THE success of Ghana’s ambitious agricultural transformation along the Volta corridor will hinge on land availability, the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) has said.
Speaking during a tour of the White and Black Volta Basins on Monday, the Chief Executive of MiDA, Mr Alexander Kofi-Mensah Mould, appealed to traditional leaders to release land for the creation of large-scale Agro-Ecological Parks (AEPs) under President John Dramani Mahama’s 24-Hour Plus Programme.
The tour, led by the MiDA Board Chairman, Dr Charles Abugre, included a courtesy call on the Worawora Traditional Council. Mr Mould told the council, “The success of the 24-hour agricultural programme depends heavily on land availability. We are counting on you to help unlock the agricultural potential of this area.”
In response, Daasebre Sarfro Baah III, Chief of Worawora, pledged that thousands of acres have already been earmarked for commercial cultivation of ginger, chilli pepper and rice for export. “The people of Worawora are ready,” the chief said, urging the government to support the initiative with irrigation systems and farm inputs to scale production.
The proposed Agro-Ecological Parks are envisioned as integrated 24-hour agro-industrial zones, combining farming, processing, storage, logistics and export to generate jobs and boost foreign exchange earnings.
However, the MiDA tour revealed significant infrastructure gaps that could hinder progress. Despite being near Lake Volta, many communities still rely entirely on rainfall for farming, with little access to irrigation. “Water is flowing beside these communities, yet farmers depend on rain,” Mr Mould observed.
In the Northern Region, he criticised incomplete facilities under the One Village One Dam initiative, saying, “What we saw in some cases are dugouts masquerading as dams.”
Kubungu has been identified as a potential cold chain logistics hub connected to Tamale Airport to support exports of fruits, vegetables and nuts.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
