The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has presented one hundred water pumping machines to four Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the Northern Region to support dry-season farming activities.
The machines, which were seized from illegal mining sites by security agencies, are expected to boost irrigation farming in districts with viable water bodies for year-round agricultural production.
The water pumping machines are intended to support irrigation farming in beneficiary districts, including Savelugu, Sagnarigu, Kumbungu and the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly.
Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf John, presented the machines to farmers in the presence of the District Chief Executives of the beneficiary assemblies.
He assured farmers of government’s commitment to promoting dry-season farming through the construction of irrigation dams in suitable areas across the region.
The Northern Regional Director of the Department of Agriculture, Hajia Hawa Musah, cautioned beneficiary farmers to use the machines strictly for their intended purpose and ensure they do not find their way back into the hands of illegal miners.
On behalf of the beneficiary districts, the District Chief Executive for Kumbungu expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for the intervention, describing it as timely support for farmers in the region.
Alhaji Yakubu Kakpagu, DCE for Kumbungu
One of the beneficiary farmers, Abdulai Seidu, also expressed gratitude to the government for the support, noting that the water pumping machines will significantly improve dry-season farming and livelihoods in the area.
