Members of two communities in the Bolgatanga municipality of the Upper East Region of Ghana are expressing their anger over two mechanized borehole projects funded by SOCO. These projects, intended to support farmers in Daweo and Sumbrungo Amogrebiisi for dry season farming, have instead left many feeling shortchanged.
The cost of the two mechanized boreholes, totaling 201,599.50 cedis and executed by Al-Kahf Company Limited, has sparked frustration among local farmers. They claim that the boreholes do not serve their intended purpose, with some farmers stating they can’t even irrigate half an acre.
Mr. Adongo Abaa-yamga, a farmer from Daweo, lamented, “They just came and did something to represent something, but last year the mechanized borehole couldn’t help us at all. This year is no different. If they don’t change this project, it won’t provide any assistance because it can not pull water from a distance. It’s useless to us.”
Mr. Nsobila John, another farmer from Daweo, added, “To be truthful, this project is not meant for dry season farming. The water flow is weak, and the three-inch machine lacks the strength and pressure to provide enough water for farming.”
Ayambire Adabire, a local farmer, pointed out that the initial plan was for the mechanized boreholes to lay pipes directly into their farms for easy water access. However, since completion, this has not materialized, leaving them struggling with water shortages during the dry season.
The assembly member for Sumbrungo Amogrebiisi echoed the farmers’ frustrations, stating, “This project was meant to support over 36 farmers, yet it can barely help one. If five farmers gather to use the borehole, they will end up fighting over the little water available.”
He expressed regret that if the community had known the project would be so ineffective, they would not have allowed the land to be used. “The previous project fell apart, and now this one is also failing. Even without technical expertise, it’s clear that the structure is inadequate,” he said.
Ing. Daniel Atchulo, an engineer from the Bolgatanga municipal assembly, admitted that the completed project does not meet the original specifications. “Initially, we planned to mount two large poly tanks and lay pipes into the farms for irrigation. The current setup cannot serve this purpose,” he acknowledged.
Hajia Lantana Osman, the municipal agriculture director, stated that lessons learned from this project will inform future initiatives. “We hope to improve communication and implement better solutions moving forward,” she said.
The farmers continue to hope for a resolution that will allow them to effectively irrigate their crops and achieve successful harvests in the future.
Source: mywordfmonline.com/Gaspard Ayuureneeya