An irrigation project to help boost tomato production at Akomadan in the Offinso North District of Ashanti is to start October next month. District Chief Executive (DCE) of the area, Mr Kojo Appiah-Kubi, who announced this on Thursday, said the project is an intervention to address problems such as unreliable rainfall and low productivity. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Irrigation Development Authority of Ghana and the District Assembly would jointly undertake the project. Mr. Appiah-Kubi told the GNA that the Irrigation Development Authority has already procured pumping machines, hoses and pipes to take water from the Akomadan Dam to irrigate about 1,600 acres of land for tomato growing. He said there were plans to extend the project to cover an additional 800-acre land to increase production levels. According to the DCE, the tomato industry has the potential to raise the standard of living of people in the area if well developed and, therefore called on corporate bodies and the nation’s development partners to invest in the tomato industry. He said it is unfortunate that due to unpredictable rainfall pattern, many farmers have re-located to Techiman, where the irrigation system is relatively better to farm. Mr. Appiah-Kubi said he is hopeful that the project would in the long term encourage the youth to go into farming to improve their living conditions. Source: GNA