Turning the UE into the Bread Basket , Tono, Vea-The answer(Daily Graphic, Monday, May 26, 2008

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
On March 27, 1975, the then Head of State of Ghana, Col. I.K. Acheampong performed the first ground cutting ceremony for the commencement of the construction of the Tono Irrigation Scheme.
The construction of the scheme by Taylor Woodrow Ltd took nearly ten years to complete. On February 9, 1984, the Government of Ghana incorporated a limited liability company, the Irrigation Company of Upper Region-ICOUR- to run both the Tono and Vea Irrigation schemes.
The then government also employed Tate and Lyle Technical Services of UK as the Manager of ICOUR for five years between 1984 and 1989 after which ICOUR fully came under Ghanaian Management in 1990 to date.
The Tono Irrigation Dam, built, is one of the largest agricultural dams in West Africa , covering a total catchment’s area of 3,600 hectares and providing a developed area of 2,400 hectares for growing irrigated crops. There several villages living and farming within the project area
The dam, which allows for year-round farming, has greatly aided in the development of the region. Tomatoes have long been the most lucrative crop in the Upper East region and it is as profitable as rice, maize, groundnuts, yam, pepper and dairy.
It also provides employment opportunities to a greater majority of the people of the Tono Community in particular and the Region as a whole.
A number of farmers on the scheme has won awards not only the district level but also at the national level.
As far back as 1989, Mr. Philip Abayori, an ICOUR farmer was adjudged the best national farmer. In 1996, Mr. George Alonkodongo also on the Tono Irrigation Scheme picked up a national best farmer award followed by Mr. Monday Adabugah who was adjudged the third best national farmer in 1998.
The Tono and Vea Schemes are well noted for dry season tomato production. The scheme also produces rice to boost the availability of local rice in the Ghanaian market.
Despite the enormous contribution of the project to socio-economic development of the region and the country at large, the project has not seen any major maintenance. This has led to a reduction of the original hectares of irrigated land to the present 1,800 hectares.
The loss is due to the siltation and breakage of canals and laterals making it impossible for water to reach certain developed areas.
It was for this reason that when on Saturday March 15, 2008, the Minister of Food and Agriculture cut he sod for rehabilitation works to begin; it was greeted with wild applause and cheers from the chiefs and people as well as farmers in the area.
According to the beneficiaries of the scheme, the rehabilitation of the project will not only increase food production in the region but will also give more jobs to people and therefore more money in their pockets.
The total cost of the rehabilitation is GH c 7.9 million would cost GH c 7.90 million cedis. It would include regarding and gravelling of the main access road in the scheme, re-gravelling of the dam wall and erosion control of the dam slopes and replacement of lost linings of concrete on the main and lateral canals.
Construction of washing bays, culverts, water control gates and desilting of main drain also form part of the project. Six construction firms have been engage to execute the project scheduled for completion in December.
Delivering his address, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr. Ernest A. Debrah said government has undertaken due diligence in the selection of the contractors and stressed that it would be disappointing for any of them to fail.
I cannot but agree with the Minister in his call to contractors undertaking the contracts to do quality work.
His appeal to the citizens of the area who are the ultimate beneficiaries of the project is also apt.
The populace must know that the physical, economic and social sustainability of the scheme after the rehabilitation will depend on the collective effort of the farmers, ICOUR Management and the wider community who are the direct or indirect beneficiaries of the scheme.
Clearly the rehabilitation of the Tono Irrigation Scheme is very timely and its completion would go a long way to boost food production in the region.
It is expected that farmers would put the rehabilitated scheme into good use by producing high value crops for not just the local market but possibly the international market.
With the Northern Star Tomato Factory now in place, the Nasia Rice Milling Company working and the banks now ready to provide credits to farmers, one can only expect the best after all is done.
Already Management of ICOUR under its current Managing Director, Mr. Issah Bukari has expressed its appreciation to the government for given the Tono Irrigation Scheme priority and initiating the restoration of the scheme.
According to Mr. Bukari, this will enhance efficiency of water management to increase productivity.
But like Oliver Twist, the MD is also pleading with the sector ministry and rightly so to assist the project repair the very old houses, offices and vehicles in order to meet the increasing. This in my view is a call worth considering.
In commending the government for fulfilling the long awaited dream of rehabilitating the Tono Irrigation Dam, one can only hope that in the not too distant future, similar support would be extended to the Vea Irrigation Project also in the Upper East Region to turn the area into the bread basket of the country.