Navrongo (U/E), March 16, GNA - Minister of Food and Agriculture Ernest Debrah the weekend cut the sod for the rehabilitation of the Tono Irrigation Project in the Kassena-Nankana District of the Upper East Region to make it more efficient in food production. Since its inception 29 years ago, the facility had not seen any major rehabilitation.

Mr Debrah said government voted GH¢7.9 million for the rehabilitation work which entails reshaping of the main access road and dam walls to control erosion, replacement of lining concrete of the main and lateral canals, construction of washing bays, culverts, water control gates, and clearing of main drains. The project is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Mr Debrah noted that rehabilitation of the Tono facility, in addition to other projects such as revamping the Bontanga Irrigation in the Northern Region and the provision of pumps at Pwalugu in the Upper East Region, would bolster the economic prosperity of the three northern regions and also mitigate the flood and drought that hit the areas last year.

He stressed the need for harvesting of rain water to enable farmers do all year-round farming. Mr Debrah said his Ministry intends to turn about 1,000 hectares of arable land in the Fumbisi Valley into rice farms as part of plans to increase production and cut down drastically on rice imports. He entreated farmers to improve on soil fertility through the use of organic matter, including organic manure, poultry droppings, cow dung and compost, adding that they should cultivate crops of high value and marketable. Mr Issah Bukari, Managing Director the Irrigation Company of the Upper East Region, managers of the Tono project, said management would ensure that farmers make maximum use of the facility to generate more food and employment for the well-being of the nation, particularly the people in the area. He appealed to government to consider rehabilitating the workers' accommodation facilities and offices and to also help maintain their vehicles to help facility their work.