The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has disclosed that the government is implementing decisive interventions to reclaim farmlands affected by illegal mining and expand irrigation to boost agricultural production across the country.
Speaking during the sitting of Parliament’s Government Assurances Committee on Thursday, the minister said the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has rolled out several initiatives aimed at restoring degraded agricultural lands and improving food production, with visible results expected in the coming months.
According to him, the interventions form part of the government’s broader strategy to reverse the devastating impact of illegal mining on agriculture and strengthen the country’s food security.
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He assured that President John Dramani Mahama has taken a personal interest in addressing the destruction caused by illegal mining and has directed that urgent steps be taken to restore affected farmlands and protect Ghana’s agricultural future.
“We are determined to bring an end to the destruction of our farmlands. This is not about politics; it is about safeguarding food production and improving the livelihoods of our farmers,” Mr. Opoku stated.
The Ministry, he said, has also embarked on the construction of irrigation facilities, solar-powered boreholes, and protective fencing around farmlands to ensure farmers have reliable access to water and secure lands for cultivation.
“We have put in place a lot of measures. Give us the next three to four months and the results will be there for Ghanaians to see. We want to remedy this situation once and for all,” he assured.
He revealed that irrigation projects are already underway in several farming communities across the country, where hundreds of hectares of land are being prepared for year-round farming.
Mr. Opoku noted that the ministry is also constructing “smart” farming facilities equipped with solar-powered water pumping systems to improve irrigation efficiency and increase crop yields.
He indicated that the government is identifying additional communities that will benefit from the ongoing irrigation expansion programme, stressing that the initiative is intended to support farmers nationwide rather than serve political interests.
He acknowledged concerns raised by Members of Parliament about communities struggling to cultivate vegetables and other crops due to inadequate access to water, assuring the Committee that the ministry would consider extending irrigation support to those areas.
Mr. Opoku reiterated the government’s commitment to expanding irrigation infrastructure, increasing agricultural productivity, and ensuring that more farming communities benefit from sustainable water supply systems.