The Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University for Development Studies Prof Seidu Alhassan has intimated that, government’s one village; one dam policy if implemented will provide an opportunity for transforming Ghana’s agricultural sector through irrigation.
According to him, the provision of small dams and dugouts for the purpose of harvesting rainwater and flood waters and the construction of tube wells, cumulatively has the potentials to enhance food security during off-Season, through agricultural activities such as dry season farming.
He said the policy, could attract investments opportunities, leading to the generation of the needed resources, thereby reducing the unemployment situation in the country.
Speaking at the first International conference on irrigation and agricultural development, Prof Seidu Alhassan, urged the investor community to take advantage of the opportunity in the irrigation sector in Northern Ghana, with the abundance of many water resources to invest for economic development.
For his part, the Dean of the school of engineering at the UDS Dr. Felix K. Abagale urged government to invest in the training of the needed human capital to enable them achieve the target of the one village one dam policy.
He added that, government must avoid threading on partisan lines and pattern with state institutions that have the expertise in the irrigation sector to aid achieve the desired target of the one village one dam policy.
“I will also like to caution that government should not bring in partisan people into either construction or consultancy issues so that shoddy works are avoided at the end of the day but collaborate with state institutions like the UDS where there are experts in that sector if this is avoided then success can be seen at the end of the day” he noted.
The two day International Conference on Irrigation and Agricultural Development which ended on Tuesday, was on the theme “Irrigation and Agricultural Development; Prospects and Challengers for the Sector’s Growth” and kick start a bi-annual conference.
The conference created a platform for all irrigation and agricultural sector players in the sub-region especially research scientist, farmers, governmental agencies and NGOs to exchange ideas on the sector’s prospects.
Source:diamondfmonline.com/KEN-ZORRE A. EDWARD.
