Drip irrigation facility installed for farmers
Kpando–Torkor Irrigation Farmers Co-operative Association, a group of vegetable farmers in the Volta Region, has had its hope of farming all year round revived following the installation of a drip irrigation facility at Kpando-Torkor.
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The association is into the production of okra, garden eggs, pepper and tomatoes for markets in mainly the Volta, Greater Accra and Eastern regions.
It began operations in 1974 on a 365-hectare land acquired by the Irrigation Development Authority (IDA) near the Volta Lake. The association has expanded its activities as of now and cultivates “chilli” pepper for export.
The drip irrigation facility for the group was provided by the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Institute through the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA).
In an interview with the Daily Graphic at the irrigation site, the chairman of the association, Mr Seth Gomenu, said the cultivation and export of chilli pepper was started some six years ago and that the availability of the drip irrigation facility would help the association boost production levels.
He said with the backing of the Skills Development Fund (SDF) and the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET), the association was further encouraged to embark on commercial farming so that they could attract the youth into vegetable farming.
According to him, only 70 of the 365 hectares of land available have been cultivated. Under the circumstances, he said, the irrigation facility was being underutilised.
The leader of the team of trainers in the use of the drip irrigation facility, Mr Chris Feruta Benee, urged the farmers to apply good agronomic practices in order to ensure successful crop yield and to also make the crops meet international export standards.
