FSRP signs US$22.5m contract to transform Kpong Irrigation Scheme
The Food Systems Resilience Programme (FSRP) has signed a US$22.5million contract for completing the rehabilitation and modernisation of Kpong Irrigation Scheme (KIS), covering approximately 1,000 hectares.
It is also supporting revision of the National Irrigation Policy and preparation of a 5-year Strategic Action Plan to enhance sustainable management for public irrigation schemes and provide a national action plan for implementation.
FSRP’s Operations Manager, Philip Daniel Laryea, announced this during a brief presentation on scope of rehabilitation works, outcomes and future of agribusiness at the project site situated at Asutuare in Greater Accra Region.
He added that the programme is also concluding feasibility and engineering design studies, Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA) and dam safety assessments for three additional key dams and irrigation schemes covering 2,000 hectares.
Inland valley development is also a focus, with draft feasibility studies for 20 floodplain sites totalling 7,000 hectares completed and under review, Mr. Laryea said.
Moreover, he said as part of the program, US$50 million has been earmarked for irrigation works, including the development of inland valleys and the rehabilitation of irrigation schemes. These efforts according to him aim to expand irrigation coverage and promote climate-smart agricultural practices.
However, he emphasised the need for an additional US$30million to complete all identified schemes.
The FSRP initiative is a government of Ghana and World Bank-funded programme being implemented under the auspices of ECOWAS. It highlights the World Bank’s role in bolstering the country’s agricultural sustainability and food security.
World Bank Regional Vice President’s visit to project sites
Meanwhile, the World Bank Regional Vice President for West and Central Africa, Mr. Ousmane Diagana, speaking during a visit to the project sites highlighted the schemes’ achievements in rice production.
“The project management team informed me that productivity has reached nearly six tonnes per hectare, which is commendable. If we can push toward seven tonnes per hectare, it would demonstrate optimal use of resources. That said, there is still room to scale up these gains,” he stated.
He reiterated the World Bank’s commitment to supporting initiatives like KIS and Kpong Left Bank Irrigation Scheme (KLBIS), emphasising the critical role of agriculture in driving job creation and ensuring food security.
“Agriculture is the engine of employment. Scaling up production is essential, not only to reduce Ghana’s dependence on rice imports but also to redirect funds toward critical infrastructure,” he said.
Mr. Diagana also stressed the importance of regional collaboration, given the country’s strategic location. “There is an opportunity to connect Ghana’s agricultural progress with efforts in Sahelian countries. This will enhance production and foster economic growth for Ghana and its neighbours,” he said.
The Regional Vice President also visited Golden Exotics Limited (GEL) banana farm to ascertain its contribution to the country’s agriculture drive.
World Bank’s commitment to efficient energy sector
Furthermore, he emphasised the Bank’s commitment to supporting reforms that enhance efficiency, sustainability and inclusivity in the energy sector. He added that it stands ready to provide technical expertise that ensures successful privatisation of electricity distribution aligns with the goals of efficiency, affordability and equitable access.
“Our priority is to ensure that privatisation of Ghana’s electricity distribution benefits consumers through improved service delivery, while also creating a fair and attractive environment for investors,” he said.
The FSRP builds on achievements of its predecessor, the Ghana Commercial Agriculture Project (GCAP), which invested US$62million to rehabilitate irrigation and drainage infrastructure across the Kpong and Tono Irrigation Schemes. Under GCAP, 6,500 hectares of irrigated land were developed, including 3,300 hectares at the Kpong Left Bank Irrigation Scheme (KLBIS) and 600 hectares of floodplains in the Northern Region for improved rice cultivation.
It has become a model for agricultural development in the region, demonstrating how investments in irrigation and resilient food systems can significantly improve productivity and livelihoods.