The Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen (GNAFF) has called on the Government and farmers to take advantage of the ongoing consistent rains by investing in water harvesting and storage systems to support all-year-round farming.
A statement issued to the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday in Accra said only a short while ago, farmers across the country were grappling with severe dry spells that threatened crops, reduced yields and imposed significant hardship on farming households.
It said the lack of water exposed the vulnerability of Ghana’s largely rain-fed agricultural system and highlighted the urgent need for sustainable water management solutions.
“Today, as the rain continues to fall, GNAFF is calling on government, local authorities, development partners and individual farmers to take deliberate steps to harvest, store and conserve water for future agricultural use,” the statement said.
The Association expressed concern about the current state and functionality of the One District, One Dam initiative and called for an assessment of the project to determine its effectiveness in supporting irrigation and climate-resilient agriculture.
It questioned whether the dams were effectively collecting and retaining water to support dry-season farming, whether they were being properly maintained and utilised, and what measures were being taken to restore their functionality where necessary.
“GNAFF believes that an assessment of the One District, One Dam project is necessary to determine its effectiveness in supporting irrigation and climate-resilient agriculture. The nation deserves to know whether these critical investments are helping farmers build resilience against future droughts and dry spells,” it said.
It urged farmers to seize the opportunity presented by the current rains by investing in simple and affordable water harvesting technologies.
Those, it said, included farm ponds, reservoirs, lined storage pits, small irrigation systems and other water conservation methods capable of capturing and storing excess rainwater for use during the dry season.
GNAFF further called on the government to develop and implement a comprehensive long-term water management strategy to harness periods of heavy and consistent rainfall for year-round agricultural production.
Such a strategy, the Association said, should include the expansion of irrigation infrastructure, rehabilitation of existing dams and reservoirs, promotion of water harvesting technologies and support for climate-smart agricultural practices.
The statement noted that Ghana could not continue to alternate between floods during the rainy season and water shortages during the dry season.
“The country must strategically capture and store excess rainfall to ensure continuous agricultural production, improve food security, create jobs and strengthen the resilience of farming communities,” it said.
It reaffirmed the GNAFF’s commitment to working with government and other stakeholders to promote sustainable agriculture and ensure that farmers and fishermen were equipped to withstand the growing challenges posed by climate change.
“The time to prepare for the next dry season is now. Every drop of water conserved today will help secure the future of Ghana’s agriculture tomorrow,” it added.
By Hafsa Obeng, GNA
