Farmers in Bolgatanga have called on the government to expedite action in rehabilitating the Vea Irrigation Dam in the Upper East Region. The farmers, including the producers of rice, tomato and vegetables, stressed that for over 30 years, the facility had not been rehabilitated and that the laterals and canals of the dam had been destroyed because of neglect. The forum, organized by the Ghana Trade and Livelihoods and Trade Aid, was to revitalize the zeal of farmers to seek information on the management and evaluation of agricultural programmes put in place by the government, especially with regards to the Tono-Vea Irrigation dams. The farmers stressed that the current situation is seriously affecting farming activities because anytime the water is opened through the canals it finds its way to wrong places. Whilst commending the Government for rehabilitation of the Tono Irrigation facility in Navrongo, it appealed to the government to, as a matter of urgency, rehabilitate the Vea Dam facility since it would help boost farming activities in the area. They added their voice to the call by some Civil Society Organizations for the government to address in the forthcoming national budget the implementation programme on the five major crops namely; maize, rice, cowpea, cassava and yam. This should cover the subsidy on fertilizer on timely basis, setting up more mechanised centres and research into varieties of tomato and rice to get a standardised variety for market. They called for the establishment of a joint tomato enterprise between Ghana and Burkina Faso to feed the Northern Star Tomato Factory. They added that there was also the need for the government to initiate programmes and policies to harvest the water from the Bagre Dam of Burkina Faso as it affect lives and property in the region every year. The Upper East Regional Focal Person of the Ghana Trade and Livelihoods, Mr Richard Ananga, said the forum would also empower farmers to contribute to the national budget in relation to the agricultural sector and to also make them to form a common front to fight for their cause. Mr Joseph Mahama Salifu, Vea Dam Area Project Manager of Irrigation Company of Upper Region, (ICOUR) advised the farmers to invest more time and resources into their profession to maximise their profits. Source: GNA