Large-scale irrigation projects are being rolled out to strengthen food security and support farmers in producing staple crops year-round. This initiative was highlighted during a field visit by Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson and Robert Taliercio, World Bank Division Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, to the Kpong Irrigation Scheme under the West Africa Food System Resilience Program (FSRP).
Ghana currently spends around US$2 billion annually on food imports, a figure the government aims to reduce by improving domestic food production. According to the World Bank, “Ghana plans to add more than 8,000 hectares under irrigation, including Kpong, Weta, Vea, Tanoso, and Inland Valleys, to boost rice self-sufficiency and strengthen the resilience of its food system.”
This expansion of irrigated agriculture is a key pillar of the strategy, enabling year‑round cultivation and reducing dependence on erratic rainfall. The developments are expected to increase the production of staple crops such as rice, maize, and vegetables, supporting both food security and local farmer livelihoods.
At Kpong, rehabilitation and modernization works are underway with a US$22.6 million investment from the World Bank, covering infrastructure upgrades, canal improvements, advanced water management systems, and road enhancements to support farmer access. The scheme spans approximately 4,000 hectares and directly benefits thousands of smallholder rice farmers, while also supporting aquaculture and commercial agriculture enterprises.
Pilot activities at the Kpong Left Bank Irrigation Scheme (KLBIS) have already demonstrated the impact of improved practices and enhanced irrigation delivery. These interventions are designed to promote climate‑smart agriculture, ensuring that farmers can adapt to fluctuating weather patterns and increase yields reliably.
Ato Forson has emphasized the role of irrigation in achieving the government’s Feed Ghana Programme and broader Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda, stating that the country possesses the resources and capacity to significantly reduce its reliance on imported food with the right investments. Recent government statements highlight the belief that expanding irrigated agriculture will not only improve food security but also create jobs, support agribusiness value chains, and increase farmers’ incomes.
The FSRP also promotes wider food system interventions, including support for seed banks, climate‑smart inputs, weather advisory services, and value‑chain facilities such as warehouses and border posts. These measures aim to strengthen Ghana’s agricultural ecosystem from production through marketing and distribution.
