A new irrigation facility in Buka in the Wa West District is expected to unlock year-round agricultural production and create new economic opportunities for farmers, particularly women and young people who depend heavily on seasonal farming.
The irrigation dam, which has a storage capacity of about 85,000 cubic metres, is designed to support approximately 30 acres of irrigable land and reduce the community’s reliance on rain-fed agriculture.
The facility forms part of efforts by development partners to strengthen climate resilience and stimulate rural economic activity through improved access to water for agriculture.
Residents say the availability of water throughout the year could transform farming in the community by enabling dry season vegetable production, increasing farm incomes and improving food security.
Mr Paul Mwinlanaa, a resident of Buka, said the irrigation system could help address the seasonal unemployment that often forces many residents to migrate to southern parts of the country during the dry season in search of jobs.
“The majority of the people in this community are farmers. During the dry season many people travel to the south to look for work because there are limited opportunities here,” he said.
“With the dam now available, we can engage in vegetable farming during the dry season. This will encourage many young people and women to stay in the community and work,” he added.
Agriculture remains the backbone of the local economy in the area, but productivity has long been constrained by erratic rainfall and limited irrigation infrastructure.
Stakeholders believe the irrigation facility could help farmers diversify production into vegetables and other high-value crops, potentially improving incomes and strengthening local food systems.
The project is implemented by ActionAid Ghana under the Strengthening Community Resilience through Community Action Plans (CAPS) component of the Resilience against Climate Change (REACH) programme.
The REACH initiative is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Mr John Nkaw, Country Director of ActionAid Ghana, said improved access to water was essential for strengthening agricultural productivity and building climate resilience in vulnerable communities.
He explained that the irrigation facility would support year-round crop cultivation while also providing water for livestock.
Mr Nkaw noted that beyond improving agricultural output, the intervention could also ease the burden on women, who often travel long distances in search of water for both domestic and farming purposes.
He said the CAPS initiative was designed to help communities adapt to climate change through sustainable agriculture, improved natural resource management and greater access to productive resources such as land and water.
According to him, the broader programme has implemented several livelihood interventions across communities in the Upper West and Savannah Regions.
These include the construction of five dams, five irrigation systems and sixty boreholes to improve water access for farming and domestic use.
The initiative has also supported climate-smart agriculture through the distribution of more than 35,000 economic tree seedlings and the establishment of 28 demonstration farms.
Mr Nkaw said the programme aligns with ActionAid Ghana’s broader strategy of promoting green and secure livelihoods while strengthening community resilience to climate shocks.
In a message delivered on her behalf, Mrs Paulina Rozycka, Head of Infrastructure and Sustainable Development at the European Union Delegation to Ghana, expressed optimism that improved irrigation could help strengthen rural livelihoods in farming communities.
She noted that investing in agricultural infrastructure remained essential for supporting food systems and improving incomes for smallholder farmers.
Ms Beate Weiskopf, Project Lead at GIZ, said the irrigation facility reflected the development priorities identified by the community itself, describing it as a practical step toward building resilience and economic stability in the area.
For many residents, the project represents more than just an infrastructure intervention; it offers a pathway to more stable incomes, reduced migration and a stronger local agricultural economy.
