Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Bryan Acheampong, has clarified that the ongoing drought affecting parts of the country should not be viewed as a failure of the government’s ‘One Village, One Dam’ (1V1D) policy.
In his remarks, the Minister emphasized that the 1V1D initiative was not designed to address the broader irrigation challenges that farmers are currently facing.
This clarification comes in the wake of significant losses incurred by farmers in eight regions due to a lack of rainfall. The drought has not only jeopardized crop yields but also threatened the livelihoods of countless families who rely on agriculture for their sustenance.
Amid these difficulties, some have questioned the effectiveness of the 1V1D policy and its capacity to support farmers during such critical times.
Addressing these concerns during an interview on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, on Tuesday, the Abetifi Member of Parliament (MP) firmly defended the 1V1D initiative, explaining that its purpose differs from what is required to mitigate the current drought situation.
“In the situation we find ourselves, what we need is irrigation. All the 574 dams were to hold rainwater and they have been extremely effective and never a failure,” Dr. Acheampong stated.
He further clarified, “With the irrigation, it will require us to pump water from a big water source into a big canal or dam to hold the water.”
The Minister’s comments underscore the distinction between dams, which are designed to store rainwater, and irrigation systems, which require more complex infrastructure to distribute water from larger sources to farmlands.
He maintained that the 1V1D policy has been successful in fulfilling its intended purpose of rainwater storage, despite the challenges posed by the current drought.
Dr. Acheampong’s remarks aim to address the growing public debate over the role of the 1V1D policy in supporting agricultural productivity, particularly in times of adverse weather conditions.
While acknowledging the hardships faced by farmers, the Minister highlighted the need for a broader understanding of the different agricultural infrastructure required to tackle varying challenges.
The drought has brought renewed focus on the need for more comprehensive irrigation solutions to ensure the resilience of Ghana’s agricultural sector.