The Agriculture Minister has indicated that government is considering the adoption of drip irrigation systems for efficient use of water on farms for all its dam projects across the country. 

Gyele Nura speaking at the launch of the Ingreen drip irrigation system by Interplast Ghana Limited said the method of using trench gutter in the past to direct water to farms wastes a lot of water.

However, with the use of the drip pipes, the water can be managed and used efficiently, he observed. 

The Ingreen Drip Irrigation pipes by Interplast is the first ever locally manufacture irrigation pipes in West Africa. The pipes come in standard sizes of 20cm, 30cm and 40cm however, customized ones can be made per request of a farmer.

The Managing Director of Interplast Ghana Limited, Hayssam Fakhry, explained the initiative by Interpast was geared to support the development of the Agric sector. 

He added that they will work to ensure that all farmers within the subregion are able to adopt the system.“

“My concern is the small holder farmer and how they can get this system, so we will work to ensure that our prices are low and as competetive as possible for small holder farmers to buy it," Mr Fakhry noted.

 

Drip Irrigation systems is a form of precise irrigation which ensures that water is well managed and efficiently distributed on the farms.

 

With this system, a farmer can have all year irrigation and hence farmers can get increased production it yields, periods of production, maintained soil structure and more.

On his part, the Business Development Minister, Mohammed Awal, pledged government support for the private sector initiative in the Agric sector to help improve the sector.