Farmers in two border communities in Ghana are set to benefit from year-round farming following the handover of new irrigation facilities aimed at strengthening food production, boosting incomes and improving resilience to climate change.&nbsp;The irrigation farms, located in Konjiahi in the Upper West Region near the Burkina Faso border, and Awiakrom in the Bono Region close to Côte d’Ivoire, were handed over by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in partnership with GIZ Ghana and Community Aid for Rural Development (CARD Ghana) in July and August 2026.&nbsp;For years, farmers in the two communities have relied heavily on seasonal rainfall, limiting agricultural activities during prolonged dry seasons and exposing households to the effects of changing weather patterns. The new irrigation systems are expected to allow farmers to cultivate crops throughout the year, improving food security and providing more stable sources of income.&nbsp;According to local farmers, the facilities will help expand production, create market opportunities and encourage greater participation in agriculture, particularly among young people seeking sustainable livelihoods.&nbsp;Agriculture remains a key pillar of Ghana’s economy, contributing 23.3 per cent of gross domestic product and employing about 45 per cent of the country’s labour force. However, dependence on rainfall continues to leave many farming communities vulnerable to climate variability and dry spells.&nbsp;In Konjiahi, the irrigation project is expected to support dry-season cultivation and improve household food availability, while in Awiakrom it is projected to stimulate economic activity along the agricultural value chain, including processing, storage, transportation, marketing and cross-border trade.&nbsp;Fatou Diallo Ndiaye, Chief of Mission for IOM Ghana, said improving access to productive resources and promoting year-round agriculture would help border communities strengthen food systems, unlock economic potential and build resilience against climate-related challenges.&nbsp;The facilities will be managed through a community-led model, with selected residents jointly cultivating and overseeing the farms to ensure long-term sustainability and wider benefits for local development.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

For years, farmers in the two communities have relied heavily on seasonal rainfall, limiting agricultural activities during prolonged dry seasons and exposing households to the effects of changing weather patterns. 

Farmers in two border communities in Ghana are set to benefit from year-round farming following the handover of new irrigation facilities aimed at strengthening food production, boosting incomes and improving resilience to climate change. The irrigation farms, located in Konjiahi in the Upper West Region near the Burkina Faso border, and Awiakrom in the Bono Region close to Côte d’Ivoire, were handed over by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in partnership with GIZ Ghana and Community Aid for Rural Development (CARD Ghana) in July and August 2026. For years, farmers in the two communities have relied heavily on seasonal rainfall, limiting agricultural activities during prolonged dry seasons and exposing households to the effects of changing weather patterns. The new irrigation systems are expected to allow farmers to cultivate crops throughout the year, improving food security and providing more stable sources of income. According to local farmers, the facilities will help expand production, create market opportunities and encourage greater participation in agriculture, particularly among young people seeking sustainable livelihoods. Agriculture remains a key pillar of Ghana’s economy, contributing 23.3 per cent of gross domestic product and employing about 45 per cent of the country’s labour force. However, dependence on rainfall continues to leave many farming communities vulnerable to climate variability and dry spells. In Konjiahi, the irrigation project is expected to support dry-season cultivation and improve household food availability, while in Awiakrom it is projected to stimulate economic activity along the agricultural value chain, including processing, storage, transportation, marketing and cross-border trade. Fatou Diallo Ndiaye, Chief of Mission for IOM Ghana, said improving access to productive resources and promoting year-round agriculture would help border communities strengthen food systems, unlock economic potential and build resilience against climate-related challenges. The facilities will be managed through a community-led model, with selected residents jointly cultivating and overseeing the farms to ensure long-term sustainability and wider benefits for local development.

For years, farmers in the two communities have relied heavily on seasonal rainfall, limiting agricultural activities during prolonged dry seasons and exposing households to the effects of changing weather patterns.&nbsp;

Ghana Border Communities get lifeline as new irrigation farms boost year-round agriculture

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Asian Development Bank will provide $100 million loan (about Rs 670 crore) to India for irrigation projects, drainage system and water management at the Cauvery delta in Indian state of Tamil Nadu. 
 
The fund will be used to strengthen embankments of six major irrigation water channels in the Vennar system and rehabilitate 13 irrigation pumping schemes at the Cauvery river basin, ADB said in a statement. 
 
The Cauvery river basin is a critical source of water for agriculture, both within Tamil Nadu and the neighbouring states. 
 
Project involves &nbsp;flood forecasting, warning systems installation&nbsp; 
 
A lack of investment over many years has left irrigation systems unable to meet user demand and increasingly vulnerable to floods and droughts, ADB said. 
 
&quot;The vast majority of the delta&#39;s population is engaged in farming and fishing. They can no longer rely on availability of water for their livelihoods, and flooding is common during the erratic northeast monsoon,&quot; said Raj Kumar, Joint Secretary (Multilateral Institutions), Department of Economic Affairs. 
 
He added saying, &quot;Their plight may only worsen with climate change. The project aims to improve deteriorated infrastructure and will provide flood protection and renewed access to irrigation.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
ADB said communities will be involved in planning and delivery of water services. 
 
The project involves flood forecasting and warning systems installation, and a flood risks map will also be drawn up to help communities respond more effectively to extreme events. 
 
The Resources Department of Tamil Nadu will be responsible for implementing the project. The project is expected to be completed by December 2020. 
 
The loan from ADB&#39;s ordinary capital resources has a 25-year term. 
 
The Manila-headquartered ADB, owned by 67 member nations of which 48 are from the Asian region, assisted loans worth USD 27.2 billion in 2015. 
 
(PTI)&nbsp;

Fund will be used to strengthen embankments of 6 water channels in Vennar system and rehabilitate 13 pumping schemes at Cauvery basin

Asian Development Bank will provide $100 million loan (about Rs 670 crore) to India for irrigation projects, drainage system and water management at the Cauvery delta in Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The fund will be used to strengthen embankments of six major irrigation water channels in the Vennar system and rehabilitate 13 irrigation pumping schemes at the Cauvery river basin, ADB said in a statement. The Cauvery river basin is a critical source of water for agriculture, both within Tamil Nadu and the neighbouring states. Project involves flood forecasting, warning systems installation A lack of investment over many years has left irrigation systems unable to meet user demand and increasingly vulnerable to floods and droughts, ADB said. "The vast majority of the delta's population is engaged in farming and fishing. They can no longer rely on availability of water for their livelihoods, and flooding is common during the erratic northeast monsoon," said Raj Kumar, Joint Secretary (Multilateral Institutions), Department of Economic Affairs. He added saying, "Their plight may only worsen with climate change. The project aims to improve deteriorated infrastructure and will provide flood protection and renewed access to irrigation." ADB said communities will be involved in planning and delivery of water services. The project involves flood forecasting and warning systems installation, and a flood risks map will also be drawn up to help communities respond more effectively to extreme events. The Resources Department of Tamil Nadu will be responsible for implementing the project. The project is expected to be completed by December 2020. The loan from ADB's ordinary capital resources has a 25-year term. The Manila-headquartered ADB, owned by 67 member nations of which 48 are from the Asian region, assisted loans worth USD 27.2 billion in 2015. (PTI)

Asian Development Bank to sanction  $100 million loan for water projects in India's Tamil Nadu

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