Vegetable farmers appeal for irrigation facility

The Eastern Gomoa Export Vegetable Farmers Association on Monday appealed to the appropriate authorities, especially the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Irrigation Development Authority, to support the association with the construction of irrigation facilities.

A statement issued and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Monday by Mr Immanuel Adjei, Chairman of the Association, said with the provision of these facilities farmers could be able to carry out an all year round farming.

“Vegetable production, which is supposed to be all year round to meet the export contractual demands, has rather become seasonal,” it said.

The statement said it was difficult to produce enough vegetables for export because the association lacked adequate water supply for irrigation and that the export demand for the produce was far above the their capability.

It said the association had been supported by the Business Advocacy Challenge Fund to undertake activities to advocate for the construction of tube wells and an open pond.

The activities are advocacy training, research, stakeholders’ workshop and media campaigns to communicate their challenges to stakeholders.

The statement said with the availability of irrigation facilities farmers would also play their roles and contribute to the promotion of private sector growth and the national economy.

The Association is an organisation of vegetable farmers who are striving to make farming worthwhile and sustainable through the provision of open ponds and  tube wells for irrigation in the Gomoa East District of the Central Region.  It is also a member of the Vegetable Exporters Association of Ghana.

Source: GNA