The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in partnership with Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) and Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has improved the productivity and profitability of rice cultivation at the Kpong Irrigation Scheme through the Project for Enhancing Market-Based Agriculture by Smallholders and Private Sector Linkages in Kpong Irrigation Scheme (MASAPS-KIS) in the Eastern Region.

The Project was aimed at enhancing the capacity of GIDA for scheme management in Kpong Irrigation Scheme (KIS). This included increasing productivity and profitability of rice cultivation among smallholder farmers through strengthening Water User Association’s (WUA) capacity development, dissemination of optimum input for rice cultivation techniques (OiRIC) and entrenching Market-Oriented Agriculture at KIS and in Ghana as a whole in future. Through MASAPS-KIS, JICA ensured stable water distribution for the continuous rice production.

Recounting the contributions and successes chalked by JICA, the Senior Representative of JICA in Ghana, Ms. Maki OZAWA noted that her outfit’s support for irrigated agriculture has enhanced the capacities of both farmers and managers of the irrigation schemes across the country especially at the Kpong Irrigation Scheme.

“For more than 30 years, JICA’s cooperation and support for irrigated agriculture in Ghana has enhanced the capacities of both farmers and managers of irrigation schemes across the country, especially at the Kpong Irrigation Scheme (KIS). JICA dedicated the last five years (28th January 2016 – 30th June, 2021) focusing on Market-Based Agriculture for Smallholders and establishing private sector linkages for them and other stakeholders in the value-chain.”
Ms. Maki Ozawa, JICA Senior Representative

Since 1988, JICA has been supporting irrigated agriculture in Ghana. Between 1988 and 2004, JICA assisted in the establishment of the Irrigation Development Centre (IDC) and the development and dissemination of irrigated farming techniques in Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region, and later created two model districts in Ashaiman and Okyereko, in the Central region. Between 2004 and 2006, JICA supported GIDA in its nationwide effort to create a sustainable agricultural practice based on the concept of Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM).

On his part, the Project Manager for MASAPS-KIS, Mr. Joseph Nartey who doubles as the scheme manager of KIS, revealed that in June 2019, fifteen Water User Associations (WUA) in KIS were registered and nearly three thousand farmers were registered as members of the WUA. He indicated that the collection rate of Irrigation Service Charge (ISC) in KIS has improved and two (2) Model WUAs achieved more than 90% in 2019.

“Many thanks to JICA, GIDA, the Government of Ghana and other partners, the Project for Enhancing Market-Based Agriculture by Smallholders and Private Sector Linkages in Kpong Irrigation Scheme (MASAPS-KIS) has achieved some tremendous feats.”
Mr. Joseph Nartey, Kpong Irrigation Scheme Manager.

The Chief Advisor for the Project, Mr. Toru Takahashi, mentioned that the average yield attained by the farmers who were trained under the Project was 6,1ton/ha in 2020 major season and 5.0ton/ha in 2019 minor season, which met the project target of 6.0ton/ha in major season and 5.0 ton/ha in minor season). He added that the farmers’ average net profit has also increased to more than 2,000GHC/ha after training.

Mr. Toru Takahashi further indicated that the Project trained twelve seed growers and the certified rice seed production by the growers increased from 55.9MT (10.7ha) in 2017 Major season to 116.8MT (20.0ha) in 2019 Major season. As part of the Project’s appropriate cultivation techniques, farmers were trained on the use of healthy certified seeds, optimum seed rates for direct sowing, variety specific spacing for transplanting, optimum application of nitrogen fertilizer and efficient irrigation water use. They were also trained on record keeping and marketing.

The project also helped produce six manuals including a Guideline on the Process for the establishment of Water Users Associations and a Manual for the Operation and Management of the Association. It is expected that these outcomes in KIS will spread to other schemes.

JICA expressed readiness to continue to support rice cultivation, irrigation schemes and market-oriented agriculture across the country in partnership with GIDA and MoFA.