PFAG Calls on Agriculture Minister-Designate to Tackle Climate Impact with Irrigation Focus

The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has urged Eric Opoku, the Minister-designate for Food and Agriculture, to make irrigation development a top priority to address the adverse impacts of climate change on agriculture.

Wepia Adugwala, the National President of PFAG, emphasised that Ghana’s reliance on traditional rain-fed agriculture is no longer sustainable.

He highlighted the urgent need for robust irrigation systems to ensure consistent food production and protect farmers’ livelihoods.

Adugwala pointed to the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam as a vital but underutilised resource. The dam has the potential to irrigate over 15,000 hectares of land, particularly in the northern regions where much of the country’s food is produced.

He called on the new minister to maximise the dam’s utility and expand similar initiatives to modernise the sector.

“In this era of climate change, irrigation should be the top priority for the agricultural sector,” Adugwala said.

“Farmers are struggling due to erratic rainfall patterns, and if Ghana is to achieve sustainable food production, we must move away from rain-dependent farming.”

He noted that improving irrigation infrastructure would not only support farmers in adapting to changing weather conditions but also enhance food security nationwide.

Adugwala also urged the government to provide additional infrastructure and support to enable farmers to adopt resilient and sustainable farming practices.

The PFAG president stressed that leveraging resources like the Pwalugu Dam could play a transformative role in stabilising food production and addressing the challenges posed by climate change.