irrigation needs, its full potential has not yet been realised and should be expanded.

He urged the incoming agriculture minister to take swift action in modernising the sector, particularly by improving irrigation infrastructure to support farmers in adapting to changing environmental conditions. Adugwala emphasized that securing consistent irrigation would be vital to ensuring stable food production and the livelihoods of farmers across the country.

“In the face of climate change, irrigation should be the top priority for the sector,” he said. “Ghana cannot rely solely on rain for agriculture, especially in northern Ghana, where we produce a large portion of the country’s food.”

Source:TheDotNews