Rice farmers at the Weta Irrigation Scheme in the Ketu North Municipality have appealed to the Minister for Food and Agriculture to urgently intervene following severe flooding that has devastated their farms and threatened their livelihoods.
The farmers said nearly 97 per cent of rice fields within the irrigation scheme had been submerged after heavy rains, resulting in substantial losses and jeopardising this year’s harvest.
Mr Gideon Kokoroko, Convener of the affected farmers, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the current situation was far worse than last year’s flooding incident, which affected only a few farms.
He recalled that following the 2025 floods, the Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture visited the area and assured farmers that measures would be taken to address their concerns; however, little progress had been made since then.
“This year, almost the entire irrigation scheme has been affected. The situation is much worse than what we experienced last year, and many farmers stand to lose their investments if urgent action is not taken,” he said.
Some of the affected farmers, including Ms Rebecca Nukporpe and Mr Mensah Ziokli, said they had already invested heavily in the current production season and were at critical stages of cultivation before the floods struck.
They said the destruction could have serious economic consequences for their households, as many depended solely on rice farming for their income.
The farmers appealed to the government to provide immediate relief support and to introduce measures to protect the irrigation scheme from future flooding.
They specifically called for the provision of equipment and other support systems, including improved drainage and flood-control infrastructure, to safeguard the farms.
They said strengthening the resilience of the irrigation scheme was essential for sustaining rice production, ensuring food security, and protecting livelihoods in the area.
The farmers expressed hope that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and other relevant agencies would swiftly respond to their plight by providing both immediate and long-term solutions to the recurring challenge.
By Michael Foli Jackidy