Reconstruction of Tono Irrigation Dam spillway to be completed January 2022, says Agric Minister

The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has given indication that ongoing work to reconstruct the Tono Irrigation spill channel would be completed in one month.

Work on reconstructing the spill channel began mid last year following a severe torrential rain damage to it.

The damage resulted in an overflow which destroyed over a hundred hectares of farmlands including rice and vegetables crops.

The minister on a working visit to the Tono Irritation project, said government spent US$35 million to put the structure back in shape.

“The reconstruction is 95% completed. Within the next one month, the spillway would be completed.”

“This project cost US$35 million for the renewal. And now everything has been done. The walls have been done, the floors have been done. The only thing left is the spill wall itself which is now been done”.

He is hopeful the completion of the spill channel would help the Tono Irrigation Scheme in its supply of water to farmers to boost food production.

“For over 40 years, the dam has been supplying water to farmers. So, when it is completed it will help to supply water to farmers for farming activities” he added.

Meanwhile, Members of the Water Users Association, a group of farmers under the Tono Irrigation scheme, have appealed to the government to assist them with farm implements for land preparation and harvesting.

The farmers who mobbed the Agriculture Minister during his visit to the Tono Irrigation scheme, said the non-availability of farm implements to farmers in the area was negatively affecting their work and productivity.

Robert Kwame Abokah, chairman of the association, who enumerated their challenges to the minister also talked about the lack of ready market for rice.

He said the lack of ready market for rice farmers resulted in post-harvest losses which could have been otherwise prevented.

Senyalah Castro

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