GHANA – The World Bank has pledged to address the US$30 million funding shortfall in Ghana’s Food Systems Resilience Programme (FSRP), a key initiative aimed at enhancing irrigation farming and boosting agricultural productivity.
This announcement was made by Ousmane Diagana, the Regional Vice President for Western and Central Africa at the World Bank, during his visit to the Kpong Irrigation Scheme and the Kpong Left Bank Irrigation System sites.
“There’s a US$30 million funding gap to see the full completion of this project. We’re a long-standing partner for Ghana in every area… and we will be happy, of course, to consider adding financing if necessary. So, this is absolutely possible,” Mr. Diagana stated.
Addressing Ghana’s irrigation challenge
While Ghana has an estimated 1.9 million hectares of irrigable land, only 1.6% is currently equipped with irrigation systems, far below the West and Central Africa regional average of 13.9%. This shortfall has hampered the country’s agricultural productivity and food resilience.
Mr. Diagana emphasized the importance of agriculture in creating jobs and generating income, noting, “No country can develop without investing in its agriculture.”
He called on the government to prioritize sustainable investment in smart agriculture to reduce reliance on imports of staple crops such as rice, maize, and vegetables.
Promising outcomes in irrigation projects
The ongoing irrigation projects at Asutuare and Kpong have shown positive results, with productivity reaching six tonnes per hectare.
Mr. Diagana described this as a strong foundation, noting that achieving seven tonnes per hectare would signify highly efficient use of resources and time, leading to greater impact.
Ghana’s strategic geographic location, he added, positions the country as a gateway for food trade across the region. The World Bank pledged continued support to scale up irrigation initiatives, recognizing their role in improving food security and resilience.
Modernizing irrigation and supporting communities
Osei Owusu Agyeman, Project Coordinator of the FSRP, highlighted the program’s focus on adaptive mobility and sustainable interventions to equip vulnerable households, farmers, and communities to withstand food production shocks.
With US$22.5 million in funding from the World Bank, the FSRP has modernized key irrigation schemes, fostering food security and job creation.
At the Kpong Left Bank Irrigation System site, Priscilla Adom Tawiah, Secretary of the Investors Cooperative, spoke on the project’s impact.
“We’ve brought a lot of economic development to the people,” she said, emphasizing the benefits to youth and women in agriculture.
Ms. Tawiah called for increased access to affordable funding, advocating for a dedicated matching grant to accelerate business development.
“If we can secure this support, we’ll transform the entire left bank into an agribusiness tourist site for the country and beyond,” she noted.
